What is the best year for a Mitsubishi Outlander?

The 2025 Outlander (13 complaints, 8/10 safety, 2 severe) is the cleanest year in the model's history. The 2023-2025 window represents the settled third generation. Avoid 2015 (231 complaints) and 2022 (206 complaints — new generation launch year). For used buying, 2023 or newer is the safest range.

How much does Mitsubishi Outlander insurance cost?

Outlander insurance averages around $2,676/year — roughly $223/month. This is notably above average for a compact SUV and the highest insurance rate in the compact class, likely reflecting parts availability and repair costs for a lower-volume brand.

Is the Mitsubishi Outlander or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $90/year cheaper — $429 versus $519 for the Outlander, about $450 in savings over five years. Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability. The RAV4 holds a clear maintenance cost advantage.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Mitsubishi Outlander?

Major repair probability and reliability are both at class average, and repair frequency is below it. The outsized insurance premium already adds meaningfully to total ownership cost — factor that before adding extended warranty cost. For 2023+ models, warranty coverage isn't strongly warranted.

Is the Subaru Outback expensive to maintain?

The Outback costs $607/year to maintain — $86 above the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 37% is above the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 7 is below the class average of 8. Major repair probability of 12% is slightly above the 11% norm. Above-average cost and repair profile across all metrics.

What is the best year for a Subaru Outback?

The 2023 Outback is the strongest used pick — 84 complaints, 10/10 NHTSA safety score, 9 severe issues. Strongly avoid 2018-2020, which generated 799, 1,025, and 889 complaints respectively, driven by widespread oil consumption and EyeSight system issues. The 2021-2022 range remained elevated. 2023 marks the clear turning point.

How much does Subaru Outback insurance cost?

Outback insurance averages about $1,964/year — roughly $164/month. One of the lower insurance rates in the compact class despite above-average maintenance costs.

Is the Subaru Outback or Honda Passport cheaper to maintain?

The Honda Passport is $86/year cheaper — $521 versus $607 for the Outback. The Passport also has a higher reliability score (8 vs. 7) and lower repair frequency (28% vs. 37%). The Outback's differentiators are its standard AWD and wagon body style, which are meaningful depending on use case.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Subaru Outback?

The 2018-2020 generation's documented complaint history makes extended warranty strongly recommended for those model years. Major repair probability of 12% and repair frequency of 37% are both above compact class averages. For 2023 and newer, the profile improves considerably — but the Outback's overall cost premium makes a repair fund or warranty worth planning for.

Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Outback

Two compact SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Mitsubishi Outlander — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

Buy the Subaru Outback if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Subaru Outback
Annual maintenance	$519winner	$607
5-year total cost	$2,595winner	$3,035
Reliability score	8 / 10winner	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	11%winner	12%
Cargo space	—	—
Starting price (new)	$29,995winner	$34,995
Best years to buy	—	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Subaru Outback
RepairPal score	8 / 10winner	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	278.2winner	287.6
Years to avoid	2014, 2015, 2016	2018, 2019, 2020
Value retained · 3 yr	72.4%	79.2%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	52.5%	61.4%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	41.5%	48.8%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Subaru Outback
Engine	14.5%	8.1%winner
Electrical	7.6%winner	18.7%
ADAS	10.2%	7.0%winner
Brakes	7.5%	4.0%winner
Suspension	2.7%	—winner
Steering	2.5%winner	3.6%
Fuel system	2.5%	1.3%winner
Tires/Wheels	2.0%	1.0%winner
Glass/Windows	4.2%winner	26.3%
Airbags	9.3%	5.4%winner
Lighting	—winner	3.3%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Subaru Outback
Avg annual premium	$2,676	$1,964winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Mitsubishi Outlander

$519/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Subaru Outback

$607/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Outlander costs $519/year to maintain — $2 below the compact segment average of $521, an essentially negligible difference. Repair frequency of 26% is below the class average of 30%. Reliability score of 8 and major repair probability of 11% are both at segment averages. Solid average-cost ownership with slightly better repair frequency.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →