Drive for the first time in the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi launched the new Outlander on the night of February 16 to 17, 2021 – for the first time in a car premiere via Amazon’s live stream. The model has been available in the USA and Japan since the summer of 2021. A plug-in hybrid version followed in late 2021 (Japan) or in the second half of 2022 (USA).

At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Japanese gave a preview of the upcoming model with the Engelberg Tourer. As is typical for the study, it presented itself with an expressive design, featuring a strong front end, narrow headlamps, flared wheel arches, a high-row window and a clean rear end including understated protection. The concept car was designed as a plug-in hybrid with an electric motor on each axle and a 2.4 liter internal combustion engine.

Mitsubishi goes I-Fu-Do-Do

The series version – which is now the fourth generation of Outlander – adopted a lot of previous research. At the front there are additional lights inside the chrome bar, and there are air intakes in the lower area of ​​the large bumper. The broken C-pillar made it a series, as did the taillights, which extend to the fenders. Mitsubishi calls the development of the Outlander under the Japanese motto “I-Fu-Do-Do”, which means great and true. Accordingly, the SUV should convey power and quality.

The Outlander, which is available in ten body colors in the US, is larger than its predecessor. It grows to about five centimeters in height and about four centimeters in height. The wheelbase is also longer than before at 2,705 millimeters. Thanks to the growth, Mitsubishi promises better legroom than ever in the front seats and the second row. Wheels are up to 20 inches.

As a pure gasoline engine or a plug-in hybrid

The combustion model is powered by a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 181 hp. A continuously variable CVT transmission, which simulates eight gears via software, is the only option. The Outlander comes with front-wheel drive as standard; All-wheel drive is an extra-cost option.

The plug-in hybrid version is expected to benefit mainly from the new platform, which gives it an interior space for seven seats despite the increased battery capacity compared to its predecessor. The battery has a capacity of 20 kilowatt hours, which should ensure a WLTP electric range of 87 km. The engines have also increased, especially the electric ones: the front has a maximum output of 85 kW / 116 hp, the rear has a maximum of 100 kW / 136 hp – but for both, the continuous output is limited to 40 kW. / 54 hp each. The 2.4-liter petrol engine contributes 133 hp and a maximum of 195 Newton meters. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi has not yet released a power or torque figure for the entire hybrid system.

New operating dynamics system S-AWC

A drive arrangement with an electric motor on the front and rear axles gives the Outlander PHEV all-wheel drive and activates the “Super-All Wheel Control” (S-AWC) driving dynamics system. There are seven driving modes stored there, including Normal, Gravel, Snow, Power and Eco. To improve traction, the rear axle has a torque vectoring system that works with wheel-selective brake intervention. Additionally, Mitsubishi wants to increase the braking effect when the accelerator is released (“one-pedal car”).

A big step forward has been the interior of five or seven seats, depending on the version of the model, which looks more modern and of high quality. The entire dashboard is covered with fabric or leather, depending on the equipment. In addition to the standard multimedia display in the center, full digital instruments are available for an additional charge, and a color head-up display can also be installed for an additional charge. As usual, the Outlander PHEV receives individual displays that, for example, show the current flow of energy. The smartphone generation is obsessed with wireless charging, multiple USB-A and USB-C sockets as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

The Outlander’s new all-wheel drive system was the focus of our first tests on a frozen lake in northern Finland. The car, which weighs more than two tons and is a 2023 model of the American version, is supported by a layer of ice 80 centimeters thick.

Infotainment, interior details and chassis setup still don’t match the European-bound Outlander. There are also charging plugs under the right rear corner which doesn’t match the standard used here. So we’ll save the detailed driving report and feel for comfort and the electrical frequency check for a later date.

The anti-skid program can be turned off in the digital instrument cluster and, on the advice of the instructor, the “gravel mode” (gravel, gravel) of the S-AWC system can be set using the rotary switch. It’s time to hit the ice. Both electric motors are at the start, all-wheel drive finds its way.

Before us the surface changes from a thin layer of snow to bare ice that glistens in the sun. This is where we come in. Outlander remains neutral for a long time. As soon as your foot slips off the right pedal, the back pushes outward. With a little feeling in your legs you can now cross the imaginary stream. In fractions of a second, the software controls the response of the front and rear engines, all four wheels looking for a trap that we deliberately reject. But the exercise has one goal – in addition to driving pleasure: it shows that the electric all-wheel drive ensures that the car can be controlled even on slippery surfaces – and thus increases driving safety.

Market launch in Germany at the end of 2024

Assistance systems include blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning and automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, drowsy monitoring, collision warning, automatic high beam control, cruise control and lane departure warning. get out of the way. The new Outlander is also available with “MI-Pilot Assist,” which enables semi-autonomous driving.

“We would also like to have a new Outlander here in Europe,” said Werner Frey, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors Germany, in an interview with cars and sports in the 2021 season. Meanwhile his request was heard. However, Frey’s successor Frank Krol and customers still have to be patient: Mitsubishi will not introduce the current Outlander in Europe until 2024. The manufacturer cancels the pure combustion engine and only brings the plug-in hybrid as a “European modification”. The Euro Outlander may differ in specifications from its siblings produced in Japan and the United States.

No price announcement yet

The manufacturer has not yet announced prices for European markets. However, they are expected to exceed those of the USA and Japan. In the US, the Outlander PHEV currently costs at least $39,845 (a cool 37,700 euros). In its native Japan, the plug-in hybrid SUV is currently available at a price of 4.84 million yen (less than 33,600 euros).