2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review: A better hybrid, but still hard to recommend

I’ve appear to adore plug-in hybrids for how they ease you into electrical vehicle possession. In the case of this 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, I can make your mind up when to use its 24 miles of all-electrical variety, but I nonetheless have the peace of brain of an interior combustion engine to retain me chugging on very long excursions. PHEVs really do make heading electrical quick. Regrettably, this Mitsubishi is not a plug-in I would endorse.

As you’ve most likely recognized, the 2021 Outlander PHEV is nonetheless the aged variation of Mitsubishi’s midsize SUV, not the swanky new 2022 design that shares its underpinnings with the Nissan Rogue. Continue to, the aged SUV does have some updated tricks, by way of a new two.4-liter I4 engine supplemented by a pair of 60-kW and 70-kW motors, supplying the Outlander all-wheel push. Combined, this powertrain makes 221 horsepower — 31 much more than final calendar year. The 13.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack is more substantial than right before, allowing for for an EPA-believed 24 miles of electrical variety (up from 22). Also, the battery can accept a 50-kW DC quickly charge via its CHAdeMO plug, which allows the battery to attain 80{d11068cee6a5c14bc1230e191cd2ec553067ecb641ed9b4e647acef6cc316fdd} capability in twenty five minutes. That’s gradual compared to the one hundred fifty-kW and 350-kW choices for complete EVs, but not all plug-in hybrids have quickly-charging abilities, so this twenty five-moment time is a point in the Mitsu’s favor.

The Outlander PHEV has a tiny gasoline tank — only eleven gallons — so the SUV’s full variety is just 320 miles. Immediately after a week of screening, I averaged 32.one mpg in gasoline-only procedure and 3.9 miles per kWh. The EPA states the PHEV must get 26 mpg and two.two miles per kWh for a merged full of seventy four MPGe, but I obviously found people figures quick to beat.

The Outlander has Regular, Eco and Gravel driving modes, in addition to Activity and Snow, which are new this calendar year. The Outlander PHEV could be a very good option for people who have to offer with inclement climate. I must also point out that the Outlander PHEV competed in the 2020 Rebelle Rally, a seven-working day navigational rally that takes put on the grime without the need of the support of GPS. The Rebelle Rally goes via some of the hardest desert and mountain roads of California and Nevada, and apart from getting trapped in the dunes of Glamis for a little bit, the Outlander had no mechanical challenges and finished the rally with a 3rd-put finish in the crossover course. It’s much more capable than you could consider.

In addition to driving modes, there are also particular EV configurations. I can operate the vehicle in complete-EV manner for that zero-emission goodness, a series hybrid manner that costs the battery whilst I am driving or a parallel hybrid manner that employs each the battery and the gasoline engine simultaneously. I can even decide on and pick when to use the electrical power, saving it for around-town errand functioning. At the time the battery is depleted, the gasoline-powered engine kicks on. Irrespective of what manner the vehicle is in, power swaps are sleek and quick.

Regrettably, the Outlander is not exactly wonderful to push. Its steering is unfastened and sloppy and the SUV feels like it is really all above the put on the highway. The handling is roly-poly however the journey high quality is harsh and uncomfortable. The brakes, on the other hand, are organization and assured, and they do double duty with regenerative braking sending power again into the battery. The extra oomph from the electrical motors implies there is a lot of get-up and go, but in general, this is not a vehicle I would want to push day-to-day.

On the moreover aspect, every Outlander PHEV will come typical with forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and automatic substantial beams — and my GT trim gets the extra reward of adaptive cruise control. All these units get the job done as marketed. The lane-holding help can simply be turned off for people who discover it annoying.

Within, Mitsubishi’s infotainment technique is quick to use but the touchscreen’s graphics are quite dated, there are no physical volume or tuning knobs and I had a quantity of challenges trying to get my mobile phone to basically join employing the USB-A port. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are each typical, but I couldn’t get the Outlander to sign up my mobile phone on much more than one particular event. Wi-fi mobile phone charging is not provided, either.

Overall, the inside is strike or miss. My GT tester’s seats glimpse fairly interesting and I adore the use of contrasting stitching. Heated entrance seats are typical on all trims and the GT even has a heated steering wheel. Having said that, there are tons of really hard plastics and proof of cost-cutting during the cabin. Scenario in point: a established of cup holders resides in the cargo place, a vestige from when you could get a 3rd row in the gasoline-powered 2020 Outlander.

That cargo place is a very little modest, as effectively, with 30.4 cubic toes of room with the 2nd row seats up and 62.8 cubes when folded down. The rear seats don’t fold flawlessly flat either, so be prepared to have lesser merchandise sliding toward the again.

Even with its slight updates, the 2021 Outlander PHEV is priced the same as the 2020 design: $37,490, including $one,195 for destination. But this crossover is so, so challenging to endorse. I really like the Toyota RAV4 Key which is a a lot nicer SUV in general, and presents three hundred hp and improved variety. A large amount of individuals criticize the RAV4 Key for becoming expensive, but my Outlander PHEV GT will come in at virtually $44,000, which is a ton of revenue for a little something this aged.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a large amount heading for it in conditions of fuel financial system and electrical variety, but the driving encounter, resources and tech all go away a large amount to be desired. Here’s hoping Mitsubishi places this PHEV drivetrain into the spiffy 2022 Outlander as an alternative.