2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Mitsubishi’s Got its Mojo Back
Front End of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
It has been a while since Mitsubishi has made a truly complete and competitive product. Back in the 1990’s Mitsubishi was on a hot streak, launching top notch and unique vehicles that resonated very well with the American buying public. Mitsubishi has made a reputation for making some legendary vehicles throughout their history. Nameplates such as the Montero, Montero Sport, Lancer EVO, Eclipse, Galant and Diamante were some of these iconic Mitsubishi products that have all been laid to rest in the automotive history books. After years of struggling with a limited lineup of cars to sell, Mitsubishi became a part of an alliance with Nissan in 2017. Now with a new footing and access to Nissan’s extensive platforms and resources, Mitsubishi has a new swagger and is about to write a new script for a new era. That first new product is the very well designed new Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV.
In terms of styling, the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV look exactly the same. The only real difference is that the PHEV version has a few extra badges to let you know that it’s the Plug in Hybrid version. The new Outlander features bold styling, which is a huge departure from the previous version’s more simplistic look. The Outlander uses Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield design up front, with chrome swoops on each side of the grille. The front headlights are split into two parts, with sleek driving lights that also feature turn signals up top and a square stacked headlight below. From the side, the new Outlander has a flat roofline and chiseled character lines that run along the shoulder line and also the bottom of the doors. These two character lines running parallel on the top and the bottom of the doors almost come together at the front door, creating a visually distinct and muscular look. In the rear the Outlander features an attractive and clean look with narrow rear lights with T-shaped ends. Visually from the exterior this is probably the most handsome Mitsubishi product in decades and I really am a fan of this design.
From the inside, this is where the new Outlander is truly a surprise. For years I was hoping Mitsubishi would design a world class interior and that wish was finally granted with the redesigned Outlander. The design looks great and it actually feels premium with nice to touch materials and good fit and finish. It is worth mentioning that the soft to touch materials are a huge improvement from past Mitsubishi products. The quilted leather seat are extremely comfortable and they too also look as if they were lifted out of a more expensive vehicle. Base models come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen while other trims come with a very nice 9.0-inch infotainment screen. Basically the infotainment system is a restyled Mitsubishi version that is based on the Nissan Rogue. The Outlander PHEV also offers a 12.3-inch Digital Driver Display. This allows the driver to glance at important information like navigation, drive mode settings and EV range while driving. The graphics in the instrument cluster is very detailed and I like that they use a different graphic for each driving mode that can be selected. This level of detail is nice to see in a Mitsubishi and helps take the brand to the next level as a serious contender. The clean and somewhat sporty interior design is straightforward with physical buttons and knobs that make life easy inside the Outlander PHEV. The steering wheel feels nice to the touch and the second row seats are both roomy and comfortable. The third row seats on the other hand are a little tight but at least it is there when needed in a pinch. This third row is in fact a selling feature for the Mitsubishi Outlander as its many competitors in the compact class only have two rows of seating. Thankfully these seats do easily fold flat into the rear cargo area. Overall the interior of the new Outlander and PHEV version is a pleasant place to be. Again, the seats are comfortable except maybe the third row, but if you can use them they basically are a bonus feature anyways. Without a doubt this is the nicest Mitsubishi interior ever and if Mitsubishi can continue to replicate interior designs and quality like this, it will only elevate the brand moving forward.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Engine Bay
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is equipped with a 2.4-liter I4 gas engine that is combined with two motors up front (one that can drive the front wheels and a small one to charge the batteries) and larger motor in the rear. When all is said and done this power unit combines to produce 248 HP and 332 lbs-ft of torque. Since this is a plug in hybrid, it has the capability to run on electric power as well as gas. The Outlander PHEV can operate as a pure EV and can go about 61 kilometers or 38 miles as an electric vehicle. The vehicle can also run in hybrid and battery save mode. When the gas engine is activated, it can be used as a generator to sustain the battery and create electricity while also recharging and replenishing the battery. The Outlander PHEV comes standard with AWD which is known as Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC). There are seven driver modes that can be selected including Snow, gravel, mud, power, tarmac, normal, and eco mode. These different modes can also alter the vehicles handling, steering feel and power delivery. While we all love having choices, seven different driving modes is a lot and there are some drawbacks as some of these modes won’t work in EV mode. For example, if you select power mode while driving as an EV, the system will switch the Outlander back to hybrid mode. In terms of driving feel, this Mitsubishi is well balanced, stable and a tad athletic. All of these traits reminds me of Mitsubishi’s rich rallying history. This alone is a great starting point for Mitsubishi to include in their quest to restore its reputation as a fun and youthful brand. Power comes on in a smooth manner and steering is light. The Mitsubishi Outlander is a generally comfortable vehicle, with a quiet cabin. The Outlander has great outward visibility and the seating position is also impressive too. Mitsubishi also offers what they call the “innovation pedal” which allows the vehicle to decelerate when you lift your foot off the gas. Basically it allows the driver to use one pedal to drive and this form of regenerative braking uses friction to feed energy back to the battery to replenish a little more range. It’s a good feature for this vehicle to have and while one-foot driving takes time to get used to, it can be fun once you get the hang of it. The Outlander PHEV packs a ton of features and technology into an overall fun to drive and enjoyable package.
In terms of pricing, the Outlander PHEV starts at $46,538 for the basic ES S-AWC trim and a slightly better equipped LE S-AWC starts at $51,238. My tester was the SEL S-AWC with the fancy 20” alloy wheels and this is priced from $54,048. Top trim GT S-AWC goes for $56,348 and the GT Premium tops out at $57,348. Pricing is on par with its competitors in the Plug-in-hybrid segment. It’s also worth noting that regular gasoline powered Outlanders range in price from $32,000-$43,000.
Mitsubishi Logo
Finally, after many years Mitsubishi has produced a great product. This new iteration of the Outlander and the PHEV version helps the brand move from being an also-ran in the automotive industry to a true contender. What Mitsubishi was able to create is a vehicle that is more comparable to its main rivals in terms of comfort, quality and ride. Throw in some unique features and design and Mitsubishi has instantly created a worthy compact SUV competitor to challenge sales leaders Toyota and Honda. The new Outlander is a truly competent vehicle and it brings the Mitsubishi brand to a level that it hasn’t reached since the mid-2000’s. Mitsubishi is back and the new Outlander is a transformational product that will help the brand re-emerge as a top player in the U.S. and Canadian marketplace. If the new Outlander lineup is any indication as to what to expect in the future, then I would expect exciting times ahead for the brand.
A Special thanks to the kind staff at Metrotown Mitsubishi for the vehicle.
Mitsubishi’s 20” Rims on the Outlander PHEV SEL S-AWC Trim
