2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV First Drive: Credible Competition For A Plug-In

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi has taken significant steps over the past few years to resurface brand credibility in the U.S. after floundering in the early 2000s. The brand, which offers only five offerings—Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, Mirage, Mirage G4 and Eclipse Cross—now seems well-positioned to again become a successful player in the U.S. market.

Forbes Wheels was in a pre-production model of the all-new, seven-passenger 2023 Outlander PHEV in Mitsubishi’s U.S. home base of Franklin, Tennessee. Outlander was the first plug-In hybrid (PHEV) SUV back in 2018 that was sold in the U.S. Now its third generation presents the first full redesign of the Outlander in nearly nine years.

I-Fu-Do-Do

The Japanese saying “I-Fu-Do-Do” means authentic and majestic, and was the project mantra for the new Outlander—everything from the platform to the body, engine, chassis and interior revamped for the new model.

The Outlander PHEV has been given significant upgrades, including:

• New-generation PHEV system that delivers more powerful road performance and greater driving range 
• An enhanced Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC)  system for safer and more comfortable driving in various weather and road conditions 
• A total revamp of the exterior and  higher grade interior materials

Dynamic Road Manners

The S-AWC integrated vehicle dynamics control system is based on a twin-motor four-wheel drive system with one drive motor in front and another in the rear and features a new brake Active Yaw Control function for the rear wheels. This allows the system to distribute the driving force to the front and rear wheels according to road and driving conditions. 

Torque vectoring is achieved by controlling the brakes on the left and right wheels and/or the front and rear wheels. According to Mitsubishi, this makes it possible to extract the maximum performance from all four tires in a more balanced manner, delivering handling true to the driver’s intention and high operating stability. 

Drivers can select from seven drive modes depending on road surface conditions and driving style. Normal (paved roads), Tarmac (performance driving on dry roads), Gravel (unpaved or wet roads), Snow (snowy and slippery roads), Mud (muddy roads and deep snow), Power (enhanced acceleration) and Eco (fuel saving). 

PHEV Drivetrain, Range and Charging

Outlander’s PHEV system was extensively updated and revised to allow the vehicle to operate in EV mode more often and with increased EV driving range. There are five main components to the new system: 

1. A 2.4-liter DOHC gasoline engine outputs 132 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque, with combined gas/electric power totaling 248 horsepower and an impressive 332 pound-feet of torque
2. A 114 hp front motor
3. A 134 hp rear motor
4. A generator to recharge the drive battery
5. Increased capacity drive battery 

With an increase of around 40% in the output of the front and rear motors and drive battery, the new Outlander PHEV minimizes starting the internal combustion engine in as many scenarios as possible. That includes when accelerating hard while merging and passing on the expressway and in other city or suburban driving scenarios. The change to a large capacity Drive battery with total capacity of 20 kWh (up from the previous model’s 13.8 kWh) has raised the equivalent all-electric range to 38 miles, with sufficient driving range even when using heavy battery-draw functions like the air conditioner. 

Gas tank capacity is also increased, giving the Outlander extended total combined range of 420 miles. MPG numbers are 25 city, 27 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. The vehicle’s ICE/EV rating is 64 MPGe. 

Normal home charging via a 240-volt circuit takes 6.5 hours. Quick charging (105 amps or higher) achieves an 80% charge in about 38 minutes. Charging via the built-in generator yields an 80% charge in about 94 minutes (when the car is stationary).

The Outlander PHEV can even serve as an emergency source of power (max output 1500 watts) to power small appliances like a toaster oven, hair dryer and coffee maker via second and third-row AC outlets.

Lighter, Stronger Structure

The Outlander features a new generation platform developed through the corporate Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. A “cyclic” structure increases front body rigidity and vehicle torsional rigidity over the previous model and enhances driving stability. Overall weight reduction comes through an aluminum engine hood and plastic front fenders, both of which had previously been made of steel. In addition, ultra-high tensile strength steel is used in key body/chassis areas, increasing passenger cabin collision safety.

But it can still pull (some of) its weight. Towing capacity is up to 2,000 pounds. 

Safety First

Myriad standard safety features also come from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi goodie bag. The all-new Outlander PHEV is equipped with evolved MI-PILOT single-lane driver assistance technology, which integrates Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist to assist the driver in maintaining distance between vehicles while keeping in the center of the lane. It also detects speed limit signs and automatically adjusts the set speed accordingly. MI-PILOT with Navi-link utilizes map data to automatically adjust vehicle speed as needed according to curves, forks, and other circumstances on expressways. 

Outlander’s standard Active Safety System includes Forward Collision Mitigation, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, rear collision and lane departure systems. It also includes Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication,a system that can sense if you stomp the wrong pedal by accident.

Mitsubishi’s “Connect” app offers drivers the ability to access emergency assistance, check the range of the drive battery, set charging times and alerts to avoid forgetting to charge, and display the positioning of the parked vehicle on smartphone app maps to see where it is located. Mitsubishi Connect also has a parental control function that sends notifications of vehicle driving status.

Outlander PHEV Styling and Interior

Outlander styling is progressive or aggressive, depending on the viewing angle. At first glance from the front it looks like a Lunar Landing Vehicle, with assorted lights and styling cues arrayed in a slightly unnatural manner. The color you choose also plays a role in the appeal of the front end, with darker colors like Black Diamond bringing out the best of the design, while lighter shades look less impressive. 

But overall styling, with a long roofline with rear spoiler and deeply sculpted side panels highlighted by 20-inch wheels, along with well-integrated tail lamps, make the Outlander handsome and rugged.

The interior suggests a much higher MSRP than Outlander PHEV demands, rarely the case for Mitsubishis past. The horizontally sculpted instrument panel and door panel trim are covered with high-quality stitched soft padding. Real metal and wood, and semi-aniline leather are standard or available, further extending the surprisingly luxurious cabin. 

The front seats are optimized for reducing fatigue during long-haul driving, while front and middle rows offer seat heaters. Third-row seats are rare in PHEV vehicles, due to the combined ICE/EV components. Mitsubishi integrated the rear motor control into the rear motor, creating additional space for a reasonably roomy third row. Second-row seats fold into the floor with a single action, while third-row seats fold flat without removing the headrests. The result is 49 cubic-feet of cargo carrying capacity with both rows folded.

Driving the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Impressive, unexpected and quiet. Those three words sum up this pre-production model. 

It’s impressive in the sense that all of the aforementioned safety and driveline systems work flawlessly to contribute to the overall excellent road manners. S-AWC is the real deal, as I was able to carve up some stretches of road like I was driving a Mitsubishi Evo rally car. An innovative one-pedal drive system allowed me to not touch the brakes until I shifted into park after my test run.

Unexpected in the sense that this was a brand on the ropes, folks. It came out swinging for the fences like it was in a chase for the MLB home run record. The standard luxury and convenience features include  a premium Bose audio system, leather, wood and metal trim, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s cluster, a 9-inch infotainment and navigation screen and a head-up display. These are the types of features you find in vehicles that cost double Outlander’s tab.

And it’s quiet. The rigid body and chassis, coupled with well-placed sound-deadening material render the Outlander’s interior nearly silent. Transitions between ICE and EV power are seamless and relatively mute. Road noise is kept at bay. Mitsubishi really did their homework on overall control of “Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH).”

How Much Will the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Cost? When Will it be Available?

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV pricing will start from $39,845. U.S. sales are set to begin in November. It made its global debut on Wednesday. 

Mitsubishi provided lodging, meals and travel to enable us to bring you this first-person report. Although Forbes Wheels sometimes participates in manufacturer-hosted events, our coverage is independent, unbiased and aimed at offering consumers an objective view of every vehicle we test.