2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Surprises Industry With Top Safety Pick+ Rating
In a remarkable turnaround for the brand, Mitsubishi's redesigned 2014 Outlander has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest honor - the Top Safety Pick+ designation. This achievement places the Outlander among an elite group of compact SUVs that have excelled in IIHS's rigorous testing protocol, including its challenging small overlap front crash test.
--FIRST CAR LIST HERE--
Featured Snippet: The 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status by receiving Good ratings in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. It joined the Subaru Forester as the only compact SUVs to ace the demanding small overlap test at launch.
Breaking Down the Outlander's Impressive Test Results
The 2014 Outlander demonstrated exceptional crashworthiness across all IIHS evaluation categories:
IIHS Crash Test Ratings
- Small overlap front: Good (most challenging test)
- Moderate overlap front: Good
- Side impact: Good
- Roof strength: Good (withstands 5x vehicle weight)
- Head restraints & seats: Good
- --TOP ADVERTISEMENT HERE--
Particularly impressive was the Outlander's performance in the small overlap test, which simulates a vehicle striking another object or vehicle with just 25% of its front end - one of the most difficult scenarios for vehicle structures to handle effectively.
Engineering Behind the Outlander's Safety
Mitsubishi made significant structural improvements for the 2014 model year:
- Reinforced front-end structure: Better manages crash energy in offset impacts
- Enhanced occupant cage: Maintains survival space in severe crashes
- Improved roof strength: Withstands force equal to nearly 5x vehicle weight
- Advanced airbag system: Includes dual-stage front and side-curtain airbags
- --SECOND CAR LIST HERE--
