2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV reaches U.S. dealers next month

The plug-in hybrid variant of the all-new, fourth-gen Mitsubishi Outlander will start arriving at Mitsubishi dealers in the U.S. in November 2022. Here’s our preview of the plug-in hybrid SUV, which will replace the first-gen model that arrived in the U.S. in 2016.

Design

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has the same design as the gasoline model, but with some minor changes. This approach is likely to satisfy most customers, given the quality of the original design. The plug-in model retains the next-gen Mitsubishi Dynamic Shield front face and bold proportions.

The new Outlander PHEV has a special two-tone exterior with a contrasting roof and a ‘PLUG-IN HYBRID EV’ badge on the front fenders. Sure, there’s the customary lid on the left shoulder hiding the charging port, but visual differences end there. The 20-inch alloy wheels are the same as those of the gas model.

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV color options

• White Diamond
• Red Diamond
• Black Diamond
• Labrador Black Pearl
• Alloy Silver
• Cosmic Blue
• Mercury Gray
• Deep Bronze
• White Diamond + Black (roof)
• Black Diamond + Bronze (roof)
• Mercury Gray + Black (roof)
• Red Diamond + Black (roof)
• Alloy Silver + Black (roof)

Interior

Like on the outside, no drastic changes are observed in the interior. The instrument cluster allows the driver to check the functioning and status of the plug-in hybrid system. It indicates the electric motor and petrol engine’s outputs, the level of charging achieved from regenerative braking, the charging level, and more.

Trims & Features

Mitsubishi offers the 2023 Outlander PHEV in the U.S. in ES, SE, SE Technology, SEL, SEL Touring, SEL Premium, and 40th Anniversary Edition trims.

ES

The ES trim features 18″ alloy wheels, a 12.3″ fully digital instrument cluster, an 8″ Smartphone-Link Display Audio (SDA) touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Mitsubishi Connect with Safeguard and Remote Services and a 24-month trial.

On the safety front, Mitsubishi equips its new plug-in hybrid SUV with rear parking sensors, Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Active Blind Spot Assist (ABSA), Blind Spot Warning (BSW) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning and Prevention (LDW & LDP), and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) as standard.

SE

The SE trim offers more styling and luxury with features like 20″ two-tone alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and artificial leather seating surfaces. It offers more safety as well, with a multi-view camera system, front parking sensors, and LED front fog lights.

Comfort and convenience are also higher in the SE trim, thanks to additional/better features like a hands-free remote power liftgate, electric-folding mirrors, front heated seats, 9″ Smartphone-Link Display Audio (SDA) touchscreen infotainment system with Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HD radio, wireless smartphone charger, and rain-sensing wipers. The SE Technology trim adds a panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming IRVM, and 9-speaker Bose audio system.

SEL & 40th anniversary

The SEL trim includes a key-linked driver memory seat, passenger 8-way memory seat, key-linked mirrors with reverse auto tilt function, three-zone automatic climate control, DC fast-charging, 1,500-watt power outlets, rear door pull-up sunshade, and more. The SEL Touring trim adds a panoramic sunroof, HUD, 9-speaker Bose sound system, and pull-up rear window shades. The SEL Premium trim adds a black sunroof, semi-aniline premium leather seat covers, and a massage function for the first-row seats. The 40th Anniversary Edition trim includes a Black Diamond paint with a Bronze roof and special 40th Anniversary badges.

7-seat layout

A major drawback of the current Outlander PHEV is that it cannot leverage the large dimensions and accommodate seven passengers like the gasoline or diesel models. The all-new Outlander PHEV, however, has this covered. In the U.S., three-row seating will be standard.

The all-new, seven-seat, plug-in hybrid will be available in dealerships later this year.

Mitsubishi Motors North America in the notes section of its monthly sales release on July 1, 2022 (via media.mitsubishicars.com)

Powertrain

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV clubs a 2.4-liter MIVEC gasoline engine with a 114-hp electric motor at the front and a 134-hp electric motor at the rear. This combination gives 248 hp of combined power and 332 lb.-ft. of combined torque. The electric motors’ energy source is a larger, 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Mitsubishi has mounted it below the floor and between the wheels to give the 2023 Outlander PHEV a low center of gravity without affecting the ground clearance much.

Operating modes

The driver can select from four operating modes using a button on the center console: EV, Save, Charge, and Normal. The EV mode is self-explanatory, shutting off the engine and driving the vehicle solely on electricity. The Save mode stores the energy of the battery pack for a planned later use, say for when you reach back home late at night and don’t want to wake up your neighbors and family.

In the Charge mode, the engine remains in operation to charge the battery pack. The electric motors remain off, saving the battery pack’s energy for later use. The Normal mode is for hybrid operation.

38 miles of pure electric driving range

The 20 kWh battery pack provides an electric range of up to 38 miles. That’s a significant improvement over the 2022 model’s 24-mile EV mode range. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV also has a larger, 14.8-gallon gas tank, offering an extended combined range. While the 2022 model can travel up to 320 miles, the 2023 model does up to 420 miles of electric-gasoline range. However, the combined fuel economy is 10 MPGe lower than the (five-seat) 2022 model – 64 MPGe.

The 2023 Outlander PHEV operates as frequently as possible in electric mode, even when using the heater or air-conditioning. While charging, customers can pre-cool or pre-heat the cabin so that all energy stored in the battery pack can be used for driving.

The 2023 Outlander PHEV is the only PHEV from a non-luxury brand in the U.S. to support DC fast charging. A DC fast charger takes approximately 38 minutes to charge the battery pack to 80% SoC. The charging time with a Level II AC charger is still unknown, but we estimate it at around 7.5 hours.

S-AWC

Mitsubishi has applied a new generation of its S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) 4WD system to the 2023 Outlander PHEV. In addition to a braking control system for the front wheels, the updated S-AWC has a braking control system to control the brake forces of the rear wheels. It reduces the load on the front wheels and allows extracting the maximum performance from all four wheels in a more balanced manner. The driver can select from seven drive modes: Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Power, and Eco.

Aspect	2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Specification
Seating Capacity	5/7
Engine	2.4L MIVEC
Front Electric Motor Power	114 hp
Rear Electric Motor Power	134 hp
System Power	248 hp
System Torque	332 lb.-ft.
Battery Pack Type	Lithium-ion
Battery Pack Rated Capacity	20 kWh
Pure Electric Range	38 miles
Charging (DC)	80% in about 38 minutes
Fuel Tank	14.8 gallon
Fuel Economy	64 MPGe
Total Range	420 miles

A new feature many customers will appreciate in the 2023 Outlander PHEV is one-pedal driving mode, called ‘Innovative Pedal.’ This feature could prove to be particularly useful during off-road driving or on snow-clad roads.

In optimal driving conditions, customers will be able to use MI-PILOT, the company’s single-lane driver assistance technology for highways. MI-PILOT integrates Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist, and it takes into account the navigation data to adjust the vehicle speed. It works even on curves.

Outlander PHEV vs. RAV4 Prime

Compared to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is a smaller car from a lower segment. However, Minnesota-based dealer White Bear Mitsubishi has compared the two top-selling PHEVs, and many customers may consider the Japanese SUVs as competitors.

Richard Herod from White Bear Mitsubishi says that the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has an exterior with more rugged and athletic styling and an interior with higher-quality materials. The rear doors of the Mitsubishi model open about five inches wider, allowing easy entry and exit. A big advantage over the Toyota PHEV is the standard third-row seats. Moreover, unlike the RAV4 Prime, it allows DC fast-charging.

Video Source: YouTube/whitebearautos

Price

Prices of the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in the U.S. range from USD 39,845 to USD 49,995. A destination/handling charge of USD 1,345, or USD 1,470 if you’re living in Alaska or Hawaii, is additional. Initially, the 2023 Outlander PHEV will be available in select locations, but later, it will become available nationwide.

Trim	2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Price
ES	USD 39,845
SE	USD 42,145
SE Technology	USD 44,145
SEL	USD 45,445
SEL Touring	USD 47,645
SEL Premium	USD 48,145
40th Anniversary Edition	USD 49,995

TopElectricSUV says

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be seen as a great value-for-money family SUV in the U.S. With its seven-seat interior, it will be a unique segment offering and possess an edge over rivals. The family-friendly interior will be in addition to a 40% improvement in the all-electric range and DC fast-charging support. The 2023 Outlander PHEV, with all-around improvements, can become a popular choice for compact plug-in hybrid SUV buyers in the U.S. once it is available nationwide.

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: YouTube/Mitsubishi Motors North America