Mitsubishi Outlander 2026 review: Plug-in Hybrid EV Exceed Tourer

Mitsubishi was a pioneer in the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) space, launching the first PHEV SUV back in 2013, the Outlander PHEV.

Thirteen years on the Japanese carmaker still offers the Outlander PHEV. It’s a new-generation model, however the fundamentals are still there.

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Additionally there’s a higher total system output of 221kW (up from 185kW).

Other changes include a new Australian-specific ride and handling tune, new power steering mapping, new steel bonnet fenders, as well as new Bridgestone Alenza 001 tyres. These mirror what the Outlander petrol line-up received last year.

A lot of changes are well received and do improve the driving experience. Most notable is the new ride and handling tune and updated power steering mapping. The ride is much less bouncy and brittle, plus the steering doesn’t feel overly light anymore, especially at higher speeds.

However, the ride still isn’t perfect and there’s a lot of head toss in the cabin when you go over pimply urban roads and big bumps. Part of this is likely due to the large 20-inch alloy wheels in this Exceed Tourer trim, though I’ve driven plenty of other similarly sized SUVs with wheels this big and generally they aren’t as crashy.

Another change that isn’t the best is the price. The Outlander PHEV is now up to $2700 more expensive than it was, depending on the trim level.

As a result this top-spec Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer is now priced from a mind-blowing $74,490 before on-road costs. For context, this is around $10,000 more expensive than the top-spec Chery Tiggo 9 and Omoda 9 from China, and the forthcoming Toyota RAV4 PHEV.

For this price you get adaptive LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, larger 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 12-speaker Yamaha sound system, two 240V powerpoints in the cabin and leather upholstery.

Notably the Outlander PHEV Exceed and Exceed Tourer trims are exclusively offered with five seats now. If you want a seven-seat version you need to opt for the cheaper Aspire trim.

The lack of third-row seats at this level isn't great, but they have always been crammed and basically for kids only.

In the cabin it’s nice to have the larger 12.3-inch touchscreen which better suits the dashboard compared to the pre-update model. I also appreciate how many physical buttons there are for key functions, including the climate controls.

In the Exceed Tourer there is brown leather upholstery as standard which is a little light and dull for my liking. I much prefer the black leather-appointed upholstery that comes in the Exceed.

The extra electric range is welcome, but compared to rivals it’s still lacklustre. The Chery Tiggo 9 offers 170km of NEDC claimed range, the Omoda 9 offers 169km (NEDC), and the Toyota RAV4 PHEV offers up to 154km (NEDC).

A full battery charge offers around 80km of real-world electric urban driving with an as-tested energy consumption of 20kWh/100km.

Mitsubishi could likely eke more electric range by doing away with the dual-motor all-wheel drive. The amount of power the car currently produces is more than enough and for the most part it’s wasted in urban environments.

When the battery runs out of charge, the Outlander PHEV does a good job of operating as a hybrid as it leaves a fair chunk of reserve charge for tootling around EV mode at low speeds, but when its 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine fires up it sounds like a buzzy vacuum cleaner from the cabin.

Fuel consumption isn’t a strong suit. The engine frequently consumes around 10L/100km so it can charge up the battery pack, though it switches off again once there’s enough charge or if you're coming to a stop.

AC charging is available with a Type 2 plug at rates only up to 3.6kW, meaning a full charge takes up to 6.5 hours. Not bad if you can plug it in overnight while you sleep but not great if you’re in a rush.

For DC fast-charging there’s still a CHAdeMO plug. The Outlander PHEV is now the only new car sold in Australia with this plug standard. It has been phased out in favour of the more popular Type 2/CCS combination plug.

It’s getting harder to find chargers that have CHAdeMO plugs at public stations, but if you do, a full charge will take 32 minutes.

For safety, the Outlander PHEV has a five-star ANCAP rating based on testing conducted in 2025. It features all the expected safety features and picked up an emergency SOS calling function with this latest update.

Like all Mitsubishis, there is a 10-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, but that's conditional provided you service within the dealer network. If you don’t this drops back to five years of coverage. There’s also 10 years of roadside assistance.

Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km and the first 10 services are capped. They total $5498 which averages out to $549.80 per service. That’s a lot compared to its rivals.