2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Plug-in Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Plug-In is a compact crossover with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain, similar to the new...

The Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Plug-In is a compact crossover with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain, similar to the new Ford Escape PHEV. Unlike the regular Outlander, the Outlander Hybrid Plug-In is purely a 5-seater, with no third row. It gets light updates for 2020.

As before, the Outlander Hybrid Plug-In comes in SEL and GT trims. The SEL comes with 18-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights and taillights, fog lights, 8-way power front seats, a 60/40 split-folding rear seatback, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless start and access, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power liftgate. A second-row USB port and resculpted second-row seats are new additions for 2020. The standard 8-inch infotainment system is also new and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The GT includes full LED headlights, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a 1,500-watt AC power supply with two outlets. Last year’s Rockford-Fosgate sound system goes away, replaced by a new Mitsubishi Power Sound System (MPSS). You can now add a GT Premium Interior package, which gets you leather seats with diamond-quilted stitching, black interior accents, carpeted floor mats, and a charging cable storage bag.

Both trims come with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder, twin electric motors, a 12-kilowatt-hour battery, and front and rear single-speed transmissions. System output is 148 horsepower. The Outlander Hybrid Plug-In also comes with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and regenerative braking. Recharging happens in fewer than 3.5 hours with a Level 2 home charger, and DC fast charging lets you reach an 80-percent charge in just 25 minutes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Outlander Hybrid Plug-In at 25 mpg combined in gas mode and 74 miles-per-gallon equivalent in hybrid mode. You get 310 miles of range, and 22 of that is fully electric.

The 2020 Outlander Hybrid Plug-In benefits from more safety tech than last year. Forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams are newly standard. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, and a reversing camera are yet more standard features. Stepping up to the GT gets you a 360-degree camera system and adaptive cruise control. The Outlander Hybrid Plug-In scored decent crash ratings from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).