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Brand revival

Not only is the Outlander back on the road, but a new era seems to have begun at Mitsubishi as well.
For several years, the brand was not very active, but that has now really changed.
In the more compact segments, we now know the Colt and the ASX.

From the ASX, it moves on to the Eclipse Cross, a crossover SUV that in turn has a face of its own.
Not insignificantly, the Eclipse is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
And now there is also the Outlander, the full-size SUV.
This flagship makes the range even bigger, literally and figuratively.

A refined powertrain

The previous generation Outlander impressed with its plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The combination of a gasoline engine and a battery pack allowed you to get far on a tank.
It was also possible to drive a short distance electrically.
Whether the business driver at the time actually did this is another story.
The conscious hybrid driver will be happy to hear that the powertrain of the new Outlander has been completely overhauled.

Under the hood we still find the fine gasoline engine of yesteryear, a 2.4-liter DHOC four-cylinder.
The brand continues to innovate and, through exhaust gas recirculation, an integrated exhaust manifold and various cooling channels, has managed to get better performance out of the engine, versus lower fuel consumption.
The block produces an output of 100 kW, equivalent to 136 hp, and offers 203 Nm of torque.

In addition to the combustion engine, the Outlander features an electric motor on the front and rear axles.
The front electric motor delivers 85 kW (114 hp) of power and 255 Nm of torque, while at the rear it is 100 kW (135 hp) and 195 Nm.
The combined forces offer the driver a system output of 225 kW (302 hp), which is sent to the four wheels via an automatic transmission.

The improved performance is reflected in the range.
The battery pack has a capacity of 22.7 kWh, which Mitsubishi says should be enough for a range of 86 km (WLTP).
This is a significantly longer range than the previous generation.
This one could drive about 45 km electrically.
Admittedly, you won’t arrive at your vacation destination by driving only electric.
But, commuting becomes quite possible this way.
Moreover, you can get further electric with the Outlander than with the competition.
For example, the recently presented Mazda CX-80 only has an electric range of 60 km.

It is also possible to charge the Outlander quickly, with a type-2 and CHAdeMO connection.
In practice, this means you can charge up to 80% battery in 30 minutes.
Do you still have charge left at the end of the drive?
According to the vehicle-to-home, you can feed power back.

In addition to the enlarged electric battery, we also see that the fuel tank has increased to a volume of 53 liters.
According to Mitsubishi, this allows you to achieve a total range of 844 km (WLTP), with a consumption of 0.8 l/100 km according to the factory specification.
How the consumption will be in practice, we will find out later when we will actually drive the Outlander.

At home in all markets

The Outlander comes standard with all-wheel drive.
The SUV offers the driver seven driving modes for a variety of surfaces, from the normal road to mud and snow.
Handy when driving to Austria for winter sports, for example.
And secretly, it also clearly shows what Mitsubishi has to offer in terms of off-road capabilities.

The powertrain uses the motors in different ways, with three modes.
In EV mode, you drive purely electric, which is especially at low and medium speeds.
At higher speeds, the electric motor and combustion engine work together in Parallel Hybrid mode.
Should more power be suddenly needed, the Outlander jumps into Series Hybrid mode and the gasoline engine generates electricity when needed.
Because the electric motors are positioned on the axles, you can expect smooth throttle response.

The largest Mitsubishi

On the outside, we also see some differences from the previous generation.
The newest scion has a length of 4.72 meters, a width of 1.86 meters, a height of 1.75 meters, making it larger than its predecessor in all respects.
The wheelbase is 2.7 meters.

Otherwise, on the outside we see mainly a modern Outlander, with a distinct identity.
The Mitsubishi has a face all its own, recognizable at the front of the car by the “Dynamic Shield,” where the lines inwardly stand out and refer to the noses of well-known Mitsubishi cars, namely the Lancer and Pajero.
Clearly, Mitsubishi likes to innovate, but also knows how to cherish history.

Sleek lines across the side and a c-pillar inspired by aviation make the Outlander look dynamic and solid.
At the rear, the LED light bar attracts attention with a T-shaped design, which should evoke an association with the horizon the car is driving toward.
A nice metaphor for the long range, shall we think.

We also see here and nod to the past, as the angular shape is borrowed from the iconic Pajero.
All in all, though, we have a car that looks very good.
To finish it off, you can choose 18-inch or 20-inch light metal rims and there is a choice of seven body colors.

All the comforts of the world

Those familiar with the previous Outlander know that the interior was quite a collection of lots of buttons.
That view is totally unlike the new interior.
In the new Outlander, we are looking at a tidy dashboard that comes across as especially calm, in terms of design and appearance.
A refined variety of materials makes it pleasant to look at.

In front of the driver’s nose, Mitsubishi has placed a 12.3-inch screen on which the most important information can be read.
The infotainment system has the same screen, under which a few more buttons are present – we like that!

On the road, you easily connect your iPhone or Android phone to the system and charge your phone through a wireless charger or USB-C ports.
There is really little to note here, except that the infotainment system looks somewhat dated.
Not crazy for a car that has been on the market in other countries for a while, but still.
While you can control various multimedia or connect your smartphone, the graphics could be of an even more sophisticated level.

Tired of the silence of electric driving?
Mitsubishi has partnered with Yamaha to install a premium audio system in the Outlander.
Onboard comfort is enhanced by a fine seat, which has heating and ventilation.
Fine on the road, as is the massage function.

Nice that front-seat seating, but in a spacious SUV, the back seat is also important.
Thanks to its dimensions, adults also get fine legroom in the back seat, even with an adult in the front.
Height is a bit disappointing for really tall people on our editorial staff, somewhat affected by the panoramic roof.

Otherwise, we do see space in the back to be comfortable on the road, with seat heating, climate control and USB-C connection points as well.
You can also remodel the rear seat a bit, by flattening it in three parts.
The luggage space starts at 495 liters, but can be expanded to 1,422 liters after some remodeling.

Safe vacations

The practicality of the Outlander is highlighted by a towing weight of 1,600 kg.
This should be enough to get a good caravan off its place, provided you check a tow bar on the options list.
Still, it should be noted here that other brands can offer more towing weight, up to 2,500 kg in the case of a Mazda CX-80, for example.
Fortunately, with Trailer Stability Assist, you will be safe on the road with a trailer, any swaying movements will be caught while driving.

Furthermore, the Outlander offers a host of other systems to make the ride more comfortable and safer.
Consider a Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM), a radar-based autonomous emergency braking system that “reads” the road ahead of the car for pedestrians and cyclists.
Other systems include Rear Automatic Emergency Braking, a blind spot warning with lane change assistant, Lane Departure Warning, Advance Lane Assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and the Driver Monitoring System.
Oh, and to that is added the Driver Attention Monitor system, which analyzes the driver’s steering behavior and warns as soon as he is less alert.
In other words, there really has been no skimping on these systems.

Market launch

We can expect the Outlander at dealerships in early 2025, with a starting price of €51,990 euros.
In this case, you get the Inform trim.
In addition, the Invite, Intense and Instyle will become available.
To top it off is the Instyle+, with a starting price of €63,490.
Exactly what the differences between the trims will be will become clear later.
One aspect that remains the same is the manufacturer’s warranty.
It is valid for a period of 8 years or 160,000 km, including on the battery.
And that still makes the Mitsubishi unique compared to other brands.

Conclusion Mitsubishi Outlander

That the Outlander is Mitsubishi’s flagship is obvious.
It features a refined powertrain, which can also take you far.
The standard equipment can be called luxurious, including the Yamaha sound system, heated and cooled front seats and a pleasant interior to sit in.
Still, the flagship would be even better in the market if it could be used even more practically.
The towing weight is not too short, but at other brands you can get more and seven seats are also already possible.
Also, digitalization is at a higher level at other brands, but in practicality you can get by with the connectivity.
All in all, basically for a competitive price you have a huge amount of car.