Used 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

For 2021, the only version of the Outlander sold by Mitsubishi is the PHEV model, a 2-row 5-seater midsize SUV built in Japan.

Although we suspect most company resources have been dedicated to the all-new 2022 Outlander arriving in April, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has received some substantive improvements. Most notably, the 2.0-liter gas engine has been replaced by a larger and more powerful 2.4-liter.

Total system output (of the gas engine and two electric motors) is now 221 horsepower, up 31 hp compared to last year. Also improved is the electric-only range, which has increased from 22 to 24 miles. Total driving range is estimated by the EPA at only 320 miles, owing to the surprisingly small size of the Outlander PHEV’s fuel tank (11.3 gallons).

Although the standard gasoline-powered Outlanders were 3-row vehicles with seven seats, the 2021 PHEV model is sold exclusively as a 2-row 5-seater.

If you’re not familiar with a hybrid, please understand that the Outlander PHEV has three operational modes. In EV mode, the Outlander is driven exclusively by front and rear electric motors that get energy from the lithium-ion battery pack. In Series Hybrid mode, the gasoline-powered generator charges the main battery pack while also sending power to the front and rear electric motors. (The Outlander PHEV uses this mode when its battery is low.) In Parallel Drive mode, most often used in uphill situations, this Mitsubishi’s 2.4-liter gas engine drives the front wheels while sending a trickle of electricity back into the primary 13.8-kWh battery pack.

KBB drove a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT. With White Pearl paint ($395), carpeted floor mats ($150), and an accessory charging bag ($70), the Outlander PHEV arrived at KBB with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $43,805, which includes a destination fee of $1,195.

After pushing the start button and releasing the electric emergency brake, the Outlander drives very much like a standard EV, which means it’s quiet, plenty powerful, and able to get up to highway speeds with uncanny ease.

Only when the battery is depleted does the gasoline engine begin to run. It starts and runs smoothly, and a handy pictograph on the center screen allows you to keep track of energy flow. Basically, it shows if the Outlander PHEV is being propelled with battery power, gasoline, or any combination thereof. It also shows how kinetic energy recharges the battery any time you lift off the accelerator or depress the brakes.

We made it 23 miles before the gasoline engine kicked in and began charging the battery, which continued to power the electric motors to propel this 5-seat Mitsubishi SUV. In other situations, though, the gas engine simultaneously powered the Outlander PHEV’s front wheels while also charging its battery.

Without the handy available graphic, we couldn’t have known which power source was doing what. The interaction of the gas and electric powertrains in this Outlander PHEV is just that smooth. Buttons allow you to drive the Outlander PHEV in EV mode, or others that prioritize charging or saving the battery charge for use later.

Note: At low speeds, the Outlander PHEV emits a sound that helps pedestrians notice the vehicle while it’s, say, motoring around a parking lot in silent EV mode. We laud Mitsubishi for doing this, but the unusual sound, apparent only from outside the vehicle, reminds us of a jet engine at idle — or perhaps a hovercraft from Back to the Future.

While the Outlander’s seats are comfortable, the suspension is well-tuned, and the view out is good, we do wish this Mitsubishi had actual volume and station knobs for its sound system. We also found that the Park button, which needs to be pressed before shutting down the Outlander PHEV, is hard to find. It’s on the front of the center console, where taller drivers will find it blocked from view by the electronic shift lever.

One other thing: If you’re like us, you’ll switch off the annoying lane-departure warning immediately after it goes off for the first time. The switch, to save you some time, is on the lower left side of the dash.

The Outlander PHEV is handsome and large enough to accommodate five people fairly comfortably, provided the center rear passenger is on the smaller side. Automatic climate control and heated front seats are standard, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes to accommodate drivers of varying sizes.

Front and rear USB ports are standard, as is a pushbutton starter, an electric heater, micron air filtration, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

The Outlander’s rear seat splits 60/40 and folds forward to improve cargo capacity. With that seat in use, the Outlander PHEV has 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space. With the seat folded, that increases to 62.8 cubic feet. A Toyota RAV4 Prime, for comparison, offers 33.5 cubic feet with the seat up and 69.8 cubic feet with it folded.

We wouldn’t call the Outlander a standout design, but it’s handsome in an understated sort of way. In addition to unique badging, the Outlander PHEV is distinguished by a charge port that looks like an additional fuel door on the passenger side rear quarter-panel.

Available colors include brown, gray, and silver metallics, black and white pearlescents, and red. The interior is available in black or light gray.

A Styling Value Package also is available. For $460, it adds prominent PHEV graphics on the lower rear doors as well as a hood badge and front and rear mudguards.

FIVE DRIVE MODES
All 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs have these five driver-selectable modes: Normal, Eco, and Gravel, plus new Sport and Snow settings. Each is tailored to provide responsive and stable handling in varying conditions.

REGENERATIVE BRAKING
When you use the Outlander PHEV brakes, the vehicle’s kinetic energy is converted into electricity to charge the battery. Nothing new, but the Outlander also has steering-mounted paddles that allow the driver to control the amount of energy being recycled.

At the basic SEL level, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV comes equipped with the AWD hybrid powertrain and DC fast-charging capability. It’s well equipped with items like power front seats, an 8-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and keyless entry. It also has a forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

The Outlander PHEV LE model is a better-equipped model with a blacked-out aesthetic and dark chrome 18-inch alloy wheels. You’ll find black trim on the LE’s grille, mirrors, and side glass, and also on its roof rails. Standard LE niceties include synthetic suede upholstery, a sunroof, and a powerful Mitsubishi audio system.

If you order an Outlander PHEV GT, it’s equipped with adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and foglights, and leather upholstery with a diamond quilt pattern. Other standard GT fare includes a heated steering wheel, a handy multi-view camera, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

A minimal number of options are available on the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Special paints can add $395 or $595 depending on color, and a tow package (a hitch and a wiring harness) is $500. You can also order front and rear parking assist sensors for $590.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV pairs a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with front and rear electric motors. The total combined output of the hybrid powertrain is 221 horsepower. This PHEV Outlander can travel up to 24 miles on electricity alone, which means there will likely be instances (grocery runs) in which the gasoline engine isn’t needed.

According to the EPA, the 2021 Outlander PHEV is rated at 74 MPGe combined while running as hybrid (using gas and electricity), or 26 mpg combined when running on gasoline only.

A DC Fast Charging station can charge the Outlander PHEV’s 13.8-kWh lithium-ion to 80 percent of capacity in about 25 minutes. If you use a Level II public charging station, expect a full charge in less than four hours.

If you’d rather charge this Outlander at home using a 120-volt outlet, a full charge can be reached overnight, in about 8 hours. It takes about half that with a 240-volt home current.

126 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm (gasoline engine only)
147 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm (gasoline engine only)
Combined horsepower: 221 horsepower
EPA fuel economy: 26 mpg combined (gas)/74 MPGe (gas & electric)