Skip to main content

Better late than never: Mitsubishi’s Outlander Plug-In Hybrid makes US debut

The U.S. launch of the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid has been one of the most drawn-out in recent memory. Mitsubishi originally said it would put the plug-in Outlander on sale here in 2013, and if it had, the Outlander would have been the first plug-in hybrid SUV sold in the U.S. That obviously didn’t happen, but this much-delayed model is finally here.

Mitsubishi chose the 2016 New York Auto Show to unveil the U.S.-spec Outlander Plug-In Hybrid, which will go on sale here this fall as a 2017 model. It may have missed out on being the first, but the Outlander will still be the only plug-in hybrid SUV sold in the U.S. that isn’t a luxury model. And it’s an important part of Mitsubishi’s strategy of redemption, which emphasizes both crossovers and electrified powertrains.

On the outside, this Outlander looks largely the same as the face-lifted, non-hybrid version that was unveiled in New York a year ago. Under the skin, though, it’s a different story, as the powertrain includes a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors. This is the same powertrain that’s been available in Europe and Japan for a couple of years now.

One motor assists the gasoline engine in powering the front axle, while the second motor powers the rear axle, giving the Outlander all-wheel drive. A 12-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack should provide enough capacity for appreciable amounts of electric-only driving, and the Outlander can also operate as a conventional hybrid, with both power sources driving the wheels.

In addition to its long-awaited electrified powertrain, the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid also becomes the second U.S. Mitsubishi model, after the 2017 Mirage, to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a full suite of available safety features, including a surround-view camera system, Forward Collision Mitigation with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale in the U.S. this fall. Will it be worth the wait?

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Volvo’s much-anticipated EX30 EV to reach U.S. before year end
Front three quarter view of the 2025 Volvo EX30.

Volvo is switching gears again, this time to accelerate deliveries of its much-anticipated EX30 subcompact electric SUV so that it reaches the U.S. before the end of 2024.

The Swedish automaker last summer had postponed the U.S. launch of the EX30 to 2025, citing “changes in the global automotive landscape." The move followed the Biden administration’s 100% import tariff on electric vehicles made in China.

Read more
Rivian R2 EV’s new LG battery boosts storage capacity sixfold
Rivian R2

The Rivian R2, the EV maker’s much-anticipated affordable electric SUV, will be powered by U.S.-made batteries promising to store six times as much energy as those currently used.

South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions announced it will be supplying LG’s 4695 cylindrical batteries to Rivian as part of a five-year agreement.

Read more
Scout Terra vs. Tesla Cybertruck: retro and futuristic, head to head
Scout Motors Terra driving front

Scout Motors is back. The classic brand has been reinvigorated under Volkswagen Group, and not only that, but it has already announced two new vehicles that it plans to launch in the next few years. Of the two, the Scout Terra is the electric truck, and it's built to offer a modern design with an excellent range and fast performance.

But how does the Scout Terra compare with another popular electric truck, the Tesla Cybertruck? While the Scout Terra is set to be much cheaper than the Cybertruck is now, it's entirely possible that by the time the Terra is released, it could have a higher price tag than expected, while Tesla lowers the price tag of the Cybertruck. Is one of these trucks objectively better? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The Scout Terra and the Tesla Cybertruck arguably couldn't be further apart in terms of design. Of course, variation is a good thing, at least as long as both options are solid under the hood too.

Read more