2025 Mitsubishi Outlander takes plug-in hybrid to a new level of luxury

Published 7:21 am Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Mitsubishi Motors has been making the Outlander compact SUV for American drivers since 2003, and each generation has been better than the one before it. Mitsubishi has also made the Outlander as a Plug-in Hybrid since 2017, making the company a leader in that form of electrified driving.

Plug-in hybrids fill an important niche because they have more EV driving capability than a standard hybrid, but still include a gas engine to give you the same flexibility of refueling as a standard gas-fueled SUV. The great thing about a PHEV like the Outlander is that the average American drives about 29 miles per day. With its EPA-estimated electric range of 38 miles, the Outlander will let most people do all their regular driving on low-cost electricity, and it still provides 420 miles of total range if you start with a full battery and a full tank of gas.

When it comes to charging, plug-in hybrids have a huge advantage over EVs. First, if you get home at dinnertime, you can plug your Outlander into any standard 120-Volt wall outlet, and the SUV will be fully charged when you get up in the morning. Or, if you have access to a 240-Volt Level 2 charger, it will charge up in just a few hours. Finally, Mitsubishi provides DC fast charging using the CHAdeMo plug format. This is a bit of a mixed bag, as there are fewer CHAdeMo chargers than other formats, but if you do find one, it’s less likely to be occupied. Plugged into a CHAdeMo charger, the Outlander will take an 80% charge in just 38 minutes. Adapters to the standard SAE and NACS (Tesla) charger plugs are available.

The technology underpinning the Outlander’s plug-in system is also impressive. The 2.4-liter gas engine and one electric motor are located at the front of the vehicle, to drive the front wheels. There is no transmission, as the Outlander uses the electric motor to get going, and then can directly connect the gas engine to the wheels as needed, or use the gas engine to charge the battery. The rear electric motor is larger, and directly drives the rear wheels, giving the Outlander full-time all-wheel drive.

Most people choose their vehicles based at least in part on comfort, and the updated Outlander PHEV for 2025 excels in driver and passenger comfort. The SEL trim we tested has heated seats in the first two rows, and a heated steering wheel. The seats are upholstered in nice durable leather, and the front seats are power-adjustable. Then, almost unique among compact SUVs, the Outlander offers a third row that can be flipped up when needed. Bear in mind, those third-row seats are very small, but the second row slides up a bit. If you suddenly find yourself needing to transport extra children, the Outlander has you covered.

Inside on the dashboard, the Outlander comes with a crisp 12.3-inch driver information display and a 9-inch center touchscreen for infotainment. Navigation is included on higher trim levels, and there’s an available Bose audio system. Finally, higher trims include a full-color 10.8-inch head-up display that is clear and easy to use.

On the road, the Outlander is easy to drive and enjoy. You can forget that it’s a plug-in hybrid, because you don’t have to do anything differently than with any other SUV. There are drive modes for snow, dry pavement, economical driving, and even for muddy, slippery conditions. Acceleration is good, given the Outlander’s 332 combined foot-pounds of torque and 248 horsepower. Handling and road noise are good for an SUV, and the Outlander is the only SUV in its class to come with standard 20-inch wheels.

One thing to note is that there are two buttons on the console you’ll want to use. One sets the Outlander’s EV mode. You can tell the Outlander to work as an EV as long as possible, or tell it to save the EV battery charge for later, and run on the gas engine. You can also set the Outlander to charge its own battery while driving. That last setting is best used on a long downhill stretch, because it will affect your fuel economy otherwise. The second button turns on Mitsubishi’s implementation of one-pedal driving. If you’ve never driven an EV, this takes a few minutes to get used to. Basically you can press the accelerator to go, but if you let off the pedal, the Outlander will almost come to a stop. Some EVs will stop completely, but it’s nice to have a “creeping” function for parking and low-speed maneuvering. Give it a try on your test drive and see what you think. The good news is you don’t have to use it if you don’t like it.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is available through Mitsubishi dealers now, and starts just above $40,000. However, the trim walk adds a lot of nice luxury features, so be sure to look at the whole range. The extra money you spend to get a nicer SUV can be offset by the gasoline you won’t be buying for the next few years.

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL S-AWC

Base price: $40,445

Price as tested: $51,835

Type: Compact Crossover SUV

Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder with twin electric motors (248 hp, 332 lbs-ft)

Transmission: Direct Drive

EPA estimated mileage: 26 MPG/64 MPGe

Overall length: 185.4 inches

Curb weight: 4,685 pounds

Final assembly: Okazaki, Japan