Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Can Slash Your Gas Bill

On paper, the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid is what people want these days. It’s three-row SUV that will travel 38 miles on electric power so many owners can get by on a single tank of gas a year (seriously, I’ve done it). It also has a sure-footed all-wheel drive system dubbed Super All-Wheel Control with a rear-drive performance bias. And it just took home multiple trophies at the Mudfest SUV Competition. But, how does it stack up in the real world? Tom Voelk checks out a SEL Premium model with massaging seats to see how it competes with competition from Hyundai, Kia and Toyota.

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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid review, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV range, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gas mileage, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV price, Tom Voelk, Tom Volk, Tom Volk car reviews

About Tom: Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award (and he's won for photography, editing, producing and reporting). But really, all you need to know is in the videos.

00:00 Intro
00:56 Why A Plug In Hybrid
1:40 Pricing
2:22 Powertrain
2:49 Off Road
4:15 More Powertrain
5:05 Charging
5:30 Driving Dynamics
6:33 Efficiency
7:20 Sounds
7:53 Braking
9:03 Interior
10:27 Rear Seating
12:13 Design
12:47 Cargo Space
14:06 Red Light Green Light
15:05 Summary
16:05 Epilogue
16:59 Before I Go

[richardneedles]

Thanks for the review! -- I bought my 2023 Outlander PHEV (SEL Premium) 4 months ago - local dealer (Columbus, Ohio – USA) had 7 Outlander PHEVs on the lot. They now have 11 on the lot with great sales deals. I got mine for $1, 200 UNDER MSRP and the dealer gave me $31, 500 for my 2018 Acura TLX -- I paid $18, 000 plus tax for the Outlander. I have driven 4, 356 miles – have used 32 gallons of gas total.
I am plugging it in every night for my daily commute and weekend errands. I have taken 2 road trips of 300 miles round trip each; got 37 “mpg” using “Normal” hybrid mode for these trips. It feels "luxurious" inside -- premium leather, panoramic roof, 360 camera, power folding side mirrors, heated steering wheel, heated front AND rear seats, hands-free tailgate, head up display, Bose speakers AND massaging front seats! If I take a longer drive, I will have no "range anxiety."
Plus, the Outlander has a 10-YEAR WARRANTY. ONE BIG NOTE: the owner's manual clearly states that the 3rd row is ONLY for people under 5' 3." I do not need a 3rd row, so I "tri-fold" it. This opens up a HUGE, DEEP storage well. And, I can stack duffel bag items on the folded 3rd row!
The RAV4 Prime may have better overall mpg, but the 18-month wait and $12, 000 "dealer adjustment" are outrageous. One local dealer wanted $65k for loaded Prime with MSRP of $52k. I did not consider Kia or Hyundai brands -- "Kia boys" have stolen 3, 000 of them in my area (and assaulted drivers in the process). This is a real issue.
Lastly, my home solar panels were installed 2 months ago. I got a level 2 charger in my garage 3 weeks ago. The Outlander PHEV is the PERFECT choice for me in 2023 --- availability, luxury, value and price -- a great vehicle to "step into" electrification!

[WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

I'm not even a little surprised it's an offroading sleeper.
Those of us who spent time overseas on deployment will have had time behind the wheel of all those magnificent Ute's (small block diesel crewcab trucks) we can't have in America. Everyone knows lust for the legendary Hilux, but few Americans get to operate the equally awesome overseas Mitsu Tritons and Nissan Navaras

[bigprocrastinator]

Good to see Mitsubishi getting it's competitive footing again. Would love to see them bring a US Delica. Smallish vans ready for light off-roading and city commutes is what we need

[chaswd]

My wife has had for a couple of months. A great vehicle with excellent comfort and interior size practicality. The range is impacted by weather, drive style, drive location and ability to charge. We drive mainly urban and some highway. We can charge daily. We use the regenerative braking most of the time. We are getting up to 44 miles on a charge. Our combined mpg is 79. Our first fill up was at 1000 miles.

[mtrxd]

I just got my brand new, 2023 pearl white exterior, grey leather interior. I'm so in love ... I've never felt this way before about a car!! She is perfect. The innovation pedal is incredible... my dash computer actually says that I'm getting more like 45-50 miles on a full battery charge. I don't even charge it every night. And the interior feels like a straight up luxury car. I don't care for the 3rd row.... it's so tiny that you'd be tempted to stick the kids back there.... but those seats look a death trap if you're in a car accident!! Don't put your kids back there!! The backseat isn't very comfortable for dogs, either.... still working on a solution for that.

[OliveiraPaulo]

So far, this is the best review of the PHEV that I have seen (and I watched all of them)!

[francoisgagne]

I've been on Hyundai AND KIA waiting list for over 1 year to get my hand on their PHEV, to no avail. I was informed 3 weeks ago that the waiting lists were cancelled...and they were moving out of the PHEV production. Met with Mitsubishi dealer 2 weeks ago. I am getting my 2024 Outlander Phev GT in April. Way to go Mitsubishi...

[Snafu]

I would have preferred an option to have no 3rd row, and having more space and/or a good sized spare.

[thatdjnurse]

Just bought an SE and my buddy is getting this PHEV we're all excited!

[TheGerm]

I looked at one of these 4 years ago and ended up getting a Pacifica Hybrid which is a PHEV minivan. I don't need the AWD, and the van has way more storage and better seating.

[sassaidi]

I drove the old PHEV for few months and the new one for couple of days. The new one is excellent. They looked at every aspect of the old one and improved it. The drive is impressive.

[ryanyoder]

Love mine. Two weeks in and very satisfied

[jazzjokesjalopies]

Super video, Tom. My theory on front-end design of most Japanese cars lately is that they turn on a powerful electromagnet at one end of the garage and dump a tool chest at the other. Wherever stuff lands, that’s the new grill.

[litestuffllc]

There is a giant plus for hybrids not often recognized - you can make 10 times as many with the same limited resource - Lithium. A hybrid uses a battery about 8-10x smaller than a full EV. You can drive all electric for commutes with a 38 mile all electric range; you could charge that battery with solar if you have 10 solar panels and live in the sun belt. On longer trips a full EV averages 50 mph due to charging; a hybrid averages 70mph.

[KarmicPatina]

your comment regarding frequency and being able to still hear it was hilarious man.

[je]

In Australia, Mitsubishi dealers are still everywhere. Also, our normal power points will charge the outlander in 9 hours because we have 240v.

[samy]

Outlander and X-trail (Rouge) are very popular in Australia 🇦🇺

[roberthale]

An oil change yearly will cost you DIY $45-50, air and cabin filter DIY maybe $80. Also the 2.4l engine is Mitsubishi, not the Nissan 2.5l engine in the ICE version. From what I have read too the engine will be forced to run after a certain amount of days not running to keep all the fuel systems and gas fresh.

[jacksonludwig]

Leased one of these and got the EV rebate. The 10 yr warranty too makes this one a hidden gem. Tarmac mode tightens up the handling. But any tips on removing the 3rd row seat?? I want that space back.

[guidedmeditation]

This is the first Mitsubishi in a long time that has caught my eye. The styling inside and out are cutting edge and very appealing. I think I would choose this Mitsubishi Outlandeer PHEV over a Tesla Y. Yes I know one is all electric but for the type of driving I do this Mitsubishi would effectively be just that.