Mitsubishi’s 2024 Outlander is one of the more exciting vehicles in the company’s lineup. However, that isn’t saying much. The Outlander is a good SUV among a lineup of subpar vehicles like the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mirage G4, and the Eclipse Cross. There are some glaring reasons why you shouldn’t be choosing a 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander as your next vehicle. Here are the three reasons to avoid the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander.

1. The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander’s engine is subpar

The Mitsubishi Outlander only has one engine option available, and it only produces around 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. This 2.5-liter engine is paid with a CVT transmission, and it can be had in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive powertrains. While 181 hp may not seem sluggish on paper, this is a three-row SUV with some larger dimensions for its class. Pair this smaller engine with a droning CVT, and the Outlander can feel anemic behind the wheel.

U.S. News reports that when under load, this small powertrain can feel strained. For a vehicle to be produced with a seven-passenger seating arrangement without a proper drivetrain is severely disappointing. Back in 2020, the Outlander was available with a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 224 hp. The 2024 Outlander may be more advanced, but it is much less powerful than it was nearly a half-decade ago.

2. The third row of the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander would be best served as more cargo space

The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander has a solid amount of space available for passengers, that is, unless you are deleted to the third row. The third row of this SUV is incredibly cramped, with Edmunds reporting that unless you are seating a child in the third row, there is hardly any legroom at all for adults.

This is incredibly disappointing when you consider how capable the rest of the interior is in the 2024 Outlander. According to Mitsubishi, the 2024 Outlander has 64.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, making this one of the largest cargo areas among SUVs in its class. Sadly, the seven-passenger seating just isn’t realistic, and it can only comfortably seat passengers in the first and second rows.

3. The price is a little too high for what you’re getting

The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander is not a very good deal. Starting at $28,395 MSRP, other vehicles in its class give more features for around the same price. The Toyota RAV4, for example, starts at $28,475, and it is one of the most reliable vehicles you can buy. The Mazda CX-5 offers some great luxury features at a slightly higher price of $29,300 MSRP.

Heck, even the similarly sized Volkswagen Tiguan offers the same amount of seating, around the same amount of power, and is priced nearly identically at $28,505 MSRP. The Mitsubishi Outlander is not pricey, but it doesn’t do enough to make it worth its price point. Nearly every vehicle in its class does more for around the same price.

What is the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander really good at?

The Mitsubishi Outlander is very good when it comes to safety. The 2024 Outlander received top ratings of “Good” in nearly every test performed by the IIHS, and one “Superior” rating in the Front Crash Prevention category. In tests by the NHTSA, the Outlander received four out of five-star ratings in every test that has occurred so far.

The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander is a solid choice if you are looking for a solid three-row SUV with great crash test ratings. However, there are simply too many other good vehicles to choose from in the same price range.