Quick Facts
- Original starting price: $37,490 (including a $1,195 destination fee)
- Class: Compact plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV
- Competitors: Mini Countryman S E, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota RAV4 Prime
- KBB.com Fair Purchase Price
Introduction
It’s easy to overlook the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as it primarily competed against plug-in hybrid offerings from luxury automakers. When it debuted for 2018, it was the only vehicle from a mainstream automaker that made the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy PHEV SUV list. The Outlander also won KBB’s Best Midsize SUV/Crossover 5-year Cost to Own Award for 2019. Since then, the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid joined the class among the mainstream’s best PHEVs. There is no gas-only Mitsubishi Outlander for 2021, which took a hiatus in this model year. Also, we review the Outlander Sport, a separate, smaller vehicle, elsewhere.
In this generation, the Outlander PHEV maintained a 2-row configuration that seats five versus the 3-row accommodations of the standard Outlander SUV. However, in 2021, the Outlander PHEV got a new, larger battery and powertrain, swapping in a 2.4-liter engine to replace the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder originally paired with the two electric motors. The upgrade increased horsepower, bettered the combined fuel economy, and padded the all-electric range.
OEM CPO Warranty Program Highlights
- Limited Warranty: Five years or 60,000 miles from the original in-service date
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles from the original in-service date
- Roadside Assistance: For the duration of the limited warranty
- Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Mitsubishi
Key Competitors
KBB Review Highlights
Due to a forthcoming makeover for 2022 — and likely pandemic-related supply chain issues — Mitsubishi skipped this model year for the gas-only Outlander, but the automaker made the Outlander PHEV more compelling as a stand-alone.
Mitsubishi replaced the standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. The larger engine increased total output by 31 horsepower to 221 hp, making the overall package more efficient. Fuel economy in combined city and highway driving increased from 25 to 26 mpg. The Outlander PHEV’s all-electric driving range stretched to 24 miles from the 22 that the 2020 model could achieve. MPGe stayed static at a 74-mile equivalent, but the improved fuel economy increased the total range to 320 miles, a bump of 10 miles.
The powertrain can operate in three modes. It can go full-on EV mode or Series Hybrid mode, which uses the engine as a generator to recharge the 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Our reviewer said the Outlander PHEV uses the latter mode when the battery gets low. Parallel Hybrid mode uses the gas engine to power the front wheels and trickles the rest of the power back to the battery. These modes are driver-selectable. Speaking of charging, the Outlander has a feature not generally found on a PHEV: DC fast charging capability via a CHAdeMO port.
Mitsubishi offered the Outlander PHEV in three trim levels: SEL, LE, and GT. Each was equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), or as Mitsubishi calls it, “Super All-Wheel Control.” Five driving modes, Normal, Eco, Gravel, plus new Sport and Snow modes, modulate the throttle response in various conditions.
The exterior is fairly conservative, somewhat minivan-ish in shape, and a little dated. The fairly aerodynamic profile doesn’t have many hard edges or swollen sheet metal. However, style is subjective, and an argument could be made that it strikes an executive pose.
The interior uses a nice mix of materials. An 8-inch touchscreen gives the driver access to HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Both front seats are heated and power-adjustable. The 60/40-split rear seat can recline back and fold down; a center armrest with cupholders stows in the second-row bench. There are USB ports and air vents in both rows. Silver carbon-fiber-style accents appear throughout. Even the base SEL trim has leather appointing the seats and steering wheel. The sportier LE trim trades the leather waterproof synthetic suede with red contrast stitching to go with black exterior accents. And the top GT trim adds diamond-quilt stitching to the leather seats.
Fast-Key keyless entry and push-button start are standard, along with an anti-theft alarm and engine immobilizer. Among the driver-assist systems, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert lead the way. A rearview camera aids in visibility and backup maneuvers. A multi-view camera becomes available in GT trim, along with LED headlights and fog lights and adaptive cruise control.
The Mitsubishi compares well against its main mainstream competition, the Crosstrek Hybrid and RAV4 Prime, when you factor in power, fuel economy, cargo volume, and price. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid gets 35 mpg combined and 90MPGe but suffers comparatively in power with 140 hp and only 17 miles of electric range with its smaller engine and battery pack. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, with its bigger engine and 18.1-kWh battery pack, leads the class with 302 total hp while still earning 40 mpg combined, 94 MPGe, and 42 miles of electric range. However, the RAV4 lags behind the Outlander in cargo volume, offering 63.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down to the Outlander’s 66.6 but still 20-ish cubic feet more than the Crosstrek.
Our reviewer found the Outlander PHEV comfortable, smooth-feeling, and easy to drive. When new, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s starting pricing ranged from around $37,000 to just under $45,000 for the top trim. The one Crosstrek trim started below $30,000, and the two RAV4 Prime trims began around $40,000 and $43,000, respectively. All prices included the destination charge.
The Crosstrek Hybrid wasn’t a big seller, and Subaru discontinued it, awaiting a do-over. The RAV4 Prime launched in high demand and may be hard to come by on the secondary market, not to mention the higher prices that can come from scarcity. The Outlander PHEV is an underrated vehicle in this segment and could hit the sweet spot of performance and value for many buyers.
See Kelley Blue Book’s Expert Review of the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
If you’re ready to shop, see certified pre-owned 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV models
Related reading:
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Expert Review
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Expert Review
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Expert Review
