The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been available for some time in Europe, where it has enjoyed strong sales but has faced delays in coming to the US market. Now, after four years, the plug-in hybrid crossover has finally arrived.
It all starts with the foundations of the current Outlander crossover, which has been around since 2013. From there, it’s easy to tell the Outlander PHEV apart from its gas-only counterpart. If the unique front and rear bumpers and side skirts don’t give it away, the big “PHEV” graphics down the sides definitely do. Another distinguishing feature is that the vehicle’s model name is spelled across the leading edge of the hood in bold letters. Furthermore, unlike most other plug-in vehicles, Mitsubishi doesn’t place the charging-port door on the front fender; rather, it’s on the rear right fender, sitting opposite to the gas fill-up door on the left rear fender.
Stepping inside, things are a little more normal for the Outlander PHEV. It has a different steering wheel, instrument cluster, and gear selector than the gas-only Outlander, sure, but it doesn’t scream “hybrid.” Things are definitely higher-quality on the PHEV, though. The airbag cover is stitched, and the standard leather on the seats is a nicer variety with contrast stitching throughout. And speaking of seats, the Outlander PHEV is strictly a five-passenger affair, unlike the ordinary Outlander, which seats seven. However, in exchange for removing the third row, Mitsubishi claims it didn’t have to intrude upon the interior at all in fitting the new electric equipment beneath the car. There’s still 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which doubles with the rear split-folding seats down, and the second-row seats both slide and recline.
Being a hybrid, the Outlander PHEV benefits from both electric and gasoline propulsion. Under the hood, there’s a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder, 117-horsepower engine that acts as either a generator or works in tandem with a 60-kilowatt electric motor to power the front axle, which negates the need for a transmission. At the PHEV’s rear axle, there’s a second 60 kW electric motor and a 12 kWh battery. Combined horsepower for the system is 197 hp.
Tying both axles together for all-wheel-drive capability is a version of Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) setup. In addition, drivers get to choose from one of three modes for special behavior. Battery Save Mode conserves the battery pack by operating in hybrid mode. Battery Charge Mode will run the engine in order to generate electricity for the battery. And ECO mode will reduce both fuel and electricity usage for efficient travel. Otherwise, the Outlander PHEV uses its own logic to determine how best to use the engine and/or battery.
The all-electric range for the PHEV is 21 miles, a figure that’s actually quite impressive for a near-5,000-pound crossover. The battery recharges in around 8 hours on a standard 120-volt household outlet or around 3.5 hours with a 240 volt supply. In addition, the Outlander PHEV is the only plug-in hybrid that makes use of DC fast-charging with the CHAdeMO standard. A DC fast-charging station will bring the Outlander PHEV’s battery pack to 80 percent capacity in about 25 minutes. Otherwise, the crossover’s fuel economy is 74 MPGe in hybrid mode or 25 MPG combined in gasoline-only mode. Total range is around 310 miles.
The Outlander PHEV starts at $34,595 with the SEL trim, which is about a $6,000 premium over a gas-only Outlander SEL with AWD. Standard features include 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, roof rails, 8-way power adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual USB ports, keyless access and entry, an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold, and a power liftgate.
Stepping up to the GT trim for $40,295 unlocks additional features, such as LED headlights, LED fog lights, a power sunroof, a 710-watt audio system with 9 speakers, a heated steering wheel, and a 1500-watt AC power supply with two outlets.
As far as safety, the Outlander PHEV gets all of the latest and greatest. A reversing camera, blind spot monitoring, and lane change assistance are standard. GT tacks on lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.
The Outlander PHEV is uncharted territory for Mitsubishi in the USA, but it has been successful elsewhere. Here, it provides an SUV with high usability, a giant list of standard features including AWD, and very low running costs in hybrid or electric mode. Moreover, it qualifies for a $5,836 tax credit from the federal government, making the premium over a comparable non-hybrid Outlander almost negligible.
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Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 140 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 11.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.9 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Dash trim: metallic · Door trim: metallic · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: aluminum · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: multi-function screen controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand
Engine
EV battery capacity: 12 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 80 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 60 · Electric Motor Torque: 144 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 3.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 22 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 117 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 4500 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 137 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4500
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Fender lip moldings: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Rocker panel color: black · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Fuse · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rails: silver
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.3
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Premium Brand: Rockford Fosgate · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 8 · 710 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 11.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.9 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Dash trim: metallic · Door trim: leatherette · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: aluminum · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: rear · Cargo area power outlet: 115V · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 115V · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: multi-function screen controls · Storage: accessory hook · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand
Engine
EV battery capacity: 12 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 80 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 60 · Electric Motor Torque: 144 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 3.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 22 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 117 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 4500 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 137 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4500
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Fender lip moldings: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Rocker panel color: black · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google search · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close · Roof rails: silver
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off · Pre-Collision Warning System: visual warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: contrast stitching
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.3
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer