2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Outlander PHEV has been launched in Europe a few years ago and since then it quickly became the best-selling plug-in car on the market. The US market has been promised the car a while ago but so far it hasn’t been launched. Mitsubishi said that it will be released this fall as a 2017 model but this is already a bit too late as the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is already in the works. Unlike before, it seems that this time around the car will be released roughly at the same time in both markets. So far not much has been said about it but it is unlikely for the 2018 model to become the all new car everyone is talking about.

Then what is it?

We are quite sure that the upcoming 2018 model of the Outlander will be the improved version of the ongoing generation. This means that the two are most likely going to share the same platform and most of the under-the-skin components such as the powertrain and running gear. However, we may see a few upgrades here such as better batteries and even an improved ride quality.
Currently, the car doesn’t really manage to impress through much and we are quite sure that the 2018 model will follow closely this trend. This is a bit unfortunate as we really hoped Mitsubishi to shook the market and release something great.

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Design

Considering that the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is expected to launch in late 2017. We do expect it to feature a few minor changes. Also, because the car will change for both markets at the same time, it should be a bit more dramatic than before. So far a few renders have been floating on the internet but none of them is official. The car will most likely stay true to its current shape and the areas that will change will be in the front and at the back.
Its front end, as well as the sides, might get rid of all that fake chrome which really makes it look cheap. On top of that, it should get a new grille which will put it more in line with Mitsubishi’s current roster.

Interior

Just like with the exterior, the cabin of the Outlander didn’t manage to impress us so far. While the car does offer pretty much everything you could ever want from it, the quality and the design are a bit outdated. The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should be the model to set the trend for all of their future models. The car should get a new dashboard design as well as much better materials than before. Also, the rather dull design should be gone and instead we should see a slightly more modern Outlander with a much nicer layout than before.

Hybrid Powertrain

Like before, the PHEV will stand for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Over what is currently available, the Outlander should offer a slightly larger battery pack. However, its 2 liters naturally aspirated engine with 119 horsepower and its two electric motors should be carried over unchanged. These will offer an extra of 60 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque.
The battery should get a small bump from its current 12 kWh capacity but so far nothing is official. This is needed as in the US the car’s current battery is a bit too small and it won’t offer all the usual plug-in benefits to its customer. For the US market, we expect an all-electric range of roughly 25 miles. Sure, this is less than the European model but the actual test cycle is usually quite a bit harder as well and 25 miles for a crossover that will cost around $40,000 is not as bad as it seems.