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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023 first-time driving review: The diamond is a bit rough

The Mitsubishi Outlander to be one of the first small, affordable plug-in hybrid SUVsbut it has lost ground in recent years with the advent of powerful services from Toyota, Ford, hyundai and that. The main reason is because often foreigner not particularly competitive, so once PHEV finally had company, there was no choice but to go down. Well, there’s a brand new one and Outlander greatly improved now, and finally, it Dip into the mixture version here to make up that lost foundation.

Like the petrol-only version, the new version Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023 impresses with its stylish, spacious and appropriately modern interiors, as well as a generally relaxed and quiet demeanor. However, the plug-in hybrid goes significantly further with more power and refinement, plus a strong electric range. There are a few weaknesses that keep it from being the best in its class (such as a petrol-only version), but depending on your needs, the Outlander PHEV could still be the green compact SUV for you.

The Outlander PHEV has a very similar powertrain to its predecessor. The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine now produces 134 hp instead of the previous model’s 148 hp. Although it can power the wheels directly, it is often used as a motor generator for the front and rear electric motors (like a Honda’s motobike hybrid operation). Both engines are also more powerful than before. The front-engine puts out 20 horsepower and 88 pound-feet of torque to make 114 ponies and 188 lb-ft. The rear makes 40 more horsepower for the 134, though torque remains the same at 144 pound-feet. The result is a total of 248 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. That’s more Ford Escape PHEVand more torque than Hyundai Tucson and other car additional. The Toyota RAV4 PrimeTheir 302 hp best of all.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023

In addition to the greater capacity, the Outlander PHEV can now travel 50 km on a single charge – 14 km more than before thanks to the increased capacity from 13.8 kilowatt-hours to 20 kWh. Again, that’s more range than Ford, Hyundai and Kia, albeit less than Toyota. Mitsubishi also offers an unusual feature not found on those competitors: DC fast charging. We are not sure how fast DC is needed charger are on a vehicle that can run on gasoline for a short time, but if you want to refill the battery and don’t want to wait overnight to get it from the plug in your garage, why not? The only catch is that it uses the older CHAdeMO connector that became HD DVD (remember those?) EV charger option player. DC fast charging is also only available on the SEL version and up, it’s also available for a handy 1,500-watt auxiliary power port that lets you use the battery to power home appliances.

Despite all these improvements, the Outlander PHEV still gets worse in one key parameter: overall performance. combine energy saving equivalent to 64 miles/gallon or 10 mpg-e less than the old model. That is also a large deficit compared to rivals: Toyota (94), Kia (84) and Hyundai (80). The Ford gets 105 mpg-e but is only available with front-wheel drive. The downside of the Outlander can be attributed to the inefficient gasoline engine. The numbers for the petrol engine alone are not available on the new one, but the old one only had 26 mpg, so the new one could be worse. Also, if you’re looking for maximum efficiency, you’ll need to assess your driving needs. If most of your driving can be serviced within 38 miles, the Outlander will be great. If you regularly travel more miles than that, or can’t charge as often, you’ll want to consider a competitor.

Powertrain specs suffice, how practical is the Outlander? Overall pretty good, with just a few gripes. With power mainly coming from two electric motors, it operates very smoothly and has excellent load handling at low speeds. On the other hand, it starts to run out of power at highway speeds, especially in all-electric mode. When running in hybrid mode, the gasoline engine will work to help supplement the engine at those higher speeds. In addition to being very smooth, the electric motors have a good distribution of power, making it feel quite even at the front and rear, perhaps slightly leaning towards the rear. It feels a bit like Subaru when it comes to cornering without the sharp steering you’d expect from your regular compact. Cross each other with a four-wheel drive system based on front-wheel drive.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023

The petrol engine is quite loud after starting the Outlander in cold weather, with a high-pitched hum that changes in volume with engine rpm. It diminishes dramatically as the car heats up, barely perceptible, and indeed, the engine in general becomes remarkably quiet afterwards (or at least is well insulated from the cabin). With other noise levels generally low, the cabin is mostly quiet on the go.

The Outlander offers seven driving modes, which affect power delivery and driving effort. You can also choose to run in EV, hybrid, battery saver, and extra battery modes. We rarely complain about the choice, but there are caveats with these modes. If you want to drive in EV mode, you can’t use Power or Tarmac modes – they will return the Outlander to hybrid mode. Also, for maximum resiliency in EV mode, you must use One-pedal mode (activated by a button next to the power mode button) instead of calling it by using the keys. controls like you can in many other PHEVs and EVs, such as Kia’s. Instead, the paddles act like picking a lower gear to go down the hill and it activates the petrol engine. Frustratingly, the Single-pedal mode also greatly reduces resilience when coming to a stop. The purpose is to allow for a steep climb, but it makes for some awkward stops when you take over the car. Finally, since Power and Tarmac modes can’t be used in full EV mode, you can’t get a heavier driving feel in that mode, as there’s no custom or individual mode that allows you to mix and match interests. Basically, there are a lot of choices, but they may be better choices.

Which brings us to the Outlander’s handling and handling, which could be the highlight of this SUV. It is extremely supple and smooth. I was able to do amazing speeds on the roughest, crater-filled roads I could find and do it comfortably, even on 20-inch wheels. And its confidence on terrible asphalt doesn’t lead to sloppy handling. The steering is light, numb and the body is just right roll Doesn’t build confidence right away, but once you’ve learned to trust the Outlander, you can enjoy quick and precise cornering, neutral balance and impressive stability. It can actually be quite fun.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023

And then there’s another big advantage of the Outlander: its interior. Granted, our tester was a loaded SEL Premium, but there are many constants in the lineup that make it a great place to drive. Instruments and infotainment shared from recent Nissans (the Outlander is mechanically related to Nissan Rogue) and they’re bright, sharp, and fast. Large icons and simple menus make using the screen exceptionally easy. It is also supported by a series of convenient physical buttons for climate control, volume, adjustments, and shortcuts. In particular, the buttons have a beautiful notched texture and work firmly. The dash looks premium, especially on our test model featuring contrasting orange leather, diamond stitching and even some real aluminum trim.

The seating position is also great. Able to sit surprisingly low, making the Outlander almost like a car if you will, while still leaving the option of a tall, commanding perch. Thick padded seats with generous padding and lumbar support make driving comfortable, fatigue-free, at least up front. The spacious second row is similar to the front row, albeit with flatter padding. The third row is, well, exists. It’s really not suitable for adults in most cases, although children can be reasonably comfortable provided that second-row occupants sacrifice their legroom. At least setting up and removing the third row is easy, but it would be nice to have the option to delete the third row. Many customers would probably prefer a bit more cargo space, or even a spare tire. In fact, that’s fine on the regular version, too, as third-row seats are also required there and there’s no spare row available. That’s not to say the Outlander is small on the inside. It has the same cargo space as the non-hybrid, which means 11.7 cubic feet behind the third row, 33.5 cubic feet behind the second and 79.7 cubic feet behind the front seats ( 78.3 cubic feet on models equipped with a sunroof). That maximum cargo space is larger than any other compact plug-in hybrid SUV.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023

In terms of price, the Outlander PHEV is in the more premium segment, starting at $41,190 – about $1,000 more than the Kia and Ford, and about $2,000 less than the Ford. RAV4 Prime. You also won’t have access to federal tax credits because it’s built in Japanunlike the American-made Ford (the Toyota RAV4 Prime may or may not be eligible in 2023).

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is not an outright champion of the compact plug-in hybrid segment. Its disappointing overall performance and some driving quirks held it back. But there are still many reasons why it could be a great fit for buyers. If you’re looking for more space, comfort, and electric range without sacrificing handling or paying too much, the Outlander PHEV is well worth a closer look. Perhaps more realistically, though, if you’ve already started looking for one of the PHEV’s tough competitors, don’t be afraid to consider Mitsubishi in the first place. You should be pleasantly surprised.

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