2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　

What's new

Adds air vents and USB port for rear passengersLED headlights and high beams now standard on GT trimRestyled wheel, front grille and bumper designsNew warranty program covers deterioration in battery capacityPart of the third Outlander generation introduced for 2014

　　Hybrid technology has made the jump from eco hatchbacks into all sorts of vehicles. From pickup trucks to supercars, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of vehicles are now widely available. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is another place where that technology has popped up — as the Outlander PHEV is essentially a plug-in hybrid version of the standard Outlander SUV.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.17 per kWh for electricity in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$121/mo  for Outlander PHEV SEL

　　Outlander PHEV SEL

　　SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) (Most Popular) - $35,795 MSRPGT 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) - $41,495 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Under the hood, the Outlander PHEV gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 60-kilowatt electric motor that drives the front wheels, then another 60-kW electric motor that powers the rear wheels. And in an interesting trick, the Outlander PHEV can simulate a locked differential, making it relatively capable off-road. With a full electric charge, it gets 22 miles of EV-only range. Then, once the charge is gone, it operates like any other gasoline-powered vehicle. And once it's run out, fill it up and keep on driving. One drawback of the PHEV, however, is a relatively modest 25 mpg combined rating from the EPA when the SUV is used as a hybrid, which is less than a regular Outlander with a four-cylinder engine.

　　Inside, the Outlander PHEV is a roomy two-row SUV. Unfortunately, the addition of the battery pack and the electric motor means that the Outlander PHEV doesn't get three rows like its gasoline-only brother. But it does have a long list of standard features and significant cargo space, even on the base SEL trim level.

　　While it does well on cargo space and has a relatively good electric-only range, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV isn't one of our top choices for a plug-in hybrid. Materials and build quality are subpar, and several of the Mitsubishi's competitors offer better fuel economy. If you plan to take lots of short trips, the Outlander PHEV can make a certain amount of sense, but we'd check out vehicles such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid before settling on the Mitsubishi.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as one of zzdcar' Best Gas Mileage SUVs for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.5 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The observations in this review are based on our full test of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT (2.0L inline-4 plug-in hybrid | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.5 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	6.5

　　

Driving

6.5

　　The Outlander PHEV is the most off-road-capable vehicle in its small class and handles its complex powertrain smoothly on the road. But it suffers most of the foibles possible for a heavy hybrid SUV: It's slow and unrefined, with a harshly buzzing engine, bizarre steering and floppy handling.

　　

Acceleration

5.5

　　The electric motors provide a nice thrust at low speeds, but power runs out quickly. When the engine is called into action, it sounds harsh and strained, especially on hills, and provides much more noise than power. The as-tested 0-60 mph time of 9.8 seconds is slow, even for a hybrid.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　The brake pedal feels numb but remains predictable and easy to modulate. The transition from regenerative to mechanical braking is almost unnoticeable. On our test track, the Outlander PHEV managed a panic stop from 60 mph in 125 feet, which is good for a hybrid SUV.

　　

Steering

4.5

　　Steering resistance is wholly artificial and doesn't build linearly. There's also a dead zone around the on-center point, and the Outlander requires constant shepherding in turns or in straight lines. Yet oddly, in low-traction situations, there's very good feel communicated from the front tires.

　　

Handling

6.5

　　The lack of roll control creates a lot of lean in turns, and bumps cause an unsettling motion in the body. There's no sense of what your wheels are doing, which is a shame because the actual capabilities of the car are perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately, it's hard to have confidence in this vehicle.

　　

Drivability

7.0

　　The Outlander transitions smoothly from all-electric to gas-assisted. The powertrain responds quickly to driver input, although the single-speed transmission adds to the noise when it engages. There is a braking setting for hills, and the sole function of the column-mounted shift paddles is to select braking strength in this mode.

　　

Off-road

8.5

　　Even in electric mode, the Outlander PHEV can drive all four wheels, and it can simulate a "locked" differential, splitting power 50/50 front and rear. Add in reasonable ground clearance, and while it's no Jeep Wrangler, it's the most off-road-friendly vehicle in its very narrow class.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The highlights are the comfortable front seats and climate control with a number of customization options, along with the quiet of an electric motor in certain situations. But the effect is spoiled by an unsettled, busy ride and generous helpings of noise on the freeway or when the engine engages.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　The front seats are accommodating and comfortable, but the way the power seat cushion adjustments change the seating position makes them finicky to use. The firm, narrow rear seats are high up off the floor of the car, which may not agree with all passengers.

　　

Ride comfort

5.0

　　Sharp impacts come through into the cabin, and there's noticeable bounce over bumps. The Outlander never really feels settled on the road, and its ride is busy and unsophisticated.

　　

Noise & vibration

6.5

　　In electric mode at low speeds, the Outlander is very quiet, although traffic noise is not well-filtered. At freeway speeds, there's noticeable wind and road noise. And any time the engine is needed, there's an intrusive, harsh buzz.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Automatic climate control maintains temperature well, blowing quite cold when you need it. There are a number of options for adjusting its behavior in the vehicle's settings menus. Large buttons allow manual control of all functions, and while their layout isn't optimal, they're clearly marked.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The Outlander PHEV is roomy, with good visibility and easy entry and exit thanks to tall door openings and doors that aren't very long. But the cabin feels cheaply built, controls can be hard to locate and taller drivers will find the driving position awkward.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　Control buttons are clearly marked but placed haphazardly around the cabin, making some functions hard to find. The vehicle settings menus provide quite a lot of customization for a vehicle like this, but the screen is slow to respond and menu labeling isn't very logical.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The tall, square door openings provide excellent access up front. The higher rear seats mean taller passengers will have to duck. But the rear doors are short, so access is good even in tight parking spaces.

　　

Driving position

6.5

　　Drivers who prefer sitting higher up may wind up feeling a bit like they're perched in the car. The low armrests and beltline make you feel as if you're sitting above, rather than in, the driving position. Due to that issue and the odd seat cushion adjustments, finding a good position can take some time.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　The passenger cabin is pleasantly roomy, which is helped by the fact that you don't feel confined in the front, and there's good front kneeroom. The rear seats are narrow, and fitting three adults would be a real squeeze. Rear headroom is good, if not up to the standards of some small SUVs.

　　

Visibility

8.5

　　The large rear-quarter windows help a lot with visibility over the shoulder, and front and rear visibility are clear and unobstructed. The wide side pillars can obstruct the side view, but generous mirrors and an available 360-degree camera help on the road and while parking.

　　

Quality

5.0

　　We noticed some surprising lapses in quality, such as rattles and creaks from the cabin and rippling in the formed metal along the edges of the doors. The cabin is covered in hard plastic and vinyl, adding to the Outlander's chintzy, lightweight feeling.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　Put the fold-flat rear seats down, and there is plenty of cargo space. But with them up, large wheelwell intrusions make for less usable space. There's a good amount of interior storage, but it's not well-organized and lacks the little cubbies and pockets that make other vehicles agreeable.

　　

Small-item storage

6.5

　　The door pockets are generously large both front and back, as are the center console box and glovebox. But there aren't any of the handy little cubbies for phones or other small items that we've come to expect. The trunk has extra cupholders, just in case.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　The load floor behind the rear seats is narrow, and not all of its 30.4 cubic feet is usable. But the rear seats fold completely flat to open up an excellent 78 cubic feet of space. There's no real liftover, making for an easy-to-use space aside from the intrusions behind the back seat.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　The LATCH points are stuck down between the cushions and placed at an unusually steep angle, making them harder to access. However, the high rear seat means less bending over to situate kids, and there's plenty of space for even larger seats.

　　

Towing

8.0

　　The Outlander PHEV's 1,500-pound towing capacity is good for a hybrid, although it still lags well behind the capabilities of traditionally motivated small SUVs.

　　

Technology

6.5

　　The neatest tech tricks here are the high-output household outlets and a display of the vehicle's GPS coordinates. Cellphone integration is also welcome. But the voice controls are deeply frustrating in practice, and the stereo, while loud, doesn't offer a lot of fidelity.

　　

Audio & navigation

6.0

　　Sound quality isn't very impressive, but a dedicated subwoofer with separate punch adjustment makes for a lot of bass response. There's no map-based GPS, although the Outlander will display its GPS coordinates. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work as a navigation replacement.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect quickly and work well. There are two USB ports up front, a USB port for the back seat and a household outlet for the trunk, capable of running serious current. Bluetooth can be annoying, as we had to manually select which phone connected to audio streaming.

　　

Driver aids

7.0

　　Adaptive cruise works well both at speed and in stop-and-go traffic, but it can react violently when traffic speed changes suddenly. The system does return to default settings between uses. We didn't notice issues with false positives from safety systems.

　　

Voice control

5.0

　　Voice controls have a good set of available options, and there is a guide displayed on the screen. That said, we had frequent issues getting voice recognition to work between misunderstandings and a seeming inability to distinguish spoken commands over the cabin noise.

　　

Which Outlander PHEV does zzdcar recommend?

　　While it's a bit pricey, the trim we recommend for the Outlander PHEV is the topped-out GT. In addition to the Outlander PHEV's standard equipment, the GT gets items such as a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, a multiview camera, and safety tech such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

　　

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV models

　　The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a five-passenger plug-in hybrid SUV offered in two trim levels: SEL and GT. Both are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (117 horsepower) joined by two 60-kilowatt electric motors at each axle. The combination gives the Outlander PHEV all-wheel drive, and total system output is rated at 190 hp. Electrical power is stored in a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

　　Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, heated side mirrors, automatic wipers, a power liftgate, keyless entry, push-button start, leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, 60/40-split folding and reclining rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, voice controls, Bluetooth, a six-speaker sound system, a 7-inch touchscreen display, dual USB ports, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Driver safety aids include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

　　Stepping up to the GT adds automatic LED headlights, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, a multiview camera, dual AC power outlets (rated up to 1,500 watts), and a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system. Enhanced driver aids include forward collision alert with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.

　　There are a handful of optional accessories available including mudguards, chrome side mirror covers, lower airdams, cargo nets and a Towing package that includes a tow hitch and trailer-prepped wiring harness.

　　

2019 Outlander PHEV Highlights

Trim: SELGTSEL

　　

Base MSRP	$35,795
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,000
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	22 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	74 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.
Cost to Drive	$121/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	3.5 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles