The latest generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV became the world’s best-selling plug-in hybrid SUV. Globally it was a hit, but it never got the traction the company hoped for in the US. But that could change with the release of an all-new 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The new SUV is longer, wider, has a third row, more range, and standard all-wheel drive.
Could the all-new 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV finally pave the way for the company with a tech-laden plug-in SUV in the US? If we had a magic 8 ball to ask, it would probably say, “The signs are pointing yes.”
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV fully electric?
The new Outlander PHEV is based on the $28,000 gas-powered Outlander and looks similar, but dynamically it’s completely different. The Outlander is the only seven-passenger SUV (though not the only three-row) to offer a plug-in hybrid system. In most cases, the Outlander’s gasoline engine acts as a generator that powers the two electric motors. When you’re driving, the single-speed transmission kicks in and acts like a traditional parallel hybrid with the gas engine providing more power.
Those electric motors feel like, well, a gasoline engine. Dynamic on the road, it doesn’t hit you in the back with power like, say, a RAV4 Prime or all-electric SUV. Sure, that electric power is a great party trick, but having a smooth linear “gas” pedal feels great in this SUV. That’s helped by its full-time four-wheel drive, which is optional on the gas-powered SUV, which seems to smooth out the ride and reduce head shake.
How much range does the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV have?
The EPA says the Outlander PHEV can travel 38 miles on a full charge, which is just four miles less than a RAV4 Prime. But in real-world driving through the rolling Tennessee hills recently, depending on the charging mode you choose, it ran in hybrid mode and never seemed to need more power, except when all the accessories were on. The two engines combined add up to 248 horsepower, and while it certainly has power in most situations, getting down the highway requires a bit of advance planning. You can dial in charging modes using the steering wheel-mounted paddles, including a cool “economy” mode that relies on the gasoline engine.
However, that power is channeled through Mitsubishi’s S-AWC, or Super All Wheel Control, which was programmed by the same engineer who made the old Mitsubishi Evo X super sedan a blast to drive. On the wet track where we put the PHEV through its paces, it stayed planted and stable at speeds none of us would go on the highway. The rear engine is more powerful than the front, and that brings a bit of happiness to the tail in the PHEV which, in the mud, allows it to get out for some NASCAR-style shenanigans.
Do all Outlanders have seven seats?
The Outlander PHEV’s interior looks a lot like the gas version, except the optional digital gauge cluster is now standard. The leather and cloth seating surfaces, as well as the leather trim on the dash and doors, feel like a higher quality than many of us would remember from Mitsubishis of the past. There are some echoes of its budget SUV roots in the rear, where some of the plastic on the doors felt a bit flimsy. Although it has a third row, it’s sized for kids and riders, but it’s great when you need to carry a couple more people.
Nissan fans will recognize some of the interior bits, like the navigation display and gear stick, from the Pathfinder. The two are corporate cousins, and sharing some critical parts can help keep costs down. Although the gasoline engine/generator has an odd hum effect at some speeds, the cabin is quiet to converse, even while we were playing around with the SUV on the racetrack, thanks to the double-pane glass.
Is the new 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander worth $42,000?
The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV starts at $41,190 (with delivery) in ES trim. In the White Diamond SEL trim, it can approach $51,000. The interior doesn’t measure up to the $39,000 Lincoln Corsair. It doesn’t have the off-road chops of a Toyota 4Runner or the power of a Chevy Traverse. But you can’t really compare a hyper-efficient, tech-laden three-row PHEV to those gas-powered SUVs. A PHEV simply costs more and is more efficient.
Competition for this PHEV SUV consists of the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV. The Toyota is faster and more powerful with a slight range bonus, but it only seats five and has a rougher ride. The $40,000 Hyundai is well equipped but has less range, and the PHEV version still feels (and looks) like a $28,000 SUV. However, the new 2023 Outlander’s technology, range, third-row seating and competent all-wheel drive could make it a major player in the growing SUV PHEV segment for the US market. Finally.