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

The all-new, fourth-gen Mitsubishi Outlander went on sale in the U.S. this year. In the second half of next year, its plug-in hybrid variant will follow, Mitsubishi has confirmed. The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will replace the first-gen plug-in hybrid model that arrived in the U.S. in 2016.

Global debut to be held this financial year

Mitsubishi plans to roll out the next-gen Outlander PHEV in Japan before the U.S. between October 2021 and March 2022. So, we should get to know product details several months before its U.S. launch. For now, the company has released descriptive information. The new Outlander PHEV will have improved motor output and increased battery capacity. It will offer improved performance and a greater range, likely both electric and combined (gasoline plus electric).

7-seat option

A major drawback of the present-day Outlander PHEV is that it cannot leverage its large dimensions and accommodate seven passengers like the gasoline or diesel models. The next-gen Outlander PHEV, however, will accommodate seven. Three-row seating should be optional, though, with a five-seat version ensuring a lower entry price and suitability for customers who need more cargo volume.

Koji Ikeya, the Representative Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, and CFO of Mitsubishi, talked about the all-new Outlander PHEV during the Q4 2020 Earnings Conference Call in May 2021. Technically the current financial year in Japan stretches to March 2022. However, Mitsubishi’s readiness (evident in the teaser) is indicative of the launch by December. Reports say that the all-new Outlander PHEV could deliver an all-electric range of 100 km/62 miles (WLTC) and beat the Toyota RAV4 Prime’s electric range of 95 km/59 miles (WLTC).

2021/2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Since the PHEV based on the new Outlander is a while away, Mitsubishi launched a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, based on the older generation, in the United States in February 2021. 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. A few months later, the company quietly brought it into the 2022 model year. The 2022 Outlander PHEV is USD 400 more expensive, costing USD 36,695 in the base trim.

Compared to last year’s Outlander PHEV, the MY2021 and MY2022 models are more advanced. 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

PHEV falls short of expectations

The Outlander PHEV found just 254 American homes in Q1 2021 (down from 347 for the same period last year). The MY2021 update that brought a performance upgrade and a minor improvement in the EV range isn’t helping the aging Outlander PHEV increase its appeal in the U.S. market. In Q2 2021, Mitsubishi sold 385 units of the plug-in hybrid SUV. That is an improvement from Q1 2021 and Q2 2020 (285 units), but overall sales are still pretty low.

Between January and June 2021, the Outlander PHEV registered 639 units in U.S. sales, a minor drop from 632 units in January-June 2020. Numbers may not get considerably better until the new generation with extensive improvements to the design, features, and EV range hits the dealer showroom next year.

On the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander

The CMF-C/D platform-based fourth-gen Outlander with the next-gen Mitsubishi Dynamic Shield front face, bold proportions, and sumptuous interior initially comes with only a 2.5-liter gas engine.

20-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, 10.8-inch full-color HUD, 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 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander which one may expect to get with the PHEV next year.

Production of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander takes place at the company’s Okazaki plant in Japan. Mitsubishi has priced the 2022 Outlander from $25,795, and the 2023 Outlander PHEV’s prices could start at around USD 38,000.

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV FAQs

Featured Image Source: Mitsubishi