2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to come with a 7-seat option [Update]

Update: ‘In the U.S.’ sub-section of the ‘Release Date’ section updated.

The plug-in hybrid variant of the all-new, fourth-gen Mitsubishi Outlander is heading to the U.S. this year. 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 new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has all the same recognizable features as the gasoline model, but not without slight changes. Seeing how good the original design is, this approach will likely please most customers. It keeps the next-gen Mitsubishi Dynamic Shield front face and the 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. Like on the gasoline variant, single-color paint options will be available, and the 20-inch alloy wheels look the same.

Adaptive LED headlights, LED DRLs with sequential turn indicators, LED front fog lights, roof spoiler, and LED rear combination lamps are other exterior highlights of the all-new Outlander PHEV in Japan. The redesigned plug-in hybrid SUV is available in the Mitsubishi’s home market in ten color options, two dual-tone and eight mono-tone:

• White Diamond + Black Mica (roof)
• Black Diamond + Deep Bronze Metallic (roof)
• White Diamond
• Red Diamond
• Black Diamond
• Cosmic Blue Mica
• Deep Bronze Metallic
• Sterling Silver Metallic
• Titanium Gray Metallic
• Black Mica

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 being achieved from regenerative braking, the charging level, and more.

12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, head-up display, three-zone automatic climate control system, 10-speaker Bose audio system, and MI-PILOT Assist (for semi-autonomous driving on single-lane highways) are some of the equipment highlights of the all-new Outlander PHEV in Japan.

On the safety front, Mitsubishi equips its new plug-in hybrid SUV with features like Active Yaw Control (AYC), Active Stability Control (ASC), Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP).

7-seat option

A major drawback of the previous-generation Outlander PHEV is that it cannot leverage its large dimensions and accommodate seven passengers like the gasoline or diesel models. The all-new Outlander PHEV, however, has this covered. Three-row seating is optional, though, with a five-seat version ensuring a lower entry price and suitability for customers who need cargo volume.

Powertrain

The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV combines the 4B12 2.4-liter MIVEC gasoline engine with the S91 electric motor at the front and the YA1 electric motor at the rear. The engine produces 98 kW and 195 Nm of torque. The front electric motor generates 85 kW of power and 255 Nm of torque. The rear electric motor develops 100 kW of power and 195 Nm of torque. The electric motors’ energy source is a larger, 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack operating at 350 volts. These are Japanese specifications, and the North American specifications should be announced in the coming months, without much deviation.

54 miles of pure electric driving range

The 20 kWh battery pack provides an EV mode range of up to 87 km (54 miles) in Japan’s WLTC mode. That’s a significant improvement over the previous model’s 57.6 km (36-mile) EV mode range. In addition, the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should offer extended gasoline and combined ranges, as it has a bigger gas tank. Charging the battery pack takes approximately 7.5 hours using a normal charger. However, it’s possible to fast-charge to 80% SoC in just 38 minutes.

Booster

Mitsubishi has equipped the front motor’s power drive unit with a booster function, which increases the supply of voltage to the front motor, offering improved performance, while also improving electricity consumption by raising the generator’s efficiency. The company has unified the rear motor with the control unit, and so, there’s enough room to add an extra row of seats. Mitsubishi has installed the control unit on the outside of the passenger compartment, which should provide superior quietness inside the cabin.

S-AWC

Mitsubishi has applied a Lancer Evo-derived S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) 4WD system in the Outlander PHEV. However, the next-gen model uses an “evolved” or improved version. 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 Normal, Gravel, Snow, Power, Eco, and two more drive modes.

Aspect	New Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Specification
Seating Capacity	5/7
Engine	4B12 2.4L MIVEC
Engine Power	98 kW (131 hp)
Engine Torque	195 Nm (144 lb.-ft.)
Front Electric Motor	S91
Front Electric Motor Power	85 kW (114 hp)
Front Electric Motor Torque	255 Nm (188 lb.-ft.)
Rear Electric Motor	YA1
Rear Electric Motor Power	100 kW (134 hp)
Rear Electric Motor Torque	195 Nm (144 lb.-ft.)
Battery Pack Type	Lithium-ion
Battery Pack Rated Capacity	20 kWh
Electric Range (WLTC)	87 km or 54 miles (5-seat)/83 km or 52 miles (7-seat)
Combined Efficiency (WLTC)	16.6 km/l or 39 MPG (5-seat)/16.2 km/l or 38 MPG (7-seat)

A new feature many customers may appreciate in the latest Outlander PHEV is one-pedal driving. This feature could prove to be particularly useful during off-road driving or on snow-clad roads. In optimal driving conditions, customers can use the company’s improved MI-PILOT single-lane ADAS technology on the 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.

Video Source: YouTube/Mitsubishi Motors Global

Release Date

Japan

Mitsubishi launched the next-gen Outlander PHEV first in Japan, on December 16, 2021. Between October 28, 2021, the day it started accepting pre-orders, and the launch day, it received reservations about seven times the monthly sales target of 1,000 units. Of the three available grades, namely M, G, and P, more than 76% of customers specified their all-new Outlander PHEV in the top-of-the-line P grade, which includes a 2+3+2 seating layout as standard.

On February 9, 2022, it announced that it has received orders for more than 10,000 units. The company said that the previous generation model was selling at a rate of about 11,000 units a year, while the new-generation model is showing similar potential in a fraction of that time.

Mitsubishi was Japan’s no.1 PHEV seller in FY2022 (April 2021 – March 2022). The company sold 11,663 PHEVs last fiscal, and 6,267 of them were Outlander PHEV units. These 6,267 units were a combination of the previous generation and new generation Outlander PHEV models.

New Zealand & Australia

On March 6, 2022, Mitsubishi launched the all-new Outlander PHEV in New Zealand. The Australian launch, originally scheduled in the first half of the year, has been pushed to the middle of the year because of supply chain constraints, as per a report from Drive.

In the U.S.

The United States will get the all-new 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV between July and December 2022. While left-hand drive markets received the Outlander gasoline variant earlier, the cadence is reversed for the plug-in hybrid. In the meantime, Mitsubishi Motors North America is promoting the 2023 Outlander PHEV to incite consumer interest. The company placed the plug-in hybrid SUV on display at the 2022 Twin Cities Auto Show which opened on May 14, 2022, and will run through May 22, 2022. This is the first time the American public gets to see the Hyundai Tucson PHEV rival in flesh.

Source: Youtube/White Bear Mitsubishi

Minneapolis-based White Bear Mitsubishi has uploaded a video rounding up the features on the incoming PHEV model. The presenter Richard notes that the vehicle is a prototype, meaning that all the features shown may not make it to the U.S. market. There is no confirmation on the price, but they expect the launch in the second half of the year. The dealership posted on its Facebook page that this particular demo piece is the only one in the U.S.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart

Announcing FY2020 results in May 2021, Mitsubishi revealed that it is bringing back the Ralliart brand. Though the company said it wants to develop accessories and participate in motorsports with the rejuvenation of Ralliart, it is clear that its plan is to launch new Ralliart variants of their passenger models again.

Right on cue, Mitsubishi unveiled an Outlander performance concept SUV at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon held between January 14 and January 16. Based on the second-gen Outlander PHEV, the Vision Ralliart concept sports a matte black color that appears blue when lights hit it in a particular way. The face of the SUV exudes an imposing character with a large radiator grille shutter, sporty and rugged front and rear bumpers, front and rear diffusers, prominent wheel arches, stylish 22-inch alloy wheels with large brake discs with opposed six-pot calipers. Mitsubishi has not announced production plans for the Vision Ralliart.

On the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (current model)

Since the new Outlander PHEV is a while away, Mitsubishi launched a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, based on the older generation, in the United States in February 2021. A few months later, the company quietly brought it into the 2022 model year. The base price of the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was the same as that of the earlier Outlander PHEV – USD 36,295, despite the updated engine. The 2022 Outlander PHEV is USD 700 more expensive, costing USD 36,995 in the base trim (MY2021 model’s price was USD 36,295).

The MY2021 and MY2022 models are more advanced, as Mitsubishi has introduced a 2.4-liter engine (in place of the 2.0-liter engine) and a 13.8 kWh battery pack (in place of the 12.0 kWh battery pack).

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vs. 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (current model)

Aspect\Specification	2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Specification	2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Specification
Engine	4B11 2.0-liter MIVEC	4B12 2.4-liter MIVEC
Engine Power	117 hp at 4,500 rpm	126 hp at 4,500 rpm
Engine Torque	137 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm	148 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm
Front Motor	S61	S61
Front Motor Power	60 kW	60 kW
Front Motor Torque	137 Nm	137 Nm
Rear Motor	Y61	Y61
Rear Motor Power	60 kW	60 kW
Rear Motor Torque	195 Nm	195 Nm
Drive Battery	12.0 kWh Lithium-ion	13.8 kWh Lithium-ion
EV Range	22 miles	24 miles
Combined Fuel Economy (Gasoline + Electricity)	74 MPGe	74 MPGe
Combined Range	310 miles	320 miles

The updates that brought a performance upgrade and a minor improvement in the EV range isn’t helping the aging Outlander PHEV improve its appeal in the U.S. market. In 2021, the Outlander PHEV registered 2,250 units in U.S. sales, a minor increase from 1,964 units in 2020. In Q1 2022, Mitsubishi sold 719 Outlander PHEVs, which, even though marking a three-fold growth from Q1 2021 (254 units), is nothing to write home about. Numbers may not get considerably better until the new generation SUV with extensive improvements to the design, features, and EV range hits the dealers this year.

Production

Production of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander takes place at the company’s Okazaki plant in Japan. Prices of the 2022 Outlander in the U.S. start at USD 26,095, and the 2023 Outlander PHEV’s base price could fall between USD 38,000 and USD 39,000.

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Mitsubishi