A best seller overseas gets lost in translation

While it's one of the best-selling plug-in electric hybrids SUVs in the world, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV isn’t prepared to compete in the US market.

For the past few years, the Mitsubishi Outlander has been the best-selling plug-in hybrid in Europe, as well as a worldwide hit that outsells Tesla’s Model X. In 2018 it finally reached our shores and, well, the ride doesn’t live up to the hype. The Outlander PHEV's primary selling point is that it's a versatile all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid, and it has unique powertrain engineering. But with its staid design, ho-hum performance, and dated tech, updates to the 2020 models aren't enough to make it competitive against the pack of impressive plug-in hybrids available in the US.

The 2020 PHEV Outlander ushers in the third generation of the five-passenger Outlander plug-in hybrid, with minor tweaks from last year’s refresh. The two trims offered—the SEL-S starting at $36,295 and the GT-S starting at $41,695—utilize Mitsubishi’s Super All Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system and a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with two 60-kilowatt electric motors at each axle, churning out 190 horsepower and 137-lb.-ft. of torque channeled through a one-speed direct drive transmission. The PHEV model loses its third row to make room for a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, but with the rear 60/40 split seats lowered, you get 60 cubic feet of cargo space. 

Both trims include 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, fog lights, heated side mirrors, automatic wipers, a power liftgate, keyless entry, push button start, leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, a rearview camera, voice controls, Bluetooth, a six-speaker sound system, an 8-inch touch display, a USB port, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. They also feature a plethora of standard advanced driver assists including forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and auto high beams.

The SEL trim provides two additional USB ports in the rear cabin. The GT trim adds LED headlights, a powered sunroof, a heated steering wheel, a multi-view camera, dual AC power outlets instead of the rear USB ports, adaptive cruise control, an upgraded sound system and, new this year, an optional GT Premium Interior Package ($400) offering leather and black cabin accents. 

The exterior keeps the 2019 updated grille and headlamps, providing a streamlined look with crisp edges. The PHEV displays an EV badge and a second door flap for the plug-in socket, that with the supplied cable and a three-prong 10A wall socket (also compatible with a Type 1 AC wallbox), will fully charge in seven to eight hours at home. A public DC fast charger via CHADeMO socket can charge the battery in 30 minutes. Mitsubishi claims a PHEV fuel rating of 74mpg-e and 25 mpg when using gas only.

We tested the GT S-AWC in an alloy silver metallic black finish, with the GT premium interior package providing leather-appointed seating in a diamond-stitch pattern and black accents throughout. With an additional $145 for carpeted floor mats, $70 for a charging cable storage bag, and a destination charge of $1,095, the total sticker price for the GT S-AWC came to $43,205.

Both trims come standard with an 8-inch touch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and Bluetooth, as well as an audio system featuring HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio. The GT model adds the Mitsubishi Power Sound System upgrade with eight speakers instead of six. And while the 2019 refresh improved cabin noise suppression, it's difficult to appreciate the upgraded sound system because of the loud interior, especially during highway driving. 

Mitsubishi's infotainment system is dated and not very intuitive to use, and lacks the variety of options available in similar vehicles in its class, such as the ability to reconfigure the display icons, for example. While the SEL trim has up to three USB ports, most rivals provide more charging spots.

Unique to the GT trim is a 1,500-watt AC power supply with two outlets that can power a TV or other devices—but at the expense of rear cabin USB ports. And we predict the flimsy plastic flap covering the USB plug on the left is likely to break off within months of usage.

During a week of testing, we didn’t plug in every night and felt the impact on fuel efficiency. When we did plug in overnight, we found you can rely on the vehicle for up to 25 electric-only mile round trip daily commutes, depending on terrain and when turning off systems competing for power, like climate control. Driving on the highway, the Outlander delivered an impressive  24 miles of electric-only range, despite the drag caused by an SUV-size vehicle while cruising at 65mph.

This impressive electric-only range is partly due to Mitsubishi’s use of resistive heating technology common in purely electric vehicles to heat the front seats and the steering wheel and for preconditioning the interior temperature while plugged in. 

Without paying attention to the climate controls and other energy-sucking systems, we saw a typical 15 to 17 miles of EV-only range. In hybrid mode with the 12.0-kWh battery working in tandem with the gasoline engine, the Outlander PHEV provided 22 miles of combined city/highway range, with the gas engine kicking in when the battery is depleted. 

You can switch between three modes to manage fuel efficiency. Eco Mode increases both fuel and electricity usage for maximum efficiency. Battery Save Mode, available once the battery pack is below 90 percent, allows the PHEV to operate as a hybrid and is useful in urban traffic when regenerative braking can add juice to the battery. Battery Charge Mode taps the engine to charge the battery up to 80 percent in 40 minutes even at a standstill, according to Mitsubishi. When switched on while driving, it can provide additional power to the vehicle during towing or hill climbing. 

The Outlander PHEV provides three automatic drive mode functions as a result of its unique drivetrain that combines a front and rear electric motor with a front-mounted gas 2.0-liter engine. EV mode taps the two electric motors and draws energy exclusively from the battery, providing zero emission and a silent ride. Series Hybrid mode takes over when the battery is low or the vehicle is accelerating by adding the gas generator for extra gumption. Parallel Hybrid mode combines all power sources to propel the vehicle and is most commonly used in highway driving.

While it sounds good on paper, during test drives the engine would churn and growl at random, trying to find that sweet spot of power and performance available from a combination of the battery or gas drivetrain, and acceleration on the highway was lackluster. The soft suspension felt bouncy and floaty when taking curves, and while Mitsubishi boasts of its unique all-wheel-drive system’s cornering capability, our experience didn’t match competitors’ handling.

The Mitsubishi Outlander was a front runner in its class when it went on sale in 2014. Very little has been updated since, relegating it to the back of the pack. Its unique powertrain might win over buyers abroad, but US shoppers have better PHEV options such as the Ford Escape, the Honda CR-V, the Nissan Rogue, and Toyota’s RAV4. Rumor has it though that Mitsubishi is planning an overhaul of the Outlander in the next year or so, so if you have your heart set on an Outlander PHEV, we recommend waiting.

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Gretchen reviews alternative vehicles and aftermarket electronics for PCMag. She has decades of experience launching media in emerging markets, most recently cofounding C3 Group to facilitate productive relationships among thought leaders in transportation, technology, and policy. She was on the launch team of Car Audio and Electronics, Mobile Office, Portable Computing, and the first publication for the internet, NetGuide. She led sales on two pioneering online entertainment networks, American Cybercast and Attitude Network. She’s also written for automotive and technology outlets such as Edmunds.com, MSN, Style+Tech for Men, and Buick ReDiscover. Currently, she is exploring the intersection of smart mobility and resiliency to provide mobility solutions for global population diaspora caused by climate change, and political and economic upheaval.

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