Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid SUV formula will soon be revised with the incoming 2025 Outlander PHEV, so we thought we’d take one last look at the 2024 model to lay down some benchmarks. And what better place to test it than in its home country?
Yep, we’re in Japan for this one to see what it’s like (and for WRC Japan), and to see how Japan is going in the world of public charging infrastructures. Plug-in hybrids are very popular in Japan, more popular than EVs, but of course not as popular as its famous ‘kei cars’ which feature 660cc engines in tiny, lightweight platforms for optimum efficiency and insurance/road costs. You can even get a ute, SUV, and MPV in the kei mould.
The Outlander PHEV caters to eco-conscious buyers who don’t want to compromise on practicality or performance. With seven-seat capability, an advanced AWD system, could it be the best PHEV SUV out there? Let’s take a look.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Specifications
Powertrain: 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder plug-in hybrid
Output (total): 185kW / 450Nm
Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 20×8.0, 255/45
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 2140kg
Power-to-weight: 11.56:1 (kg:kW)Official consumption: 1.5L/100km
Our consumption: 7.0L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 56L/91 RON
Power efficiency: 123.33kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.68 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.16 seconds*
60-110km/h: 4.87 seconds*
Starting price: $69,290
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: How much does it cost?
Here we’re testing the equivalent of the Australian Outlander Exceed PHEV. In Australia this top-spec 7-seater variant is priced from a fairly steep $69,290, before on-road costs. It is more expensive than the petrol Exceed 7-seater (from $52,640), and more expensive than most of its rivals, including the top-spec RAV4 Cruiser hybrid (from $54,410) – although, that doesn’t offer plug-in functionality.
Plug-in means it is able to drive only electric power alone for a certain distance, while a conventional hybrid uses a combustion engine and electric motor system in tandem, with very limited or zero pure electric drive functionality.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Interior & packaging
The Exceed presents a luxury-inspired cabin, showcasing quilted leather upholstery, some soft-touch materials, and a well-organised dashboard layout. Some materials and buttons feel a bit cheaper than the price would suggest, but it is great to have consistently-sized buttons and clearly marked out, albeit in Japanese in this case.
On the dash is a 9.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system. It’s not the best in this class in our opinion, just in terms of colour spectrum and graphics, but it is practical and easy to use, with some physical main menu buttons to help fast-track some processes. It does offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but only Apple is wireless. Mitsubishi’s inclusion of a nine-speaker sound system and a panoramic sunroof enhances the premium feel.
A fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster can be configured to show live energy use and where the power is going, in terms of the all-wheel drive system, which is fun to see. The graphics are a bit basic like with the main touch-screen, but the important information is quick to read.
Passenger comfort is a highlight, with power-adjustable, heated front seats offering some lateral support and good cushioning for long-distance driving, with an open console area offering cup holders and storage. A spacious second row, offering ample legroom, is further enhanced by slide adjustment.
The third row is handy but best suited to children or occasional use. In saying that, the Outlander is one of only a handful of SUVs in this specific class offered in seven-seat configuration, so that has to be credited regardless of the space.
Boot volume remains practical, though the battery system does slightly reduce underfloor storage compared with the petrol-only models. This presents 191L with the third row up, 461L with it down, and 1387L with both rear rows down. For reference, the petrol Exceed 7-seater offers 163L/1473L.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Powertrain & handling
The current Outlander PHEV employs a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with dual electric motors, delivering a combined 185kW and 450Nm. That’s a decent amount of grunt for this class, and in fact it is one of the most powerful.
Using a Vbox on a quiet backroad on the outskirts of Nagoya we clocked 0-100km/h in a surprisingly brisk 7.16 seconds, making it one of the quickest SUVs we’ve tested in this class. Well, for a model that is not a dedicated performance variant.
Packed into the powertrain is a 20kWh battery which provides a pure electric range of up to 84km (NEDC). This enables most urban commutes to be covered without using a drop of fuel. However, in the real world, with traffic and some hills and so on, the range is more like around 60km. Even so, you could drive to work and back without using any fuel. If you have access to a charger and have solar, and you can charge during the day, there is a potential here to have very low running costs.
Driving around in Japan, travelling from Tokyo down past Mount Fuji and down to Nagoya, we found a few EV chargers along the way to help top up the battery. It definitely helped to keep costs down. Some chargers were slower than others, though.
For example, we stopped in at a supermarket and charged for 10-15 minutes using a 6kW charger and it only managed to provide an extra 5km range. Obviously if you use a faster charger it’s going to increase the range to a higher level in that timeframe, and it does support DC fast charging using a CHAdeMO plug. We found one of those as well (pictured below) and it charged up to full in about 25 minutes (it wasn’t completely flat).
Fortunately, the hotel had a free trickle-charger available. We used it pretty much every night, except when other vehicles were using it. The total trip would have cost a lot more if we didn’t have this available.
And that’s the point of a PHEV. If you are considering buying one, it is definitely worth installing some kind of wallbox at home or work and charging up regularly, or at least enough to utilise the electric drive for most of your trips. In this way, it will no doubt save you money.
On the other hand, if you’re only going to recharge every now and then, like, once a month or something, then a regular hybrid might be a better option for you. During our trip we ran the Outlander just like a conventional vehicle without charging for two days, and the average fuel consumption hovered around 7.7L/100km. When charging regularly, that figure plummets to around 3.0L/100km. Our total average for the trip was 7.0L/100km.
Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system ensures confident handling in various conditions, complemented by multiple drive modes, including EV-only, Series Hybrid, and Parallel Hybrid. The transition between power sources is seamless, with the electric motors providing instant torque off the line, making city driving zippy and convenient.
The suspension seems to be tuned for comfort as a top priority. It is a bit too soft in our opinion, but it does well to soak up road imperfections. Hitting bumps and dips at higher speeds, such as when travelling around big sweeping bends, the vehicle can feel bouncy and not truly planted like some rivals.
Our guess is the battery weight contributes to this less-than-ideal body composure characteristic. For reference, this variant has a kerb weight of 2140kg in Australia, compared with 1760kg in the non-PHEV Exceed 7-seater. That’s a significant 380kg difference, which is enough to dramatically impact dynamics and could contribute to faster tyre wear over extended use.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- EV range and potential efficiency: One of the longest pure electric ranges in its class, allowing for substantial fuel savings if your living circumstances can accommodate regular charging.
- Premium interior design: Quality materials, good sound insulation and driving quietness.
- Practicality and 4WD capability: Seven-seat flexibility and Mitsubishi’s proven S-AWC system makes it one of the most versatile options in this class.
- Fast charging support: DC fast charging capability allows an 80 per cent charge in approximately 38 minutes.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Key considerations before you buy
- Price premium: The PHEV variant commands a noticeable price increase over petrol counterparts, jumping from $52,640 to $69,290 in Exceed variant form.
- Third-row usability: Although it is good to have 7 seats in this class, the rear-most seats are more suited to short trips and children rather than full family functionality.
- Weight and dynamics: The added battery weight affects handling slightly compared to the petrol model, and the Outlander itself is more on the softer side as it is. But that can be good or bad depending on your preference.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
Its blend of comfort, AWD capability, and 7-seat capacity makes it one of the most practical plug-in hybrid SUVs on the market. While the price premium may deter some, those looking for a spacious and refined electrified SUV with genuine daily-use EV capability will find plenty to like in the Outlander PHEV.
