My Week With The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: A Comfortable Eco-Champion, Beyond the Looks

Let me be direct. The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a good SUV for eco-friendly commuting and a great vehicle for long-distance travel.

With its 38-mile electric range, you can handle most daily commutes without using any gas, saving money and reducing emissions. The Outlander PHEV solves the problems BEV owners whine about.

Even on longer trips, the combined electric and gas engine provides a total driving range of 420 miles, eliminating frequent gas station stops.

Sharing a platform with the Nissan Rogue, the 2024 Outlander PHEV offers a powerful plug-in hybrid engine and standard all-wheel drive. While the third row might feel tight for adults, first and second-class passengers get the VIP treatment with available quilted leather, a giant panoramic sunroof, and a unique speedometer. Sure, it might not be the toughest contender compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V or Mazda CX-50, but the Outlander PHEV makes up for it with ample cargo space and surprisingly luxurious touches inside.

Let's see what else this feature-packed SUV has to offer.

What's New for 2024

For 2024, the Outlander sees the introduction of a new top-tier trim level called the "Platinum Edition" available on both gasoline and PHEV models. This edition features a distinctive two-tone exterior with Black Diamond paint and a contrasting Alloy Silver roof, adding a touch of exclusivity to the lineup. Aside from this cosmetic upgrade, the 2024 Outlander carries over largely unchanged from the previous year.

The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Striking a Balance in Design

The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV stands out in a crowded market of lookalike compact and midsize SUVs. Its bold design choices are sure to turn heads, starting with the dominant front grille and layered, unconventional headlights. While the front end might be a bit busy for some, the profile and rear end adopt a more classic, streamlined look.

Despite the bolder elements, the overall appearance remains elegant, especially with the available 20-inch wheels. However, the true strength of the Outlander PHEV's design might be its size. It occupies a sweet spot in the market, being slightly larger than a compact SUV without reaching the imposing presence of a midsize one. This "in-between" size offers a significant advantage, catering to drivers who appreciate practicality without sacrificing maneuverability.

The Outlander PHEV also has multiple trim levels, offering a choice for various budgets and preferences. The base ES version starts at a competitive price point, and the top-of-the-line GT Premium model, with its optional black roof, pushes the price slightly higher. It's worth noting that the Outlander PHEV qualifies for government rebates, making it an even more attractive option. While its pricing aligns with the Toyota RAV4, it might face competition from Hyundai and Kia, which offer similar features at slightly lower costs. Speaking of pricing: the 2024 Outlander PHEV SEL trim is offered at $51,835 MSRP with additional equipment and the SEL Premium package included.

Stepping Inside the 2024 Outlander PHEV: Comfort and Familiarity

While the exterior of the 2024 Outlander PHEV boldly distinguishes itself from its platform-mate the Nissan Rogue, the interior tells a different story. The ergonomics are nearly identical to the Rogue, which translates to well-placed controls within easy reach. This user-friendly layout allows for intuitive operation and quick access to features.

However, the effort to differentiate the Outlander PHEV seems to wane when examining the infotainment system. It adopts the same complex and outdated interface as the Rogue, placing it at a disadvantage compared to South Korean competitors who excel in this area. Similarly, the main instrument panel mirrors the Rogue's design, with the addition of a specific Mitsubishi panel. Unfortunately, this panel suffers from information overload, making it challenging to read.

Despite these shared elements, the Outlander PHEV redeems itself with surprisingly comfortable seats. They offer unexpected levels of support for a vehicle in this class and are adjustable in multiple ways, ensuring comfort even on long journeys. The quality of the interior finishes is impressive, with well-assembled materials. While the leather may not feel top-of-the-line, the overall impression is positive.

Moving to the rear, the second-row seat provides ample legroom. This row also features a sliding function and adjustable backrests to enhance comfort and accommodate various child seats. The bench seat folds forward, granting access to the third row. However, this third row is best described as a "punishment bench" due to its extremely limited space, making it suitable only for emergency use.

Powering the 2024 Outlander PHEV: Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The 2024 Outlander PHEV offers a 20 kWh battery pack, offering an estimated electric-only driving range of 38 miles on a single charge. This range surpasses the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and Ford Escape PHEV, but falls slightly behind the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which leads the pack with a 42-mile range.

Thus, under the hood, there are two electric motors, one on each axle, which allow the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander to travel up to 38 miles EV-only, MPG is 26, while the overall MPGe is 64.

While the driving range is respectable, charging times might be a concern. The standard onboard charger takes approximately 6.5 hours to fully recharge a depleted battery, which might be inconvenient for daily use. Thankfully, a DC fast-charging system is available as an option. However, it utilizes the CHAdeMO charging standard, which has a lower adoption rate compared to the more common CCS standard. This might limit your access to fast-charging stations depending on your location.

I was also surprised to see that the Mitsubishi's combustion engine would occasionally start, even with power in the battery. This happened, each time, on the highway while climbing a slope, probably to save electricity or to increase the available power. That said, the combustion engine starts smoothly and the mechanics remain very smooth in all circumstances. It also remains quite discreet in its intervention, even if it is not a very modern engine.

I didn't test the Outlander PHEV in winter conditions as the weather here in Charlotte, NC is pretty warm in March. But if you live in the northern parts of the United States or Canada, I recommend reading Torque News senior automotive reporter John Goreham's ultimate winter vehicle testing results using the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. John has a long list of the reasons why the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander is a great winter vehicle along with our testing results.

The Drive

Although heavier than its equivalent equipped only with a gasoline engine, the Outlander PHEV can be maneuvered in the same way. And also benefits from the S-AWC four-wheel drive system, which has not undergone any really notable development in a little over a quarter of a century. What distinguishes it today from its “ancestors” essentially concerns electronic management. Thinner, the latter manages to convey power even more quickly than a mechanical device with constant engagement.

Firmly planted on the road, the Outlander PHEV can be guided easily. The steering assistance is well-dosed, and the suspension is firm, but not uncomfortable. For the rest, this Mitusbishi is a fairly lively utility vehicle and we can consider traveling long distances without stress.

The 2024 Outlander PHEV is a comfortable and efficient daily driver. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

Smooth and Quiet Ride: The 2024 Outlander PHEV offers a quiet and smooth ride, especially when driving in electric mode. The electric motor provides a near-silent operation, making for a peaceful driving experience.

Two Driving Personalities: The car has a great ability to adapt to your needs. In electric mode, it prioritizes efficiency and quiet operation. When you need a burst of power, the gasoline engine seamlessly kicks in, offering a more spirited driving experience.

One-Pedal Driving: A feature appreciated by many other reviewers is the "one-pedal driving" option. This allows for increased control in city traffic by using only the accelerator pedal to accelerate and decelerate the vehicle. However, your brakes will last longer if you use them and maintain them periodically. Here’s what you should do.

Surprisingly Nimble Handling: Despite its size, I was impressed with the Outlander PHEV's handling. It feels stable and predictable on twisty roads, making it enjoyable to maneuver.

Acceleration: While not described as a powerhouse, the combined electric and gas engine provide enough pep for most driving situations. The acceleration is adequate, with a good initial burst thanks to the electric motor.

I think the Outlander PHEV is one of the best choices in the market for those car buyers who are still afraid of making the leap to all-electric.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.