The Mitsubishi Outlander seems to find new ways to impress us every time we hop in one. For 2023, it’s the long anticipated plug-in hybrid version that sees the biggest jump forward– so we made a jump of our own down to Franklin, Tennessee, to get behind the wheel.

This all-new generation of Outlander PHEV uses a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine tethered to a pair of more powerful electric motors– one in front and one in back for standard all-wheel drive. Combined output is now 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, providing a little bit more urgency behind the throttle.

Another big improvement is the battery, now 20 kilowatt-hours, up from 13.8. That means an electric-only range of 38 miles– 14 more than before. EV and gas engine combined range is 420 miles. There’s no one-pedal driving, but the “innovative pedal” mode serves as the most aggressive regenerative braking setting. We added nearly 8 miles of range on a 30 mile stretch of road.

And one final note about powertrain: 2023 sees the addition of DC fast charging, available on SEL trims and above. A 0-80 percent charge can be done in about 38 minutes.

This should paint the picture that the new Outlander PHEV is an impressive step forward for Mitsubishi.

STEVEN TRUANT: “So Mitsubishi really wants the new Outlander PHEV to do a lot of things very well, and one of those things that really stood out to me is overall balance. This vehicle weighs about 440 pounds more than its internal combustion counterpart, and as we’re cruising through a lot of these wet Tennessee backroads, you can really feel that it has good grip, there is a lot less body roll; however, the one thing I wish it that it did have more of is more steering weight.”

Like previous models we’ve tested, the seven-seater interior is quite premium– perhaps surprisingly-so for those not in “the know.” A digital gauge cluster is standard, and the massaging seats are exclusive to the plug-in.

Tally it all up, and the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is now a more enticing offering in a sea of utilities, especially with plug-ins becoming more and more prevalent. Expect it to start just under 40-thousand-dollars and top-out just over 50-thousand.