Review: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV

Winner of the 2023 Drive Car of the Year Award for Australia's Best Medium Hybrid SUV

Mitsubishi has consistently led the way in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) market for the past decade. This isn’t just marketing speak; it’s wholly reflected in the numbers, with the original Outlander PHEV holding the title of the most popular plug-in hybrid electric vehicle globally.

Mitsubishi continues to show its plug-in mastery with the introduction of the next-generation Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV. We took the Exceed variant out for a spin and learnt some great things about this high-tech, family-friendly SUV.

Initial Impressions

The electrified Outlander is far from run-of-the-mill and boasts more than you’d expect from a vehicle sitting in the crowded family SUV market. When you jump in the driver’s seat, you find a spacious and comfortable modern cabin featuring an exceptional field of view and an impressive suite of technology. Being an electric powertrain, you’d be forgiven for not noticing you’ve started the car if it weren’t for the space-age load-up on your digital display and the memory seating activating beneath you.

Driveability

All variants of the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV feature Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) - Mitsubishi’s all-wheel drive system that improves handling and stability. This feature was evident as we cruised along Mount Coot-tha Tourist Drive on the tail end of a light shower; the S-AWC instilling confidence around the tight turns despite the slippery surface. The ride was exceptionally smooth and the steering was surprisingly light for the reasonably-sized SUV.

Like most electric powertrains, the instantaneous feedback of power in the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV was as satisfying as it was quiet and we found the experience of launching from the traffic lights without noise attached as thrilling as could be. If you’re into the numbers, the car comes with two electric motors (70kW at the front; 100kW at the rear) and a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (which was impressively quiet too) providing power and torque to the tune of 185kW and 450Nm respectively. The manufacturer says the Outlander’s battery will give you a range of about 84 kilometres on pure electric power before needing to revert to hybrid petrol power,which, based on our driving, turned out to be reasonably accurate.

If you’re a timid driver, you'll feel good about the suite of safety technologies included. The heads-up display allowed us to keep an eye on our speed without removing our eyes from the road, while the audible blindspot warning offered a critical reminder of our surroundings while attempting to navigate busy peak hour traffic. These features, along with the high-resolution rear and 360-degree cameras, offered some great assurance in our driving and parking decisions. Another feature that will please the vertically-challenged drivers among us, is the depth of the sun visors. We know it’s not a particularly exciting part of a new car but we all know how irritating impractically short sun visors can be when you’re stuck driving into the harsh afternoon sun.

Liveability

You can get the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV in both five and seven-seat layouts, although seven-seat package is called the 5+2 seat configuration for good reason. We found that the main benefit of the rear seats in the 5+2 layout is how well they disappear into the floor when stowed, however, they are not particularly designed for regular use. It was a tight squeeze for two adults and the short backrest with elongated headrests offer a slightly awkward feel. For a seven-seat vehicle though, we were impressed with the decently-sized boot that utilised the cavity that houses the stowed rear seats for increased space. On top of this, when the car is in its five-seat configuration, the boot space increases massively.

You can't miss the impressive range of infotainment and dashboard tech in the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV that includes wireless Apple CarPlay (across all models) as well wireless smartphone charging and a nifty Heads Up Display available in all but the base model. Frankly, we reckon more cars need to adopt Apple CarPlay and wireless smartphone charging - the convenience of this cable-eliminating combo is beyond comparison and once you have it, you don’t want to ever go without it. The Bose nine-speaker sound system available in the Exceed variants dispenses a thrilling chest-thumping to accompany your favourite beats that was easy to control through the responsive infotainment screen.

We'd consider the stand-out feature of this car, however, the two 240V/1500-watt power outlets available in all but the base model. We can see it working wonders for individuals who are always on the go and need the ability to charge items such as a laptop between meetings, or even power a hair dryer after a midday gym session. This also means that, combined with its all-wheel drive capabilities, the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV is the perfect ‘glamping’ vehicle allowing you to forego the purchase of external power options to head off-grid. Another small albeit handy feature that parents will love is the built-in pull-up sunshades in the rear doors. We appreciate the extra thought Mitsubishi has put into these smaller elements which really make this a well-rounded family vehicle.

Cost

The Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV comes in four variants and two seating configurations with all models featuring the S-AWC all-wheel drive system. The two lower spec variants, the ES and Aspire have a five-seat arrangement while the higher-end models, the Exceed and Exceed Tourer, get the full seven-seat configuration. Some features standard across all models include Mitsubishi’s MiTEC Safety Technology suite, seven different drive modes, and a 12.3-inch Digital Driver Display.

The range starts at $58,930 for the ES with the biggest leap in price occurring between the base model and the Aspire which sits at $65,630. This leap is expected with the significant boost in features included in the Aspire over the ES. The leap up to seven seats is a slight jump with the Exceed coming in at $70,780 while the Exceed Tourer tops out the range at $73,350. These prices are an increase over last year’s models although this can be put down to the increased number of features included.

Conclusion

We definitely wouldn’t argue with anyone that claims that the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV is the best plug-in hybrid on the market. Mitsubishi continues to deliver an exceptional product and it’s no wonder with the significant experience they have in this field. Overall, the 2022 Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV is a stylish and remarkably-equipped family SUV that boasts an impressive suite of technology, loads of safety features and notably versatile elements that, when pieced together, form an all-rounder that reflects the next step in EV comfort and convenience.