 | Positives: Dramatic styling makes it stand out from the crowd, noticeably quicker than the gas version, roomy in the first two rows, upscale cabin. |
 | Negatives: Tight third row is almost pointless, frying pan third-row headrests. |
 | Bottom Line: 38 miles of all-electric range doesn't pan out in real life, and the third-row seats are pointless. That said, the Outlander PHEV is opulent, eye-catching, and pretty quick. Definitely cross-shop, though, as there are more compelling choices like the Mazda CX-90 Hybrid and the Kia Sportage Hybrid. |
Driving Experience
The Outlander PHEV one-ups its gas sibling with more power, but its brakes modulate poorly. The PHEV version is pretty quick off the line and also better at highway speeds than the regular gas Outlander, but its handling abilities are best left to lower speeds.
Ride Quality: Ride quality is on the firm side, but it's still decently dampened.
Acceleration: 0-60 comes in a quick 6.6 seconds, almost a second quicker than the gas version.
Braking: Using the actual brake pedal is not so satisfying, with lots of dead travel.
Steering: Steering has some heft and good precision. Accuracy in turns, as well as on-centeredness at highway speeds, is good. There is, however, not much feedback coming through.
Handling: The Outlander PHEV feels unsettled in the turns, and it feels shaky when hitting gaps in the turns.
Technology
The infotainment system in the Outlander comes over from the Nissan Rogue, and it's a decent one. While it's not going to beat competitors like the new system from Toyota or the simple Mazda system, it is way better than the last one. The presence of physical controls makes the driving experience less distracting.
Infotainment System: Our SEL had larger 9.0-inch screen and comes standard with Apple CarPlay (wireless in the SEL) and Android Auto. Responsiveness could be better, but the infotainment system is pretty easy to use.
Controls: From the steering wheel controls to the audio knobs and the clean row of infotainment buttons, the setup is very good and easy to operate when driving. The climate controls also mimic the setup of the infotainment controls, and they're very well done.
Styling
The Outlander PHEV is bold, heavily creased, and it looks like nothing else on the road. The interior in SEL trim is truly special, and it makes Mitsubishi look pretty close to premium.
Front: The massive grille, huge headlights, thin driving lights, and big chrome strips give the Outlander a strong look, albeit polarizing. While it's not what we would call handsome, but it does turn heads.
Rear: The thin taillights look great, but it's far less dramatic than the front end. It would've been nice to see something a bit more noticeable from the back view.
Profile: This is the Outlander PHEV's best view with the strong creases, dramatic glass, and big wheel arches.
Cabin: Our SEL looked downright opulent with a handsome linear dash, diamond-quilted seats, and plenty of metallic appointments. It's one of the fanciest cabins in the segment. Only the use of shiny black plastic cheapens things.
Comfort
The first two rows of the Outlander are very good for occupants. Materials quality is good, and the space is more than adequate. It's the third row that seem almost pointless for anyone but small kids.
Front Seats: The Semi-Aniline leather seats look and feel great, a huge departure from its predecessor. Bolstering and cushioning are nicely balanced.
Rear Seats: The second row has an ample 39.9 inches of legroom, but row three gets an embarrassing 18.7 inches. No adult can sit back there, and that's pretty poor.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): At highway speeds, there's a fair amount of road noise that enters the cabin. Squeaks and rattles, however, are absent.
Visibility: Visibility out the front and sides are good, but side rear visibility past the thick vertical D-pillars is troublesome.
Climate: The climate system works well, and we had no issues cooling the cabin. We also tested the heated seats, which work well.
Safety
The Outlander nails the safety category, and it should provide plenty of peace of mind for families who want great crash test scores and a solid level of accident avoidance technology.
IIHS Rating: The Outlander attained the Top Safety Pick+ award with only a "poor" in headlights depending on trim level.
NHTSA Rating: Not tested.
Standard Tech: The Outlander SEL comes standard with Forward Collision Mitigation with pedestrian detection, Driver Attention Alert, MI-PILOT Assist w/ Navi-link, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and Lane Keep Assist.
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
The Outlander does pretty well in this area, despite the fact that there's not much usable space behind row three. Otherwise, there should be enough room for a family of 4 to 5 if they're kept in the first two rows only. The load floor is flat, and it's not set too high up.
Storage Space: Decent-sized cubbies in the center console are easy to reach and big enough for daily gear use. The armrest is also decently sized, as are the door pockets.
Cargo Room: The Outlander PHEV is down on total cargo space compared to the gas version,. It has 12.8 cubes behind row three, and you get 64.3 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.
Fuel Economy
The new, larger battery (an estimated 16.8-kWh pack) can be replenished by the engine or by plugging in. The EPA estimates 38 miles of EV range. We didn't get that far in our testing.
Observed: 22.8 combined, 29 miles of all-electric range.
Distance Driven: 176 miles.
Audio
Our tester came with the Bose Premium Sound System with 9 speakers as part of the $2,700 SEL Package. It's a very good sound system with good bass and impressive clarity. We dialed up the volume and didn't notice any distortion. It's just too bad that one of the top trims in the line doesn't come with this.
Final Thoughts
The Outlander PHEV is easily the best Mitsubishi SUV to come along in a while. Of course, we miss the last Montero, but we're old school that way. The Outlander PHEV also has the nicest cabin of any Mitsubishi in recent memory. The PHEV's electric-only range is good, and it's the one we would choose. The difficulty arises when there are better PHEVs out there, and that dinky third row is pointless.