Mitsubishi doesn’t have a large lineup of vehicles in the United States, but the Outlander continues to be an impressive choice among compact SUVs.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the most comfortable and enjoyable small SUVs on the market. You’ll appreciate the clever packaging that makes it feel roomy inside, which ensures you have the comfort you desire and the seating you need. This SUV stands out as one of the smallest models that can be had with a third-row seat, and it brings you one of the strongest powertrain warranties in the entire auto market.
Going hybrid makes sense
The Outlander moves forward for the 2025 model year with several variations, including a hybrid option. Most of what you find in this SUV carries forward from 2024, but the exterior and interior styling has been improved to make it look better than ever. The PHEV version of this SUV has 38 miles of electric driving for you, making it easy for you to run some errands or get a few things done without using any gas at all.
What’s new for this SUV?
Although much of what’s changed about the Mitsubishi Outlander has to do with the styling, there are a few other upgrades provided for this SUV. Every model now comes with heated front seats. The midrange SEL model has a heated steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof. These changes are made to the standard Outlander models while the hybrid versions continue to 2025 without any changes to them.
What powers the Outlander?
The non-hybrid models all utilize the same powertrain, which is a 2.5-lier 4-cylinder engine mated to a CVT. This powertrain produces 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, which can be sent to the front wheels or to all four wheels. The FWD models return 24 city/31 hwy mpg while AWD versions give you 24 city/30 hwy mpg.
The plug-in hybrid models have a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors that send power to the wheels through a one-speed direct drive transmission. Every version of the PHEV Outlander is set up with AWD to send power to all four wheels. These models deliver 25 city/27 hwy mpg and produce 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, making them much more powerful than the non-hybrid models.
Strangely, although the PHEV models are more powerful, the non-hybrid Outlander SUVs can tow up to 2,000 pounds, while the hybrid models can only achieve 1,500 pounds of towing capacity.
What does each version offer?
The Mitsubishi Outlander comes in four trims: ES, SE, SEL, and SEL Platinum Edition, which all have equipment that can make your driving experience better than the one before it. Here’s what you can expect to find at each trim:
Outlander ES
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 7-passenger seating
- Dual-zone automatic climate controls
- USB-A and USB-C ports
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
- Forward and reverse automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear parking sensors
Outlander SE
- 20-inch 2-tone alloy wheels
- Power liftgate
- Synthetic leather seats
- Wireless device charging
- Rear USB-A and USB-C ports
- 9-inch touchscreen
- Navigation system
- MI-PILOT Assist
Outlander SEL
- Silver roof rails
- Leather seats
- Memory driver’s seat
- Power front passenger seat
- Heated rear seats
- Quilted synthetic leather door inserts
- Machined aluminum shift panel
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Rear sunshades
Outlander SEL Platinum Edition
- Standard AWD
- Power panoramic sunroof
- Black Diamond paint with Alloy Silver roof
- Light Gray interior
- Door sill scuff plates
- Ground illumination
- Heated steering wheel
- Black headliner and pillars
- Head-up display
- Bose premium audio system
The AWD is worth it
If you’re ready to drive the Mitsubishi Outlander, it’s worth the extra cost to add the benefits of Super All-Wheel Control to the mix. This is Mitsubishi’s version of AWD, and it gives you the added confidence and driving qualities that you’re sure to enjoy during bad weather. You’ll have selectable drive modes called Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Normal, Eco, and Mud that can all give you the settings you need during your drive.
Add that power tailgate
The base model is the only trim where the power tailgate is an optional feature. On all other models, this feature is standard, and it comes with adjustable opening heights to give this SUV the added convenience you want when you need to load or unload items from the rear.
The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander is a versatile and useful SUV that you might not think about when shopping for your next compact SUV. Add it to your list and see what it has to offer; you might be surprised at how easy it is to drive and enjoy.
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