Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 11, 2023) The plug-in version of the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV has been around since coming to the U.S. for 2018 after its unveiling at the Paris Auto Show six years earlier, but a significant redesign makes the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid) a much-more compelling option for those shopping for a compact SUV. The Outlander is a roomy, comfortable vehicle with an attractive exterior, a refined and upgraded interior that has the ambiance of a luxury level vehicle, and a powertrain that delivers a snappy, fuel-efficient performance.

As the first Mitsubishi vehicle produced since the Japanese automaker became part of the Nissan-Renault alliance that was formed in 1999, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV shares its platform with the Nissan Rogue. It also inherits the Rogue’s sophistication and refined looks.
 
With a combination of a gasoline engine and two electric motors, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV also offers the ultimate cure for range-anxiety of fully electric vehicles with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine taking over powering chores when the 38-mile battery range is reached.

No need to hit the rental car market for those long family summer vacation trips. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is very much up with an advertised range of 420 miles between fill-ups and charges.

The combined gas engine-double electric motor setup (one for the front wheels, one for the year) puts out 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque while earning a rating of 64 MPGe. That’s a considerable jump from the 181 hp and 181 lb.-ft. you get from the standard gas Outlander with its 2.5-liter 4-banger.

Mileage for gas-only operation is a only 26 miles-per-gallon for the Outlander PHEV, similar to the 27 mpg rating for the all-wheel drive gas-powered Outlander.

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV comes in three basic trim levels all featuring the same engine-electric motor setup and Mitsubishi’s all-wheel drive system it dubs Super All-Wheel Control or S-AWC.

The ES serves as the base trim and includes as standard such safety features as forward collision warning, blind-spot alert, and lane-departure warning and prevention. Up the line is the SE trim and the SEL and 40th Anniversary trims top out the portfolio.

The SE also is offered as SE w/Tech Package while the SEL also gets extra equipment in either Touring or Premium packages.

This review is based on the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL trim with the Premium Package that added such features as a power panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, synthetic leather door inserts with quilting, Semi-Aniline leather seating  (replacing standard leather), a head-up display, driver and front passenger massage system, and a Bose Premium Sound Systems. That is all in addition to what is an impressive list of standard equipment included in the starting MSRP of $45,445.



Among standard stuff are a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, three-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a navigation system with smartphone link, wireless phone charging, a multi-view camera system, remote keyless entry, and push-button start, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

You can select from one of seven drive modes (Eco, Normal, Power, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud) and push a button on the console for all-electric and one-deal driving.

Standard exterior features on the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL include LED headlights, fog lights, taillights and daytime running lights, silver roof rails, and 20-inch alloy wheels.The Outlander PHEV recently earned a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to the forward collision warning and blind-spot and lane-keeping systems mentioned earlier, safety features include adaptive cruise control, a driver alert system, rear cross traffic alert, and the usual collection of seatbelts and airbags.

My test 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL with the Premium package and a couple of other stand-alone options topped out at $50,880 including the $1,365 destination and delivery charge.

The base ES trim carries a starting MSRP of $39,845 and the SE starts at $42,145. The 40th Anniversary trim sits at the top of the pricing with a starting MSRP of $49,995.

What I liked about the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL: The interior has a premium feel about it with leather seats and soft leather surfaces throughout and is packed with lots of user-friendly tech features. The extra power from the hybrid drivetrain enhances throttle response. Handling also is excellent. Lots of safety features are included as standard.

What I didn’t like about the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL: Third-row seats are pretty useless. Legroom (and headroom) at the far back is compromised by location for the battery pack. Fortunately, the seats do fold flat to open up more cargo room (over 30 cubic feet behind the second row). I would prefer a 10- or 8-speed automatic transmission over the CVT, but performance doesn’t seem to suffer much.

Would I buy the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL?: Yes, it’s an ideal size for someone wanting to move up from a sedan. If you don’t need the third row, you can simply keep it folded into the floor and not even realize it’s there.