There’s always been some connection between manufacturers in the automotive industry, right? Muscle car fans like to talk about how “different” models that Ford and Mercury made or of course the myriad platforms of General Motors that were identical in the chassis department and many styling elements, to boot. But weirdly in the modern realm of cars, things are viewed and seen differently mainly because the partnerships are not so cut and dried. The buying public, despite the avalanche of information available to them is seemingly less informed than they were in yesteryear as well.
Eagle eyes BangShift readers will see the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2.5 AWD and perhaps scratch their chin. Something seems familiar, related, but it’s not easy to put a finger on it.
The fact of the matter is that the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2.5 AWD and the 2025 Nissan Rogue are effectively the same car. There are some differences but once we get past them, they are one and the same. The bad news for Mitsubishi is that the difference, especially the important one does not favor them. The Nissan Rogue has a three cylinder turbocharged engine that makes about 210hp. As “exciting” as that sounds, the Outlander has a naturally aspirated 2.5L four banger that makes 181hp and is hooked to an “eight speed” CVT transmission.
This is a 4,0oolb SUV with a CVT and 181hp. That ain’t great math in 2025 let alone 1995 or honest, 1985. Rough.
In terms of a vehicle and transportation, the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2.5 AWD handles the job with aplomb. We found no major faults or issues with any of the experience in the sense that this car moved us around without drama, without mechanical issue, without any sort of travails at all. It was transportation and it was as comfortable as the Nissan Rogue we drove. Why?
Because it had the exact same interior as the Nissan Rogue. Literally the exact same one. It actually had the exact same paint color, too. These are not bad things but they are also conspicuous in some ways. It’s their most refined package like it was in the Rogue as well. Not hating on anyone or anything but if we were picking between the two same vehicles and one had the same price with a drivetrain that was better in virtually every way? We’d go with that one. The 2.5L four cylinder here just does not play the role you want it to if you are looking for an upscale experience for your $44,600 price tag. Yes, the Nissan is marginally more expensive but with some decent bargaining skills at the dealer we bet you could walk out for shorter money, same as with the Mitsubishi.
Bottom line here is that car companies have had similar models, platforms, engines, and partnerships for decades. In 2025 they are more obscured than ever to take advantage of a less informed buying public (despite way easier access to information) so you need two understand what you are looking at, shopping for, and wanting in a car and its mechanical components to make the right decisions.
The 2025 Mitsubishi is not a bad version of the Nissan Rogue…it’s just 30+ horsepower down, feels less refined, and despite the same paint and interior comes up as Rogue Lite. Drive them both and form your both opinion. We’d love to hear it.
