2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid

Our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid is proving going green can also come with the roominess of a utility that’s in demand these days. During the past 5 months we’ve added 85-hundred miles to the odometer. 

Propelling this quiet people mover is a 2.0-liter I-4 working with two electric motors to create all-wheel drive. We’ve seen more rain than snow in the MidAtlantic, but it’s good to have the extra traction on wet roads. As a plug-in Hybrid, there’s a limited number of electric only miles…. in this case it’s about 22. Not surprising our team goes through them pretty quickly. But they have a lot to do with the overall 35-point-5 miles-per-gallon fuel economy we’re seeing so far. Great for any utility this size.

We’re still driving bright green in our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid after crossing the 10-thousand mile mark. The 2.0-liter I-4 effectively augments the two electric motors… one on each axle for pure EV all-wheel-drive. There’s good everyday traction… but so far no chance to see how it works with the white stuff. Total system output is a decent 190-horsepower. With a light foot, it’s easy to get around town on EV power alone… and the 22-mile range is ample for running errands.

On these cold winter mornings the heated front seats are a welcome addition… but the high setting can get a little intense… so low is a good choice once things get going. And when it’s time to stop going the multi-view camera system is a nice tool to aid backing into a parking space.

We’re now averaging 34-miles per gallon.. which is not our best result… so we need to work on getting more out of those electric miles.

Our Long term fleet has been very fuel efficient lately…. And one big reason why is this 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. As we approach 65-hundred miles on the odometer… the two electric motors smoothly and virtually silently move this ute around town. Paired with the 2.0-liter I-4…the 190-horsepower total system output is plenty for our everyday driving needs.

“After months of daily use, the Outlander plug-in’s hybrid system still does not miss a beat. Now I’ll stop short of calling the battery-to-gas transitions seamless because you can hear the engine quite a bit, but with how much we’ve been able to charge it lately, we’re driving on battery power alone a lot of the time.”

Taking full advantage of those EV miles… we’re now averaging 37-point-1 miles per gallon overall…. which is a steady improvement over our previous reports.

We are quickly adding miles to our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. This plug-in hybrid is proving to be quiet, smooth and comfortable for our staff this time around. We’ve added another 19-hundred miles… bringing the total up to about 5-thousand. 

A 2.0-liter I-4 is teamed up with two electric motors… one on each axle for all-wheel-drive. Even though we haven’t had seriously foul weather yet… you can feel the good traction when pulling away from a stop. Total system output is 190-horsepower. That seems to pull pretty well during our driving. The chassis also feels solid… with a ride quality that’s overall light and nimble…

“As the weather cools down, we’re warming up to this Outlander PHEV. Now the suspension leans toward the soft side so we won’t be throwing it around in corners, but it does soak up road imperfections really well and with winter coming up that will be of utmost importance.”

The conservative interior is a good place to spend time during longer trips… and even when we’re running errands around town. We’re getting 35-point-1 miles per gallon.. which is a little better than our first report… so we’re doing a better job of tapping into that 22-mile EV-only range. 

Our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has spent a lot more time on the go lately than on the charger; as we racked up over 3,000-miles since our last report, bringing our 11-month total to just over 16,000. 

So much long distance use has taken a toll on fuel economy. Our average has dropped to 31.9 miles-per-gallon. Still, mightily good for anything SUV. On the other hand, more seat time reminds us how powerful this utility feels.

The 2.0-liter gas engine is only rated for 117-horsepower, but with 60-kW motors mounted front and rear, acceleration still surprises us when we go full throttle; and well, that’s probably not helping the fuel economy either.     

“Even now in 2020, hybrids do not get the recognition they deserve. This Outlander plugin is by no means a missile, but it’s noticeably quicker than some non-electrified rivals. So, I guess what I’m saying is, don’t judge a book by its powertrain.”

Our long-term fleet is becoming more efficient by the day with the arrival of the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid. A 2.0-liter I-4 is teamed up with two electric motors in this PHEV… one on each axle for all-wheel-drive. Total system output is 190-horsepower. The electric to gas transition is smooth… but you’ll hear the engine working during hard acceleration. We’re getting 34-point-2 miles-per-gallon.. which should rise once we do more city driving.

“So far in our time with the Outlander Plug-In, we’ve found a lot to like. It’s comfortable, visibility is great and the hybrid system operates well. Now 22 miles of EV range isn’t exactly earth shaking but is pretty typical for a PHEV and those miles do more than you might think for fuel economy than you might think.”

Since this is our first long term report, we’ve only added 3-thousand miles to the odometer in a month. But with 22-miles of EV-only range… we expect to spend more time driving… and less time filling up.

Half a year has passed with our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and plugging in has become part of the daily routine. For those few extra seconds to connect at work each morning, we’re rewarded with enough all-electric range to take care of most if not all of our evening commutes.

When the 2-liter I4 eventually jumps into action, the transition is smooth, with only a little engine noise making its way into the interior. Which we are finding comfortable and spacious.

This Outlander gets a lot of use as a support vehicle on our shoots partly because of the interior versatility, but also because it’s just really nice to drive. There’s great visibility and the suspension is soft in the right way.

After a stellar start, fuel economy is leveling off and now sits at 33.6 miles-per-gallon over 12,000 miles.

Incredibly, we made it through winter with almost no snow in central Maryland and haven’t been able to truly test the all-wheel drive system. It does grip, however, as we’ve enjoyed the extra bite when accelerating hard from a standstill.

The front seats are holding up well to heavy use and provide good comfort, but several staffers have had issues finding a good driving position citing that they sit too high. But no one is complaining about the infotainment, proving that you don’t need a massive screen to provide a good user experience.

It’s been in our long term fleet for 10-months now, and this 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV keeps “plugging” right along. 

And you can’t ask for a better view of our automotive future than a plug-in, all-wheel-drive crossover. 

“The Outlander plug-in hybrid continues to be a smooth operator. From the comfortable ride to the near flawless hybrid system, the whole package has really exceeded our expectations. And of course the quickness off the line is a nice bonus.”

We’re 13,000-miles in, and after fluctuating early, fuel economy seems to have settled in at 33.6 miles-per-gallon. Sure, we’d like to see a bit more, but that’s pretty impressive for an all-wheel-drive SUV that straddles the compact and mid-size segments. 

It’s hard to know what to think of the Mitsubishi brand, with the seemingly constant shift in strategies, and long periods of time between product announcements; but vehicles like this Outlander PHEV has us rooting for them, and hoping they’ll stick around here in the U.S.  

We’ve reached the 1-year mark with our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, have travelled 17,000-miles so far, and are continually impressed with the overall behavior and reliability of this plug-in hybrid, as we’ve had zero problems so far. And, believe it or not, it is actually the world’s best-selling plug-in hybrid.  

Gasoline economy continues to fall as longer trips negate it’s 22-mile pure EV range. Still 32.7 miles-per-gallon is great for a mid-size SUV.  The only real improvement we’d like to see is a more inviting interior. 

The Outlander has enjoyed being the only non-luxury brand all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid for a while now, but competition is coming.  So, it will get some extensive updates for the 2021 model year; including more power, and more EV-range. We look forward to that, but have a few more miles to put on this one first.

It’s been a busy month for our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, trekking up and down the East Coast on weekend tours of college campuses. 

And without a doubt, the Outlander is a smooth highway cruiser; with enough comfort in all seating positions to keep teenager complaints to a minimum. The adaptive cruise control is one of the best we’ve driven, taking a little bit of the stress out of keeping safe distances in highway traffic.  And when called upon, the 2.0-liter I4 with electric assist makes passing a breeze.

Since this is a plug-in hybrid, of course those highway miles did take a toll on our overall fuel economy, but 32.3 miles-per-gallon is still great for any utility, for over 19,000 trouble-free miles. 

Because of our distancing practices, sometimes we’ll go long periods of time without getting into some of our test cars. But every time I’m reunited with this Outlander, I’m shocked at how much I like it. Now I am reminded that the interior is a bit spartan compared to rivals , but the everyday comfort more than makes up for it.

It’ll be our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s second go-around with our winters; having been in the fleet for 15-months now.  And while it’s hard to think of things we haven’t mentioned already in that time; we probably haven’t done the interior justice. 

Yes, it looks a little dated, and it’s not the most inviting of places; but it has proved extremely durable, and overall functionality is quite good. 

 For the most part it’s easy to forget this Outlander is electrified because of how smoothly the hybrid system operates. It’s not until you accelerate quickly that you feel the torque of the electric motor. And, even when it’s packed full of family members and gear, it makes passing on the highway a breeze.

Over 21,000-miles so far, the Outlander PHEV’s 190-horsepower 2.0-liter I4 hybrid powertrain has averaged 32.5 miles-per-gallon. 

Another month has passed, and another 1,000–miles added; as we keep trucking along through bonus time with our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.  It’s been with us so long, 17-months to be exact, that over the 22,000–miles we’ve driven it, it has truly become part of the MotorWeek family.  Next thing you know, it’ll be putting in for overtime.

On a more serious note, this is the Outlander’s second go-around with winter; and since we knew what to expect from Mitsubishi’s Twin Electric Motor All-Wheel control all-wheel-drive system, as soon as the white stuff began falling, we started looking for excuses to be out and about; for the sake of “testing” of course.   

While it’s true that winter tires are important if not more important than all-wheel drive in the snow, we got along just fine with this Outlander putting power to all-four all-season tires. Plus, being able to control the amount of regenerative braking is a huge advantage in slippery conditions. 

Cold temperatures and cranked heaters have a tendency to reduce efficiency for all cars; even more so in battery-electrics and hybrids.  But so far the Outlander is holding pretty steady, at 32.3 miles-per-gallon. 

Still trucking along after 18-months, our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has seen every type of road condition over the 24,000-miles it has travelled. 

Getting the first 22-miles of your daily driving on battery power has a way of putting you in a good mood. But, that does require making the effort to plug in whenever you can.  Something we admittedly could do a better job of. Still, our current fuel economy average sits right at an excellent 32 miles-per-gallon. 

The Outlander’s exceptional all-wheel drive system and toasty heated front seats have taken some of the bite out of our mid-atlantic winter. And as more family members have come along for errands to break free from the indoors, we’re hearing some complaints about its dated technology, but lots of compliments about the comfort.

So, when it comes to reliable, practical, and efficient transportation, the Outlander PHEV utility delivers the goods. 

And speaking of deliveries, in case you missed it, the next generation Outlander recently made its world debut on Amazon Live. Word is our Plug-In design will soldier on until a new hybrid arrives in a year or so.

Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye; so when it comes to our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, we’ve just avoided that uncomfortable situation altogether.  

Still here after 19–months, our most recent period with this 5-passenger plug-in utility was one of its busiest in a while; tacking on 2,500-miles, to bring our total to 26,500. 

In case you haven’t figured it out from our many reports over that time, the Outlander’s powertrain is by far our favorite aspect of this crossover. 

22-miles of EV driving when you want it; and lightning quick acceleration when you need that too, thanks to the twin-motor hybrid’s 190-horsepower. Fuel economy has stayed fairly consistent for a while now, hovering around our current average of 31.6 miles-per-gallon. 

But, things just got even better, as ’21 models get a major upgrade. The gas engine goes from 2.0-liters to 2.4, and the electric motor increases from 60-kw to 70; 221-horsepower, is the new combined output.  

Still better, a larger 13.8-kwh battery pack increases EV range to 24-miles; all without a price increase. So, congratulations procrastinators; you won!

Some of us were never sure this day would actually arrive, but our 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has finally departed our care.

Tough to sum up 21-months in just a minute’s time, but over 29,556-miles, we averaged 31.4 miles-per-gallon and had zero mechanical hiccups. 

Clearly, the Outlander’s hybrid powertrain was a real highlight; delivering fast acceleration when you need it, and up to 22-miles of EV driving, for making short errands a fuel-free affair. 

Not the most exciting to look at outside or in, but the interior proved highly durable, not looking much different after almost 2-years than on the day it arrived. 

The Outlander is about to begin a whole new Nissan-aided era; but this sometimes overlooked and surely underrated Outlander PHEV will be remembered fondly by us for a long time.