2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

　　

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of only a few small SUVs that can run on electric power — without being fully electric, that is. It's a plug-in hybrid, so you can recharge its battery at home or at a public charging station and drive a short distance — up to 24 miles, according to the EPA — on all-electric power. After that, the gas engine switches on and the Outlander PHEV drives like a typical hybrid. Keep the battery pack charged frequently and you might not need to fill up the gas tank very much at all.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 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

　　$118/mo  for Outlander PHEV SEL

　　Outlander PHEV SEL

　　SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) (Most Popular) - $36,295 MSRPLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) - $37,995 MSRPGT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD) - $41,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2021, Mitsubishi has given the PHEV a few updates too. Most notably, it has a little more than last year as well as more power and a quieter cabin. However, it faces off against the new Toyota RAV4 Prime. This is also a plug-in hybrid but offers an EPA-estimated 42 miles of all-electric range. So how well does this improved Outlander PHEV compete? Read our Expert Rating below for our in-depth review.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Outlander PHEV drive? This electrified SUV isn't fast, but it has enough power to get out of its own way when needed. In zzdcar' testing, the Outlander PHEV reached 60 mph from a standstill in 9.3 seconds. That's decent for an economy-minded vehicle. But Toyota's RAV4 Prime, which is also a plug-in and the Outlander's main rival, blows it away with a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds.

　　The Outlander's stopping performance is similarly adequate, but we're not fans of its light brake pedal because it can make it tricky to consistently stop smoothly. Our test vehicle also lacked stability during our panic-braking testing. Then there's the steering. It's bizarrely light and lacks straight-ahead stability. You constantly have to fidget at the wheel to keep the Outlander going straight.

　　If you'd like to wander off the beaten path, the advanced all-wheel-drive system and reasonable level of ground clearance make the Outlander quite capable off-road.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Outlander PHEV? The Outlander's comfort is average across the board. The front seats are fine, but the rear seats feel a bit flat and firm. Ride comfort is about average for an SUV. The Outlander smooths out most of the big impacts, but smaller road vibrations tend to find their way in.

　　The climate control system performs adequately. We noted that the heated steering wheel only warms part of the rim, which isn't ideal.

　　When you're driving in EV mode on a full charge, the cabin is pretty quiet. But nail the gas when the engine is on and it fires up and sounds like a blender that's working too hard. We were also annoyed that using almost any button in our test vehicle triggered a beeping noise, and there didn't seem to be a way to disable the sounds.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Outlander PHEV is spacious and has no problem seating adults in both rows. The tall door openings make it easy to get in or out of either row. But the cabin controls can be hard to locate and aren't placed for easy access. Mitsubishi's infotainment screen features only basic adjustments and comes across as a budget aftermarket unit compared to the more sophisticated systems in other small SUVs.

　　The driving position is upright and almost chairlike — taller drivers will certainly feel awkward. The steering wheel doesn't have quite enough extension adjustment either. Outward visibility is average for an SUV. One bonus is the available surround-view camera system; it makes maneuvering in tight spots a breeze.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Mitsubishi has some catching up to do. You get a decently sized 8-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration as standard, but that's about where our favorable commentary ends. The Outlander PHEV's voice control system can't understand your requests a lot of the time, and the stereo, while capable of being loud, doesn't offer much in the way of crisp sound quality.

　　The advanced driver aids are also a bit behind the times. The adaptive cruise control system can be slow to react to changing traffic and will not hold you in place when you come to a stop. Blind-spot monitoring works just fine, but there is no lane keeping function. We do like that the image from the surround-view camera can be cued up via a button on the steering wheel. That's a pretty clever touch.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? With 30.4 cubic feet of cargo storage behind the rear seats, the Outlander has comparable space to many other small SUVs. But holy molasses, Batman, its power tailgate is extraordinarily slow. It's so lethargic, we opted to disable the feature and use it manually. The seats split and fold, but it's a three-step process that requires you to pull up the bottom cushion.

　　Once the seats are folded, the Outlander PHEV offers up to 66 cubic feet of cargo space, which is also an average amount for a small SUV. The floor is relatively low, so you don't have to hoist gear up into the cargo area. In terms of cabin storage, there's nothing very remarkable beyond modestly sized bins and door pockets.

　　If you're fitting small children into the back, know that the safety seat anchors are tucked in pretty deep and hard to access. This can be annoying if you're frequently installing safety seats. There's lots of rear room, however, and we had no problem installing a large convertible seat in our testing. The top tether points are fairly accessible, though they have an odd configuration that feels almost like they're installed upside down.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says the Outlander PHEV should go about 24 miles solely on electric power and then return 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving once it switches to regular gasoline-powered hybrid mode. That fuel economy estimate is disappointing since many all-wheel-drive non-hybrid small SUVs have a similar estimate. Or, as hybrids go, consider Toyota's RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid that gets 34 mpg combined.

　　On our 115-mile evaluation route, we were able to travel 26.6 miles before the gas engine kicked on, and after that we averaged 30.4 mpg. Those results were better than expected but still not amazing for a plug-in.

　　The Outlander's ace in the hole is that it's one of the few plug-in hybrids to offer DC fast charging. Power up using a public DC fast charger and you can add about 80% charge in 25 minutes.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Outlander PHEV a good value? A solid powertrain warranty and DC fast charging are nice benefits of the Outlander PHEV. But with an as-tested price hovering in the mid-$40,000 range, this Mitsubishi just feels too cheaply built for the money. Even taking into the federal tax credit and potential savings in fuel (assuming you're diligent about plugging in every day), there are just too many fuel-efficient non-plug-in SUVs out there that are a much better value.

　　

Wildcard

6.0/10

　　The Outlander has a few cool features. But if you're not keeping it charged regularly then you're not reaping many benefits. Overall, we think you'll be better off with a standard hybrid SUV or another plug-in such as the Toyota RAV4 Prime or Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid.

　　

Which Outlander PHEV does zzdcar recommend?

The new LE trim, which Mitsubishi added for 2021, is a justifiable upgrade from the base trim. We could do without all the black exterior accents, but a standard sunroof and upgraded stereo system are always appreciated. All Outlanders come with a strong collection of safety equipment, so there's little need to jump up to the top GT trim unless you have a strong desire for adaptive cruise control.

　　

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV models

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a small crossover SUV that seats five and comes in three trims: SEL, LE and GT. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain consists of a four-cylinder engine, a rechargeable battery pack and electric motors that provide a total output of 221 horsepower. It can go an EPA-estimated 24 miles on all-electric power before switching over to normal hybrid operation. All-wheel drive is standard. Other feature highlights include:

　　SEL

　　The base Outlander PHEV comes with:

　　18-inch alloy wheels Power liftgate Roof rails DC fast-charging capability Proximity entry and push-button start Dual-zone automatic climate control Leather upholstery Power-adjustable, heated front seats 60/40-split folding and reclining rear seats 8-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration USB ports (one front, two rear) Six-speaker sound systemStandard driver safety aids include:

　　Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)Limited Edition

　　New to the lineup for 2021, the LE adds the following:

　　18-inch dark chrome alloy wheels Unique front and rear bumpers Blackout exterior trim and grille Sunroof Eight-speaker upgraded sound system GT

　　The top-line Outlander PHEV comes with all of the above plus:

　　LED headlights Heated steering wheel Dual household-style power outlets (replaces the rear USB ports) Quilted leather-appointed seat surfaces Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Outlander and its surroundings for tight parking situations

　　

2021 Outlander PHEV Highlights

Trim: SELLEGTSEL

　　

Base MSRP	$36,295
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	24 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	$118/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	4.0 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles