2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

New Powertrain

A bit of an upgrade on the old powertrain, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV now has a 2.4 liter inline-four-cylinder engine making up the gasoline counterpart of the setup. A more rear electric motor has also been added, now generating 70 kW in addition to the 60 kW generated by the front electric motor. The electric motors get their power from a 13.8 kWH lithium-ion battery. Together, it’s all estimated to be about 221 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. There are a total of three trims for 2021, consisting of the SEL, LE, and GT.

Engineering

Able to drive on electricity or both the electric motor and gas engine, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV comes equipped with Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive for total control. Locked into a single-speed transmission, there won’t be much joy riding, but this SUV can still hit the highway, able to go up to 83 mph on electric power alone, with 24 miles of travel. Although not a raceway vehicle, the Outlander PHEV offers multiple driving modes so drivers can find one that works for them, with Sport and Snow modes added for 2021.

Exterior Features

Mitsubishi Motors really went all out this year with standard features on the exterior and inside the cabin. Standard features include automatic headlights, LED taillights, heated exterior mirrors, front rain-sensing wipers, a rear window wiper and defroster, roof rails, and rear privacy glass. If looking for more light, the GT trim comes with LED low and high beams and LED fog lights, and the LE and GT can offer a little sunlight with a power sunroof (standard). All trims ride on 18-inch wheels.

Interior Features

The cabin is very comfortable, making this plug-in hybrid SUV a little luxurious. It all starts with an 8-way power-adjustable driver (with power lumbar support) and passenger seat, wrapped in either leather or suede upholstery, matched with a leather-wrapped steering wheel (heated on the GT). Convenience is also standard, with heated front seats, dual-zone a/c control, and rear heater ducts. Like many vehicles, a 60/40 rear folding seat can also be found inside the cabin.

Entertainment

Eventually becoming a standard on all Mitsubishi Motors vehicles is the 8-inch smartphone link display. For streaming and navigation, this system comes with Google Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and Bluetooth wireless technology. The steering wheel helps drivers keep hands where they should be with audio, phone, and voice recognition controls. The 6-speaker system found on the SEL trim is a good start, but the LE and GT trims come with an 8-speaker sound system.

Safety Features and Warranty

What kind of progressive SUV with all this tech also wouldn’t come with some of the best safety features around? That’s right, Mitsubishi put a lot into the 2021 Outlander PHEV. Basic safety features include anti-locking brakes, active stability control, an advanced dual-stage airbags (including the driver’s knee airbag), three-point seatbelts, a LATCH child seat tether system, a rearview camera, an anti-theft engine immobilizer, and built with Mitsubishi’s signature RISE body construction. Advanced safety features that also come standard are forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning plus, and blind spot warning with lane change assist and rear cross traffic alerts. A rearview camera comes standard in the SEL and LE trims. The GT comes with a multi-view camera and adaptive cruise control.

All Mitsubishi vehicles are covered by a basic limited warranty for 5 years/60,000 miles, a powertrain limited warranty for 10 years/100,000 miles, 7 years or 100,000 miles of anti-corrosion coverage, and roadside assistance.