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 Hyundai Santa Fe expensive to maintain?

The Santa Fe averages $515/year in maintenance — $58 below the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 24% is well below the class average of 40%. Major repair probability of 10% is well below the 13% norm. Reliability score of 8 is above the midsize average of 7. It outperforms the segment average on every ownership-cost metric.

What is the best year for a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Avoid 2013-2014 (604 and 492 complaints) and especially 2017 (929 complaints), which coincides with the Theta II engine recall era. The 2021 Santa Fe (158 complaints, 10/10 safety, 5 severe) is the strongest mature used pick. The current generation is consistent: 2024 (121, 8/10, 11 severe) and 2025 (112, 8/10, 6 severe) are solid options for buyers wanting newer.

How much does Hyundai Santa Fe insurance cost?

Santa Fe insurance averages about $2,430/year — roughly $203/month.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is cheaper to maintain by $86/year — $429 versus $515 for the Santa Fe. Note the RAV4 is a compact SUV while the Santa Fe is a midsize, so they serve somewhat different buyers. Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability (10%); the Santa Fe has a slightly lower repair frequency (24% vs. 26%). The cost gap is real, but so is the size difference.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Major repair probability of 10% and repair frequency of 24% are both well below midsize segment averages. Extended warranty isn't needed for 2021 and newer. For used models in the 2013-2014 and 2017 range, the documented engine recall history makes coverage worth taking seriously.

Mitsubishi Outlander vs Hyundai Santa Fe

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

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe to minimise 5-year ownership cost.

Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe if long-term reliability matters most.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Hyundai Santa Fe
Annual maintenance	$519	$515winner
5-year total cost	$2,595	$2,575winner
Reliability score	8 / 10	8 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	11%	10%winner
Cargo space	—	—
Starting price (new)	$29,995winner	$35,050
Best years to buy	—	2011, 2018

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Hyundai Santa Fe
RepairPal score	8 / 10	8 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	278.2	251.5winner
Years to avoid	2014, 2015, 2016	2017, 2019, 2023
Value retained · 3 yr	72.4%	72.5%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	52.5%	54.4%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	41.5%	42%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Mitsubishi Outlander	Hyundai Santa Fe
Engine	14.5%winner	45.2%
Electrical	7.6%	5.1%winner
ADAS	10.2%	8.8%winner
Brakes	7.5%	5.7%winner
Suspension	2.7%	—winner
Steering	2.5%winner	4.5%
Fuel system	2.5%	2.0%winner
Tires/Wheels	2.0%winner	2.3%
Glass/Windows	4.2%	2.9%winner
Airbags	9.3%	2.1%winner
Lighting	—winner	1.2%

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	Hyundai Santa Fe
Avg annual premium	$2,676	$2,430winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Mitsubishi Outlander

$519/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Hyundai Santa Fe

$515/yr maint · 8 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 →