Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Crosstrek: bigger FWD SUV or smaller AWD SUV
The Outlander gives you a much bigger boot, more power and a longer warranty for a little more money, while the Crosstrek brings AWD, more ground clearance and a slightly lower fuel figure in a shorter body.
By Uzzi · 3 November 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2WD
$41,490 drive-away
RRP $39,990 excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$39,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the manufacturer's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the manufacturer.
2026 Subaru Crosstrek AWD 2.0L
$38,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$38,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the manufacturer's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the manufacturer.
Who the Mitsubishi Outlander suits
The Outlander ES 2WD suits buyers who carry a lot, with a 485L boot with the seats up and 1,466L folded. It also suits anyone who tows, with a braked rating of 1,600kg, and buyers who value a long warranty. It is FWD, so it fits people who don't need AWD.
Who the Subaru Crosstrek suits
The Crosstrek suits buyers who want AWD and 220mm of ground clearance in a shorter SUV at 4,495mm long. Its boot is 291L with the seats up, so it works best for singles, couples or small households who don't fill the back often.
What decides it
1. Boot space
If you carry a lot, this is the figure to look at first. The Outlander has 485L with the seats up against 291L in the Crosstrek, a difference of 194L. With the seats folded the Outlander offers 1,466L, and we have no folded figure for the Crosstrek.
2. Price
The Outlander ES 2WD is $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Crosstrek AWD 2.0L is $38,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). That puts the Crosstrek about $1,000 lower on list price. Our data also shows the Outlander at $41,490 (drive-away, VIC), but we have no drive-away figure for the Crosstrek to compare it with.
3. Drive and ground clearance
The Crosstrek is AWD while this Outlander is FWD. The Crosstrek also sits higher with 220mm of ground clearance against 205mm for the Outlander. If gravel roads or slippery conditions are part of your week, this may matter more than boot space.
Running costs
The Crosstrek's combined fuel figure is 7.2L/100km against 7.5L/100km for the Outlander, a gap of 0.3L/100km. Both have a service interval of 12 months, and Subaru's capped servicing for the Crosstrek totals $2,373 (capped-price servicing total), while we have no capped servicing figure for the Outlander. The Outlander comes with a 10-year, 200,000km warranty, and the Crosstrek has a 5-year, unlimited km warranty. Check the running-cost chart below to see how they stack up for your driving.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,898
per year to run
$69,479
total 5yr cost
$0.89
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,898/year to run, or $29,490 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,484
per year to run
$66,408
total 5yr cost
$0.85
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,484/year to run, or $27,420 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
Both cars have 5 seats. The Outlander is 225mm longer at 4,720mm against 4,495mm, and it has the much bigger boot. For towing, the Outlander is rated at 1,600kg braked and the Crosstrek at 1,400kg, a gap of 200kg. The Crosstrek has the tighter turning circle at 10.8m against 11.2m.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
FitsExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Top-down
1070mm between arches × 941mm floor length
Side-on
941mm floor length × 870mm to shelf
Boot dimensions are manufacturer figures; items are kept upright and rotated flat only.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (57% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Subaru doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 291 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
How quick is it?
No manufacturer 0-100 time is held for this car, so it isn't ranked.
Safety
The Outlander carries a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025. The Crosstrek carries a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2024.
The figures side by side
| Mitsubishi Outlander | Subaru Crosstrek | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $38,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Drive-away price (VIC) | $41,490 (drive-away, VIC) | No data |
| Powertrain | ICE | ICE |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Drive | FWD | AWD |
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | CVT |
| Power | 135kW | 115kW |
| Torque | 244Nm | 196Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 8.7 seconds | No data |
| Fuel use (combined) | 7.5L/100km | 7.2L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 55L | 63L |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 485L | 291L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,466L | No data |
| Length | 4,720mm | 4,495mm |
| Width | 1,862mm | 1,800mm |
| Height | 1,742mm | 1,600mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,706mm | 2,670mm |
| Ground clearance | 205mm | 220mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2m | 10.8m |
| Kerb weight | 1,585kg | 1,494kg |
| Towing (braked) | 1,600kg | 1,400kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 750kg | 650kg |
| Payload | 660kg | 606kg |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2025) | 5-star (2024) |
| Warranty | 10-year | 5-year |
| Warranty distance | 200,000km | unlimited km |
| Capped servicing, 5 years | No data | $2,373 (capped-price servicing total) |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
For most buyers the Outlander's far bigger boot, extra power and longer warranty are worth the small step up in list price, unless you specifically want AWD.
Pick the Mitsubishi Outlander if
you need real boot space, tow a trailer or want the longer 10-year warranty, and FWD is fine for where you drive.
Pick the Subaru Crosstrek if
you want AWD, more ground clearance and a shorter SUV, and a 291L boot is enough for you.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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Ask about these two cars
- Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2WD
- Subaru Crosstrek AWD 2.0L
Tap a question or ask your own.Tap a question or ask your own. The answer starts from the cars in this comparison, with links to the rows behind them.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander cheaper than the Subaru Crosstrek?
No. The Outlander ES 2WD is $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Crosstrek AWD 2.0L is $38,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), so the Crosstrek is about $1,000 lower on list price.
Which has the bigger boot, the Outlander or the Crosstrek?
The Outlander. Its boot is 485L with the seats up, against 291L for the Crosstrek.
Is the Outlander ES AWD?
Not this version. The Outlander ES 2WD is FWD, while the Crosstrek AWD 2.0L is AWD.
Which uses less fuel, the Outlander or the Crosstrek?
On the combined figures, the Crosstrek is listed at 7.2L/100km and the Outlander at 7.5L/100km.
What warranty do the Outlander and Crosstrek come with?
Our data lists a 10-year, 200,000km warranty for the Outlander and a 5-year, unlimited km warranty for the Crosstrek.
More on these cars
- 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2WD: full specs and priceEvery Mitsubishi Outlander gradeAll Mitsubishi models
- 2026 Subaru Crosstrek AWD 2.0L: full specs and priceEvery Subaru Crosstrek gradeAll Subaru models