By The new generation of Mitsubishi’s compact crossover is here. It debuted recently for the 2022 model year, with a completely new design. The company did a complete makeover and we could say that the new generation benefits from the fact that Mitsubishi is now part of the Renault Nissan Alliance. It uses Nissan’s platform, as well as the powertrain, and generally feels better and more refined than before. However, that doesn’t mean that the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, which will represent the second production year of the generation, will come without changes.
From what we can hear, the second production year could bring a plug-in hybrid version. The officials are still quiet about this but if we consider that such a version is already offered in Japan, there’s a big reason to believe that it could arrive in North America soon as well.
In any case, we don’t expect bigger surprises regarding the launch date, so the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander should hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Design
Design-wise, we definitely won’t see any changes. The recent redesign has brought a lot of new things. First of all, Outlander now rides on Nissan’s CMF platform and shares most of its parts with the new Rogue. Even the wheelbase is the same, so we can say that the new generation is notably bigger than before. More importantly, the suspension setup is more refined and the overall ride quality is better than before. The new Outlander is also mostly about comfort, but handling feels more engaging as well.
Besides the new mechanics, the recent redesign brought a new styling as well. The new generation follows the brand’s latest design language and brings a bold, futuristic styling, which definitely helps Mitsubishi stand out from the crowd. Therefore, we are pretty sure that the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander won’t bring any change in this aspect, though things like new color options are always possible.
Interior
The same thing goes for interior design. We don’t expect to see any change and that’s not an issue at all. Simply, the new generation looks way better from the inside. It utilizes much-fined materials, while the build quality is at a higher level as well. Finally, there is a long list of tech features, which doesn’t make this SUV just more functional, but better looking as well.
We also like the ergonomics, as well as the driving position, which ensures good visibility in all directions. Furthermore, the front seats are massive and supportive. The second row also offers plenty of space and accommodates adults with ease. On the other hand, the third row is tight, but it’s hard to expect anything more than that from a vehicle that measures 106.5 inches in wheelbase.
The cargo area is definitely one of the strongest points. You may count on 11.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row 33.5 cubic feet when the third row is folded, and 79.7 cubic feet of the total cargo volume. The total volume is the highest among compact crossovers, which tops models like Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.
Features
As we are talking about the second production year, it’s hard to believe that bigger changes could happen in this aspect. Most of the things should remain the same. So, all models should come standard with goodies like keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone climate control, an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and a six-speaker stereo. The list of options should include things like tri-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, a 9-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a smartphone charging pad, HD Radio, satellite radio, a 10-speaker stereo, two additional USB ports, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.
The same thing goes for safety features. All models should come standard with goodies like a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, driver drowsiness monitoring etc. The list of options should include front parking sensors, surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, road sign recognition, head-up display etc.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Engine
Base models will continue in the same way, with Nissan’s 2.5-liter inline-four, which puts out 181 horsepower. The engine comes in pair with CVT and delivers decent performance. The average fuel economy goes around 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, which is pretty good for the segment.
We can also expect to see a plug-in hybrid version in the near future. This model is already available in Japan and it uses the same 2.4-liter inline-four as the previous generation, but comes with a bigger 20-kWh battery and more powerful electric motors. The total output goes around 190 horsepower, while 54 miles of the all-electric range sound pretty impressive.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander will arrive in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around 27.000 dollars.
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