Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of only a few small SUVs that can run on electric power — without being fully electric, that is. It's a plug-in hybrid, so you can recharge its battery at home or at a public charging station and drive a short distance — up to 24 miles, according to the EPA — on all-electric power. After that, the gas engine switches on and the Outlander PHEV drives like a typical hybrid. Keep the battery pack charged frequently and you might not need to fill up the gas tank very much at all.

For 2021, Mitsubishi has given the PHEV a few updates too. Most notably, it has a little more than last year as well as more power and a quieter cabin. However, it faces off against the new Toyota RAV4 Prime. This is also a plug-in hybrid but offers an EPA-estimated 42 miles of all-electric range. So how well does this improved Outlander PHEV compete? Read our Expert Rating below for our in-depth review.

Which Outlander PHEV does MatoCar recommend?

The new LE trim, which Mitsubishi added for 2021, is a justifiable upgrade from the base trim. We could do without all the black exterior accents, but a standard sunroof and upgraded stereo system are always appreciated. All Outlanders come with a strong collection of safety equipment, so there's little need to jump up to the top GT trim unless you have a strong desire for adaptive cruise control.

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a small crossover SUV that seats five and comes in three trims: SEL, LE and GT. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain consists of a four-cylinder engine, a rechargeable battery pack and electric motors that provide a total output of 221 horsepower. It can go an EPA-estimated 24 miles on all-electric power before switching over to normal hybrid operation. All-wheel drive is standard. Other feature highlights include:

SEL The base Outlander PHEV comes with:

18-inch alloy wheels
Power liftgate
Roof rails
DC fast-charging capability
Proximity entry and push-button start
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable, heated front seats
60/40-split folding and reclining rear seats
8-inch touchscreen display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
USB ports (one front, two rear)
Six-speaker sound system

Standard driver safety aids include:

Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)

Limited Edition New to the lineup for 2021, the LE adds the following:

18-inch dark chrome alloy wheels
Unique front and rear bumpers
Blackout exterior trim and grille
Sunroof
Eight-speaker upgraded sound system

GT The top-line Outlander PHEV comes with all of the above plus:

LED headlights
Heated steering wheel
Dual household-style power outlets (replaces the rear USB ports)
Quilted leather-appointed seat surfaces
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Outlander and its surroundings for tight parking situations