Mitsubishi’s compact crossover has just received a complete overhaul. The new generation comes with significant changes, starting from the platform, which is now shared with Nissan Rogue. Of course, improvements are everywhere, starting from the interior quality, tech feature and the overall driving experience. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander will represent the second production year of the generation and normally, we wouldn’t expect to see bigger changes. However, things won’t be like that, as we are about to see a PHEV version of the new generation.
At this point, details about the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are still a mystery. However, we may presume that the new model will bring a similar but upgraded system compared to the previous generation. We count on a little bit more power and a slightly better range. On the other hand, the standard gasoline version should carry on in the same way, without more important updates.
We expect that the next year’s model will hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Gets Plug-In Hybrid Version
This will be the biggest novelty for the next year, without any doubt. At this point, details about the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are still unavailable, but we presume that the new generation will come with the same system that powered the previous model, which would get slight improvements regarding power, range and efficiency. This means that we should see a combination of an inline-four engine and a couple of electric motors. In the previous generation, this combination was good for about 221 horsepower, while the max all-electric range was around 24 miles. The new model should bring an increase in both aspects. At this point, some reports suggest that the max range could go all-away up to 46 miles.
On the other hand, the standard gasoline model will carry on in the same way. We are talking about a 2.5-liter inline-four, which puts out around 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The engine comes in pair with a CVT gearbox and the overall performance is rather average. This SUV isn’t particularly sporty, but the compensation comes in fuel economy, which goes around 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Design
Other than the plug-in hybrid powertrain, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander will remain the same as the initial 2022 model. This means it will continue to ride on Nissan’s CMF platform and share most of its parts with Rogue. That’s the reason why the ride quality is pretty similar to the new corporal sibling. The Outlander is mostly about comfort and the ride feels pretty relaxed. On the other hand, the level of athleticism is relatively low for this class of vehicles.
Interior
The same story goes for the interior layout. The recent redesign has brought a lot of big novelties and one of them is the new cabin look. The new model is way more upscale than its predecessor. The dashboard looks way more attractive, while the material and build quality are at a much higher level. Also, there is a long list of tech features, even in base models, which makes everything look even better.
Still, the strongest point of this cabin is its functionality. This is one of the two compact crossovers that come with three rows of seats (the other one is VW Tiguan). The front seats are spacious and very comfortable, with pretty good side support. Also, we like the driving position, which provides great visibility in most directions. The second row is also very spacious and comfortable and accommodates adults with ease. Considering the fact that we are talking about a compact crossover, it’s obvious that the third row is just for kids, but even that is a huge advantage over the competition.
The cargo area offers 11.7 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 33.5 cubic feet when the third row is folded, and 79.7 cubic feet of the total volume. Those are class-leading numbers!
Features
We don’t believe that the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander could come with some bigger novelties in this aspect, even though it’s possible to see a few new things on the list of standard equipment. Most of the things will remain the same as in the current model. This means that base versions should come standard with an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a six-speaker stereo, keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone climate control etc.
Among upgrades, we expect to see things like a 9-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a smartphone charging pad, HD Radio, satellite radio, a 10-speaker stereo, two additional USB ports, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as proximity keyless entry, a panoramic sunroof, and tri-zone automatic climate control.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Release Date and Price
We expect to see 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander sometime in the second half of 2022, with a starting price of around 27.000 dollars. Prices for the PHEV model are yet to be announced.