2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid

Overview

Mitsubishi is getting serious about its Outlander Hybrid, kicking off a new generation of the plug-in hybrid SUV with a brand-new platform and more attractive styling. That's a good thing because, back in 2018 when the previous Outlander Hybrid launched, there were few plug-in hybrid crossovers available. That's changed now, and the Outlander Hybrid faces stiff competition from the likes of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Prime—and more hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) rivals are on the way. The Outlander Hybrid is powered by a four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that combine for 248 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, and the onboard battery pack holds enough juice for a claimed 38 miles of electric-only driving according to the EPA. If you like the nonhybrid Outlander's interior, you'll find the hybrid's cabin is just as nice. The third row of seats is only suitable for small kids, but the other two rows are spacious enough to accommodate adults even for long trips. The Outlander's driving dynamics are a bit of a bore, and there's more fun to be had behind the wheel of rivals from Mazda or Volkswagen but the Outlander Hybrid's ride is agreeable and should suit casual drivers.

What's New for 2023?

After a year off, Mitsubishi has reintroduced the plug-in-hybrid variant of its Outlander SUV for 2023. The Outlander Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive, a third row of seats, and an onboard battery with an EPA-estimated 38-mile electric driving range. It's based on the all-new Outlander that launched for 2022—which is itself based on the Nissan Rogue—but we review that model separately.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

To maximize value and keep overall costs low, we'd suggest the SE trim. Its small price hike over the ES is easily justified by the addition of 20-inch wheels, body-colored exterior mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a power liftgate, a larger 9.0-inch infotainment system, in-dash navigation, wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustments, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and parking sensors, and more. If your budget allows, consider adding the Tech package, which adds a panoramic sunroof, a nine-speaker Bose stereo, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

In the Outlander Hybrid, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder is assisted by a pair of electric motors for a combined 248 horsepower. In our first test drive, we noted that the Outlander PHEV felt perkier than its nonhybrid sibling, especially in urban driving. The Outlander Hybrid is anything but exciting to drive. Its ride is supple enough, but its cornering attitude is far from sporty. If you enjoy the act of driving, consider more athletic rivals such as the Dodge Hornet Hybrid or the Mazda CX-50. The Outlander Hybrid's brake pedal also felt squishy, even if braking performance proved to be okay. There are paddles on the steering column that allow you to dial in how much regenerative braking the hybrid system will allow for. Its highest regenerative setting allows for nearly one-pedal driving, saving you from having to step on the spongy left pedal much.

0–60-MPH Times

When we tested an Outlander Hybrid SEL, it scampered to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds at our test track. That result completely blows the nonhybrid Outlander model—which needed 8.2 seconds to complete the same task—out of the water.

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Range, Charging, and Battery Life

With a 16.8-kWh battery pack onboard, the Outlander PHEV boasts a claimed 38 miles of electric-only driving range per charge. That puts it slightly ahead of other PHEV versions of the Hyundai Tucson and the Ford Escape, but behind the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which beats the Outlander slightly with a 42-mile driving range. During our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, we recorded 24 miles of highway driving before the battery depleted. Unfortunately, the Outlander Hybrid suffers from a fairly slow onboard charging system, which means charging at home will take roughly 6.5 hours if the battery is entirely dead. Luckily, a DC fast-charging system is optional, but it uses an outdated CHAdeMO charging port that may not be easy to find at fast charging stations in your area.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

According to the EPA, the Outlander PHEV is rated for 25 mpg city and 27 mpg highway when running on gasoline but by the government's yardstick, it's good for 64 MPGe combined when accounting for its electric driving range. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, we recorded 25 mpg when running solely on gas, but 44 MPGe when we factored in the 24 miles of pure electric driving. For more information about the Outlander Hybrid's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The new Outlander Hybrid has significantly nicer cabin materials than its predecessor, which was marred by subpar plastics and chintzy trim pieces. Not only are the interior accents and surfaces of higher quality, but the design finally qualifies as modern. Likewise, there's an assortment of contemporary content that includes an available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a head-up display. While passengers in the first two rows enjoy more hip room and legroom than in the last-gen Outlander, its third row has very limited legroom for adults. The only other compact crossover with seating for seven is the Volkswagen Tiguan, but, unlike the Outlander, its extra set of seats is limited to front-drive models. Cargo space also increases on the new Outlander Hybrid, with a single cubic foot added to the total volume behind the second and third rows.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

While the base ES trim comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, all other trims get a larger 9.0-inch setup with navigation. Both units have standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but only the latter allows users to connect their devices wirelessly. Along with charging ports at the bottom of the center stack, the system features hard buttons and physical knobs for volume and tuning—which we prefer for ease of operation. A six-speaker stereo is standard, but a nine-speaker Bose audio system is optional on the SE and SEL trims and standard on the SEL Touring, SEL Premium, and 40^th Anniversary models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Basic driver-assistance technology such as automated emergency braking and lane-departure warning are standard but if you want more advanced features like adaptive cruise control you will need to upgrade to the SE or SEL trim levels to unlock those. For more information about the compact crossover's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning
• Available adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mitsubishi provides one of the better limited and powertrain warranties versus other compact crossovers and SUVs. Although the company doesn't offer complimentary maintenance, its primary protection plans are just as long as those from Kia and Hyundai.

• Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• Hybrid components are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL S-AWC
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $46,890/$50,980
Options: Premium package (power panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, synthetic leather door inserts, semi-aniline seat leather seats, 10.8-inch head up display, Bose sound system, front seat massage), $2700; White Diamond/Black roof, $995; tonneau cover, $200; Welcome package (touch-up paint pen, carpeted floor mats, cargo floor liner, tray mat), $195

POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4, 131 hp, 144 lb-ft + AC motors, 114 and 134 hp, 188 and 144 lb-ft (combined output: 248 hp, 332 lb-ft; 16.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, C/D est)
Transmissions, F/R: continuously variable automatic/direct-drive

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc
Tires: Nexen Roadian GTX RG1
P255/45R-20 101W M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.5 in
Length: 185.4 in
Width: 73.2 in
Height: 68.7 in
Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 54/46/18 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 64/31/13 ft³
Curb Weight: 4751 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.8 sec @ 82 mph
100 mph: 31.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 110 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 27 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving, EV/Hybrid Mode: 44 MPGe/25 mpg
75-mph Highway Range, EV/Hybrid mode: 24/370 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 26/25/27 mpg
Combined Gasoline + Electricity: 64 MPGe
EV Range: 38 mi

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED