The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which launched the plug-in hybrid SUV market, has helped the company establish itself within the Nissan-Renault Alliance.
When it debuted in the US in 2018, the Mitsubishi Outlander was the first hybrid SUV in the world in 2013. It is also noteworthy because it is coupled with the Mitsubishi S-AWC for off-road performance. Since then, the PHEV market has expanded, but Outlander is still the only 7-passenger alternative (the Kia Sorento PHEV carries six). Potentially increasing the appeal of the brand and plug-in hybrids is the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Due to Nissan’s 2016 purchase of a sizable interest in the Japanese manufacturer following its fuel efficiency crisis, Mitsubishi is still in business today. Mitsubishi has contributed its advantages: Nissan and Renault have emphasized plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles using S-AWC (Superior All Wheel Control) and its hybrid technology. Nissan and Renault have not adopted Mitsubishi’s PHEV technology. They continue to use electric solutions instead.
PHEVs are viewed as a stopgap between complete BEVs and PHEVs. A pure electric vehicle couldn’t go far enough. Most PHEVs are built to automatically activate the internal combustion engine when more power is required, even if the client prefers to stay pure. These two factors worked against them. An electric car. The circumstance.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Range and Refresh
The Outlander PHEV has a respectable, EPA-approved range of 38 miles, but the SEL Premium demonstrated a 42-mile range during a recent test drive in Franklin, Tennessee. However, the content decreased by 5 miles when we turned on the HVAC, depending on the fan speed.
From nearly none in B0 to B5, the steering wheel pedals offer five levels of regenerative braking. According to Mitsubishi Segment car engineer Kentaro Honda, using the “innovation” button also adds some mechanical brakes, raising the level to somewhere between B8 and B10.
Regenerative braking eventually requires you to manually use the brakes to bring the vehicle to a complete stop, even at its highest intensity. When the brakes were released, Mitsubishi engineers believed it was crucial for customers that the automobile could move slowly.
The PHEV has come close to imitating the EV.
The ability to keep the SUV in pure EV mode distinguishes the Outlander PHEV. To select Normal (a mix of EV and ICE), EV (pure EV), Charge (the engine powers the car while also extending range), or Hold, use the EV button (maintains the current state of Charge until prompted to use it at a later time)
When the SUV is idle and in charge mode, it takes roughly 30 minutes to reach 80% of its capacity. Depending on how you drive, you can recharge it on the highway in approximately an hour. The engine will be used primarily for propulsion, pulling some power from the battery.
Steep learning curve?
The drawback: The alternatives and intricate engineering might make it difficult for customers to decide what to do and when. The CHAdeMO rapid charging system, well-liked in Japan but not North America, is one of the two charging choices for the Outlander PHEV. The other option is standard 240V. Perhaps a strange selection, but it’s significant that the SUV provides a DC fast charging option.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The last generation of Outlander PHEV sold out in the middle of the year, while the first generation wasn’t made available in North America until 2018. The Nissan Rogue-based second-generation Outlander and Outlander PHEV have better proportions than the tall, slender SUVs they replace.
A third row is available. However, it is relatively small and difficult to enter, making it better suited for young children for brief periods. A phone pocket for the second row and one of three storage pockets on the rear of the front seat are thoughtful additions. The windows in the front passenger compartment have two panes of glass.
Sales of the Outlander PHEV in 2023 will be wholly emission-free but available across the country. By the end of the year, Mitsubishi wants every US dealer to have at least one model available for display. With a starting price of $41,190, three trim options are available for the PHEV.
The SUV is made in Japan. However, there will be some manufacturing limitations. In November 2021, it was first introduced in Japan (which only sells PHEVs), followed by Australia two months later and the US at the end of November. The plans for Mitsubishi are still in flux because it left the European market 18 months ago and then decided to reenter with a rebranded Renault.
Reinventing Mitsubishi
To completely revamp the company selling cars in the United States for 40 years, Marc Chaffin was appointed CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America in April after serving as the chief operating officer. Following Nissan’s lead, Mitsubishi relocated and, in 2019, moved its headquarters from California to Franklin, Tennessee.
The Outlander PHEV is the show’s star and the entry point for the brand’s transformation. A new dealer program was launched in 2019. About 75% of dealerships have finished or enrolled in the program, which requires a complete facility upgrade in anticipation of the new Outlander, launched in April 2021.
According to Chaffin, the brand is luring a wealthier customer, and sales, market share, and transaction prices are up. They are voracious consumers of technology, with PHEV demand outpacing that of the ICE Outlander. The CEO declined to comment on the timing of Mitsubishi’s first all-electric model’s arrival in North America, which is most likely to be a scaled-down SUV called the Outlander Sport or Eclipse Cross.
Demand for the 2022-redesigned Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is outstripping availability. Now, standard all-wheel drive is offered for the 2023 Outlander Sport. The black variant and a standard CVT with a five-speed manual drop-down gear are added in the Mirage and Mirage G4 versions. The Ralliart performance label first appeared in 2023.
The Outlander PHEV is predicted to provide up to 38 miles of electric-only range on a single charge thanks to a gasoline engine under the hood, a battery pack beneath the floor, and two electric motors. Range anxiety is eliminated mainly after the gasoline engine uses the battery, although fuel efficiency in this mode is only rated at a pitiful 26 mpg. Rivals in this class have estimated mpg ranges of 35 to 40.
On a 240-volt charger, recharging the battery should take about 6.5 hours, but the top Outlander trim also has a DC fast-charging feature that can restore 80% of its Charge in only 38 minutes. Unfortunately, the older CHAdeMO receptacle needed for that speedy Charge is being phased out at public charging stations.
Although the Outlander PHEV has a few efficiency-related shortcomings, it performs remarkably well. Although it accelerates quickly and should reach 60 mph in under 7 seconds, its sporty handling sets it apart. Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel-drive technology stands out among its competitors because it efficiently directs power to individual wheels to cut through corners with breathtaking accuracy.
The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should be at the top of your list if you’re one of the uncommon drivers looking for extra thrills from a somewhat efficient SUV. The Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape, and Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in versions are better choices if maximum efficiency is more important to you.
Which Outlander PHEV do you recommend?
Rarely do we suggest a vehicle’s top trim, but in this instance, the SEL trim makes sense. For a fair price, you can acquire several attractive, practical, and abundant features and a few exclusive option packages to this model.
Models of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
A 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine combined with two electric motors (one for the front wheels and the other for the rear) and a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery housed in the floor power the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a small plug-in hybrid SUV. 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque are produced together.
Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC), Mitsubishi’s cutting-edge all-wheel drive technology, and a third row of seats for a maximum seating capacity of seven passengers are standard on the Outlander PHEV. Three trim levels are available: ES, SE, and SEL.
ES
The foundational features of the cost-effective ES trim include:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Keyless remote entry/ignition
- Selectable drive modes
- LED exterior lighting
- Digital instrument panel
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Cloth upholstery
- 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app
- Six-speaker audio system
Typical features for driving assistance include:
In certain situations, forward collision mitigation (which alerts you of an approaching accident and applies the brakes)
Rear cross-traffic alert with blind-spot warning (warns you if a car is in your blind area while changing lanes or going backwards)
Lane departure warning (which warns you if the car starts to veer off its street)
Monitor for the driver’s attention (sends an alert if sensors detect you’re becoming tired)
When a trailer starts to wobble, trailer stability control changes the brakes on the vehicle to help control trailer movement.
Auto-high beams
SE
You may upgrade to the middle SE trim and obtain several techs, comfort, and convenience options not offered on the ES model. These consist of:
- 20-inch wheels
- LED foglights
- Power-folding and heated mirrors
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power Liftgate
- Keyless entry
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- 9-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Satellite and HD radio
- Wireless charging pad
SE Tech package
- Bose audio system with nine speakers
- Panoramic roof
- Dimmer-equipped rearview mirror
The following additional driver-assist features:
For confined parking spaces, a surround-view camera system (which provides a top-down picture of the car and its surroundings)
Adaptive cruise control (controls speed to maintain a set gap between the automobile in front of you and your vehicle)
Lane-keeping assistance (modifies the steering somewhat to help the car stay in the middle of its lane)
When an automobile is in the vehicle’s blind spot, and you attempt to change lanes, active blind-spot intervention (ABS) automatically directs the car back into its lane.
Improved lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control for highway driving
SEL
The range-topping SEL trim dresses up the Outlander PHEV with body-colour exterior accents and several luxury touches that include:
- Roof rails
- Upgraded exterior and interior little elements
- DC fast-charging capability
- Three-zone automatic climate control
- Driver’s seat memory functions
- Leather upholstery
- Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Rear seat sunshades
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Two household-style power outlets
SEL Touring package
This option package adds a handful of niceties, such as:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated steering wheel
- Head-up display (displays essential information in your sight line on the windshield)
- Nine-speaker Bose premium audio
SEL Premium package
The SEL Premium package includes the Touring package’s features plus:
- Upgraded interior trim
- Premium leather upholstery
Pricing for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
From $39,845, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be available in 2023. The list price is $49,995. That makes it somewhat more costly than the PHEV versions of the Ford Escape, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson, but none have a third row of seats.
- PHEV Outlander ES: $39.845
- PHEV SE Outlander: $42,145
- PHEV SE Outlander with Tech Package: $44,145
- PHEV Outlander SEL: $45,445
- $47,645 for the Outlander PHEV SEL Touring.
- SEL Premium for the Outlander PHEV: $48,145
- $40,995 for the Outlander PHEV 40th Anniversary Edition
