2023 Mitsubishi Outlander

　　

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　You're looking at the best vehicle Mitsubishi sells in the U.S. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander is a three-row compact crossover SUV with a genuine sense of style, modern technology and competitive power. If that praise sounds like the Outlander simply meets the basic requirements to compete in the segment, you're correct. But when you consider the rest of Mitsubishi's U.S. lineup, it's a miracle.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$141/mo  for Outlander ES

　　Outlander ES

　　ES 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $27,895 MSRPES 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $29,695 MSRPSE Special Edition 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $29,845 MSRPSE Special Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $31,645 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $30,945 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $32,745 MSRPBlack Edition 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $32,145 MSRPBlack Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $33,945 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $34,445 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $36,245 MSRPSEL Black Edition 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $35,895 MSRPSEL Black Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $37,695 MSRPRALLIART 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $35,945 MSRPSEL 40th Anniversary Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $40,295 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　It helps that the 2023 Outlander is based on the same platform and component set as the Nissan Rogue. However, the Outlander looks much different, comes with an exclusive third-row seat, and is tuned to deliver a unique driving character. Plus, the Outlander uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Rogue has a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder under its hood. The Mitsubishi also has a more generous warranty.

　　The big confirmed news for the 2023 Outlander models is the arrival of a redesigned plug-in hybrid. We review the Outlander PHEV separately, but the TL;DR is that it looks just like the appealing gas-only version, has three rows of seats, and comes with a more powerful drivetrain with greater electric-only range. Otherwise, the standard Outlander adds new trim levels for 2023 to give buyers more variety and a wider range of pricing options.

　　While the PHEV sounds promising, we like the standard Outlander well enough, perhaps in part because it is such a massive improvement over the one it replaced. Be sure to check out our full Expert Rating to get all of the details.

　　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.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Outlander drive? The Outlander's low point is its powertrain. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has decent power specs, but it's rather gutless in real-world driving. At the zzdcar test track, our all-wheel-drive test Outlander accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 9.7 seconds. That's pretty slow, and you'll notice it when trying to make a pass on the highway. A Honda CR-V, for comparison, covers 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds.

　　Otherwise, the Outlander is mild-mannered. The steering wheel has a decent amount of heft to it, and the body stays fairly composed when taking mountain curves at speed. It's not a sporty choice like the Mazda CX-5, but the Outlander will go around a corner without making your passengers queasy.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Outlander? The Outlander rides comfortably over a variety of road surfaces. The front seats are also nicely padded and can keep passengers comfy even on long road trips. We also like that the Outlander is one of the few vehicles in this class with available climate controls for rear passengers. The heated seats get quite toasty in the highest setting. Wind and road noise is unobtrusive, but you'll definitely notice the engine noise when you accelerate (which can be quite often, depending on your driving style or level of road incline).

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below