We Say Goodbye to our Long Term 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV after 30,000 Miles

It’s that time of year when parents get ready to send off their college-bound kids, and we know how hard it is to say goodbye. We’re doing that now with our 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, graduating from its year-long tour at MotorWeek HQ.

Over those 12 months, we’ve tallied 29,776 miles, a lot for any long term. No wonder. This plug-in hybrid’s overall efficiency of 29.2 mpg rates a great score in our book, as does the 38 miles of electric-only range observed in our test. In the same vein, the “charge” drive mode was great at recouping spent electrons, returning up to 30 miles of range to the battery over one 150-mile highway commute.

Looking beyond the numbers, this three-row utility really proved its worth, from MotorWeek support vehicle to daily driver, road trip warrior and everything in between.

We could point to a lot of individual things we enjoyed over the year-long test, but it all adds up to one simple fact: The Outlander PHEV is an exceptionally comfortable and practical daily driver and road trip cruiser. Naturally, the suspension and the plug-in hybrid powertrain deserve a lot of the credit, but it’s what’s on the inside that really puts it over the top. Comfortable seats and an upscale feel throughout. This utility really over-delivered.

All in all, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a well-rounded experience. If it were to receive a final report card from us, it’d walk across the stage with straight A’s.

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[jesseg]

I purchased this after your reviews and absolutely love it.

[alitariq]

I have a 2021 PHEV Outlander. Already have over 76k KMS and its awesome!

[AJMangino]

Absolutely love mine. Such a great driving truck. Interior punches above its class big time.

[SkaBob]

38 miles of EV range is much better then the 20 miles the phev jeep or crosstrek had but still like to see more. I think PHEVs need to get upto the 80-100+ mile range to be more useful, right now with the short range they require charging every time you drive it so many people just stop charging them after a month. We had a Niro PHEV and didn't keep it long, it was easier to just get a Ioniq 5 full EV rather than still buying gas and having to plug it in 2 times a day.

[pljnpwh]

In Canada this Outlander PHEV qualifies for tax rebates i.e. $5000 Federal Tax and addtional $4000 provincial tax. This makes it a very attractive option.

[ianwish]

You give it flying colours... but the reason you buy this over the ICE version is for increased efficiency. Yet over the mixed long term test, you only achieved an average MPG of 29.2 (8L/100kms). So if you add the extra $10 to $14k you spent vs the ICE version just to get the same efficiency... that's sounds like a lot of wasted money to me. Why didn't you consider this in the review? Don't get me wrong, I think they are great vehicles, but this confirms that they are a product that really only makes sense for specific use cases. I've been driving them for 6 years now (2018 and now a 2022) and am at a current lifetime of 63 MPG (3.7L/100kms) because I live in a small city with a temperate climate with a relatively short commute which means for in town driving, I'm 95% EV. Then it's just road trips or bigger driving days where I'm using gas. Otherwise... I wouldn't own one.

[abhisinghthakurinspiration]

Should I buy 100k driven 2022 Outlander I m low on budget

[RoadCone]

The biggest problem with buying this vehicle, in my opinion, would be telling my neighbors and friends that I bought a Mitsubishi. This is how far the brand has fallen.
I'm old enough to remember when Mitsubishi offered high-tech, well-engineered vehicles. mostly on-par or better than rivals from Nissan, Mazda and Nissan...2+ decades of poorly made, not very competitive vehicles (EVO being an exception) have left this brand as little more than an afterthought in the marketplace and low in public perception.
I'm not normally worried about what others may think of my purchases but a car is a commitment. It actually says something. Designer jeans don't bother me, but I generally keep my vehicles for a long time so being able to feel good about my purchase is important. Mitsubishi doesn't carry a lot of brand cache no matter how good the PHEV Outlander actually is. The fact is that there are other similar vehicles out there, that do some things better, some things worse, but carry a more respected badge on the front and tailgate. So why should I get the Mitsubishi? Please convince me otherwise.

[tipsovr]

It might be nice but the front end is just fugly.

[roberthoyt]

Shall Mitsubishi just consider pulling out of North America since it has been a shadow of its old self for over a decade ago? The brand doesn’t seem to be committed to the North American market as it used to anymore. No sport compacts like the Evo family or the Pajero/Montero off-road Jeep hunter nowadays but rather the dull and lame lineup of Outlander crossovers.

[chriszawertany]

Don't kid yourself-buy a Toyota Hybrid-they are the king of hybrid systems-always has been-PHEV vehicles are a total joke-mileage is to low and charge times to long.