- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.4i Hybrid, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
NA
- Fuel
Hybrid (91) 1.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
5 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2022)
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review: DCOTY 2023 – Best Medium Hybrid SUV
Winner of the 2023 Drive Car of the Year Best Medium Hybrid SUV
- Flexibility of an EV-only range and low fuel consumption
- Comfortable and secure handling
- Interior quality and spaciousness (seven seats)
- Steering doesn't react quickly enough off centre
- It's expensive
- Third-row access could be better
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the 2023 Drive Car of the Year Best Medium Hybrid SUV.
The first sense you get behind the wheel of the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire PHEV is quality. In fact, everything the Outlander does, it does well and with a quality beyond its price.
The interior is neatly presented, minimal and above expectations. Even our mid-tier Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire PHEV impressed the judges as we poked about the cabin, and it's fantastic to see a brand offer four different trim levels of plug-in models across one Outlander range (ES, Aspire, Exceed and Exceed Tourer).
Once you start driving, that quality experience continues on. The ride errs on the side of softness, but even over our fast country road loop it felt planted and secure. The cabin is quiet thanks to good levels of sound suppression material, and our mid-tier Aspire model rode well on its 20-inch alloy wheels (as per Exceed and Exceed Tourer models).
Key details | 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV |
Engine | 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol, plug-in hybrid Dual electric motors |
Power | 98kW @ 5000rpm petrol 85kW front electric motor 100kW rear electric motor 185kW combined |
Torque | 450Nm combined |
Drive type | All-wheel drive |
Transmission | Single-speed automatic |
Power-to-weight ratio | 92kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 2020kg |
Tow Rating | 1600kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.0m |
The steering is a little bit uncertain off centre, but that's honestly as bad as it gets. On top of driving well, it was frugal on test too, showing fuel consumption figures around 3.4L/100km combining time spent driving on electric-only range, plus using the system like a 'regular' hybrid. You do have to commit to keeping it charged up, but its possible to run most of your day-to-day trips without needing to use the petrol engine.
Electric Cars Guide
Would you like to learn more about electric cars? Visit the Drive Electric Cars guide for information, tutorials and links to more content.
The second row is decent, too, and the compact third row could be the ideal get-out-of-jail-free card you need in a school-run emergency. It offers flexibility at the right price and feels like the most complete mainstream PHEV we've driven yet. Aside from the great presentation inside and out, it was the most composed on the road loop, and reacted well during swerve-and-avoid and slalom exercises.
So, cutting edge electric technology in a brilliantly functional family car makes the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV an ideal first step into the future for many Australian buyers.
Note: These ratings have been pulled from the most recent Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review (read it here) and as part of Drive Car of the Year 2023 all finalists will be freshly reviewed in the near future.