15:13 29-10-2025

Why the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander missed IIHS Top Safety Pick

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander missed IIHS Top Safety Pick due to Marginal rear-occupant protection in moderate-overlap test, despite Good headlights and AEB.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander missed the IIHS Top Safety Pick list, despite turning in strong results in several key evaluations. The crossover earned a Good rating in the small-overlap frontal test and in the side impact, but the moderate-overlap assessment revealed shortcomings in rear-occupant protection.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in a 64 km/h impact the seat belt on a dummy representing an average-height woman or a child shifted from the pelvis to the abdomen, raising the risk of internal injuries. Because of this, belt performance and dummy kinematics were judged Marginal.

Even so, the IIHS pointed to notable strengths: effective LED headlights and a standard pedestrian-detection automatic emergency braking system. Forward Collision Mitigation also received a Good score.

The 2025 Outlander remains one of the more attainable three-row SUVs, offering seven seats, a 12.3-inch display, and a 181-hp Nissan QR 2.5-liter engine. However, despite a competitive starting price of $29,995, the Japanese crossover falls short of its main rivals on safety. For family-minded buyers, that gap in rear-seat protection can outweigh attractive features and value, even with the solid lighting and pedestrian-avoidance tech on board.