2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

Name: 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review
Brand: Mitsubishi

Price Range: $22,815 - $23,990

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has some distinct advantages, such as DC fast charging and decent off-roading ability. It gains a little more all-electric range and some powertrain refinements for 2021 too. But the driving experience, interior design and build quality are all lackluster and keep the Outlander PHEV from being fully desirable.

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2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What's new

New battery pack offers more electric range than last year's model
Updated software reduces vibrations and noise from the engine
Limited Edition trim introduced with more standard features
Part of the third Outlander generation introduced for 2014

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.33 per kWh for electricity in Connecticut.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Connecticut

$171/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1

47 reviews

5(60%)

4(19%)

3(6%)

2(2%)

1(13%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Great plug-in hybrid for a very specific driver

hk, 11/18/2019

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)

If you cannot regularly plug in this car, your mpg will be middling to poor. If your regularly commute/daily drive greatly exceeds the PHEV's electrical range (about 24 miles) you will also see lower mpg savings. However, if you are like me, and drive on average 30-40 miles per day, can plug in your car every night, want the option to be able to use gasoline on long road trips and not …

Comfortable, capable, affordable, electric SUV!

Chris, 11/27/2018

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)

We’ve had our Outlander PHEV for a month now and here’s my first impressions. There really isn’t anything else like it available in the United States... I guess it has been sold in Europe for several years (top selling SUV in the UK, Netherlands and Norway) but they sent them to Europe as fast as they could build them (and sold them for more $) so we just had to wait. There are several … outstanding features to consider now that it is here: 1) Price: The well-equipped 2018 SEL model can be found in the US for $30K (perhaps less as the end of the year gets closer). With a $5,836 federal tax credit, I’ll end up paying ~$24K after tax returns are filed. Anything else on the market that can give you similar dedicated electric range, 4x4, and towing capability cost over twice as much. 2) Range: I’m seeing close to 30 miles of dedicated electric range, plus another 270 miles on unleaded. I’ve taken it on two long trips now where the battery is mostly depleted and it’s using the gasoline engine to keep a basic charge level on the battery and move us down the highway. I live in Utah, where there are long stretches of 80 MPH speed limit freeway. Driving from Salt Lake to St. George (~300 miles) with the cruise control set at 85 for the majority of the trip, we averaged 24.7 MPG. Granted, the 11 gallon fuel tank is on the small side for long trips like this, but that’s not really the car’s strong point (although 25 MPG is almost 10 MPG better than my last SUV). The dedicated electric option on shorter trips is where this thing shines though. My daily commute is 28 miles round trip, so I’m usually able to do it all on electric. (Your electric range does drop a bit if you run the heater.) I recharge it each night at home, so my first tank of gas lasted a little over 800 miles. It has become our go-to vehicle for the quick trips around town. We pay .11 a Kw and the on-board recharge cost calculator tells me it’s taking a about 80 cents each night to charge up. 3) 4x4: All wheel drive for winter driving, with a 4x4 lock button if you need to break snow drifts. I’ve only had it out in one storm so far this year, and just running errands around town, but it seemed sure footed. I’ll update this as we get further into the winter months. 4) Passenger/Cargo Capacity: Seats 5 comfortably, with plenty of cargo space left in the back. The standard Outlander has two small folding seats in the rear for a 7 passenger capacity, but they are omitted in the PHEV. This leaves you with lots of cargo space in the back, but it would be nice if they could find a way to put back in even one of those small rear jump seats. The seats you do have are comfortable enough. Front seats are both heated and fully adjustable via electric switches... these seats are standard even on the lower level SE model (which we own) and leather is standard as well. Fold down the rear seats and you have a little over six feet of flat floor cargo space back there. Automatic tailgate is also standard on the base SE model. 5) Towing Capability: The Outlander PHEV is rated to tow 1500 lbs in the US, but 3300 lbs in Europe. Same vehicle is sold on both continents, so I suspect the lower US rating has more to do with the number of lawyers here, rather than any actual engineering issue. I had the factory Class 3 receiver hitch added to our SE. That costs about $700, but well worth it to me to have the towing option. We have towed with it and found it stable and capable for the short, 20 mile trip we made with it. 6) Warranty: Mitsubishi backs up the drive train and battery with a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Mercedes GLC 350e gives you 4 years/50K miles on the drive train, 6 years, 62K on the battery. Volvo XC90 4 yr/50K miles on both. Tesla Model X has 4 yr/50K basic, 8 year/unlimited mile powertrain. All considerably more expensive vehicles, each with their own range limitations. The exterior of the Outlander may be a little dated, but considering how most manufactures over-design the body on electric vehicles (looking at you Nissan) I don’t mind the unassuming nature of Mitsubishi’s offering... just another Outlander from the outside. From an engineering standpoint however, Mitsubishi has produced a unique vehicle here and perhaps it’s understated looks are part of the reason it has received so little attention here in the USA. It may also be that Mitsubishi isn’t a big brand here, being one of the smaller manufactures by sales in the US. I don’t work for Mitsubishi (or any other automotive company). I’m just a happy owner, who lives in an area that often has dirty air, and wish more folks new about this machine. One year later we are still very happy with it. No issues to report. Highly recommend the car. Update: Sold after three years to upgrade to a Toyota Rav4 Prime... same concept, more battery/capability. Never had an issue with the Outlander and still highly recommend it, just needed to tow more.

Listen to owners, not a professional car reviewer!

Happy PHEV Owner, 07/05/2020

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)

I have to chuckle when I read the Edmunds review of the 2019 Outlander PHEV. Along with the Consumer Reports review, it nearly dissuaded me from buying this vehicle, which I did in June, 2020. I am so glad I overlooked the overall negativity of the "professional" reviews and focused on what was really important to me. If you and I have similar values, I think you will be quite pleased … with this vehicle.First off, let me offer an alternative perspective on the ride and comfort of the Outlander PHEV. My first impression on the test drive was that this looks and feels like a luxury vehicle. I bought the base SEL, which comes with handsome leather upholstery. What other brand offers leather in the base model?! I fell in love with the comfy front seats, which offer four dimensions of electric adjustment to get into that perfect driving position. I'm 6'2" and I find the driving position comfortable, with plenty of head room--even when I'm sitting on top of a two inch pad! The legroom in the front row is also generous. And I love the expansive view out the front windshield. The sight lines give me confidence.I have not ridden in the back, but my 12 year old daughter says it's comfortable and roomy--certainly better than she is used to (she has ridden Subarus in the past).I will also mention that an electric liftgate, auto sensing wipers, a blind spot warning system, heated seats, and Carplay/Android Auto are all standard on the base model. They work great and add to the luxury look and feel of the Outlander PHEV.So everything the Edmunds pro reviewer says about "cheap appearances" comfort can be thrown out the window, based on my non-professional experience!Next we come to the drive. Edmunds claims it has poor handling and is underpowered. I have observed the opposite, which may just say that I don't drive the same cars as the Edmunds reviewers. Compared to the four Subarus I've owned, the handling and power are superior. In electric mode, the power is downright pleasing and the ride is eerily silent. But going over a mountain pass in gas mode (which I did this morning), the vehicle delivered plenty of power and really wasn't loud and whiny to my ears, as Edmunds said. Edmunds also mentioned that the steering and braking are subpar. Honestly, I just don't understand what they're talking about. Of course this car is no Lamborghini but you already know that!So set aside Edmunds' complaints about the engine and handling. If you're a normal person like me, you'll find both satisfactory to pleasing.Finally, I come to the three considerations that ultimately inspired me to buy this vehicle: fuel economy, all wheel drive, and price:1. Fuel economy. Who wouldn't love a full sized SUV that can go 22 miles on electricity and can get impressive mileage on moderate-length trips? Most of my trips are local and so I really don't use the gas engine much. But when I need it, it's there to extend the range to about 300 miles, even with the"small" 11.3 gallon gas tank. On trips of under 50 miles, you can expect an mpg of 40-110 depending on terrain. It then drops off, depending on how often you can recharge. On the 1,000 mile trip I'm just finishing up, I averaged 28-30 mpg with mostly highway driving and no recharging. In my opinion, that's still acceptable for a large SUV, especially if you, like me, rarely take such trips.2. AWD, baby! I mentioned earlier that I owned four Subarus prior to the Outlander PHEV. There was a reason: I live in a hilly area that can have rough winters and I love the security and confidence that all-wheel drive provides. I have been frustrated with the lack of choices that those of us who care about fuel economy (and who really want an electric vehicle) have when It comes to AWD SUV-type vehicles. Basically, we have a few hybrid options (e.g., RAV4, CRV) and very few PHEV options (the Outlander, the Ford Escape but it's only FWD, and the RAV4 Prime. I was going to hold out for the RAV4 Prime, but then I learned that it could be awhile before I got one and also that they will go for MSRP or higher because of demand. This brought me to the third consideration.3. Price. So, the 2019 Outlander PHEV retails for around $38,000--not much less than the much anticipated 2021 RAV4 Prime. However, the Outlander PHEV can evidently be had for WAY below retail. I bought mine in June, 2020 (it was the last 2019 on the lot) for $27,500! If you add in the $6850 federal tax rebate, I'll actually be paying under $22,000 for my Outlander PHEV. That's a real bargain! Of course, it doesn't have EV range of the Prime and it doesn't qualify for the WA State sales tax break (which requires 30 miles of EV range), but still... You'd be hard pressed to find a conventional sedan at this price point, let alone a PHEV SUV. That sealed the deal for me. Maybe it will for you too?

I like the 2020 GT

andy, 11/14/2019

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)

I have had a 2020 GT for about 6 months now. It has enough range for my daily drive and when I want to hit the road no problem.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, so we've included reviews for other years of the Outlander PHEV since its last redesign.

See all 47 reviews of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

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2021 Outlander PHEV Highlights

Trim:

SEL

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$36,295
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$5,100 Based on income
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	24 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	74 MPGe^{MPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.}
Cost to Drive	$171/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	4.0 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Outlander PHEV models:

Blind-Spot Monitoring: Prevents a potential lane change collision by alerting the driver when a car is hidden in a blind spot or is approaching from behind.
360-Degree Camera: Creates a simulated bird's-eye view of the car for tight parking situations, allowing the driver to see the vehicle from all angles.
Forward Collision Mitigation: Helps mitigate an accident by monitoring ahead, warning the driver of an impending collision and applying the brakes in certain scenarios.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover13.7%

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2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

Price & Payment

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

What's new

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Great plug-in hybrid for a very specific driver

Comfortable, capable, affordable, electric SUV!

Listen to owners, not a professional car reviewer!

I like the 2020 GT

2021 Outlander PHEV Highlights

Safety

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