Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023: reversing AEB now standard, prices up by $1500 on some grades

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Mitsubishi Australia has confirmed an expanded list of features for its MY23 badged Outlander PHEV models, which are due to arrive locally in January next year.

Prices are up between $1000 on the entry-level ES and Aspire grades while the top-spec Exceed and Exceed Tourer increase by $1500. The range starts at $55,490 before on-road costs.

The changes made to the Outlander PHEV largely mirror that of the non-hybrid model for MY23 which starts from a much lower $36,240 for the ES FWD. You can read more about the standard Outlander model in our previous article.

The Outlander PHEV is one of a few plug-in hybrids on sale in Australia, with the significantly more expensive Peugeot 3008 and soon the Mazda CX-60 also offered in this segment.

New features for the Outlander PHEV in 2023

Mitsubishi has made a multitude of changes to its popular midsize SUV in 2023 with arguably the most important being the standardisation of reversing AEB across the range, which also features an override function for towing.

Also standard in terms of safety equipment is automatic high beam functionality and rear cross-traffic alert along with an auto-hold function. 

The Outlander PHEV Exceed and Exceed Tourer grades also receive added luxuries including a heated steering wheel and sequential LED front indicators – though both grades have lost their auto-dipping function (when reversing) due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage.

Mitsubishi has bolstered the adaptive cruise control functionality of the Outlander Exceed and Exceed Tourer by adding steering assistance to the lane-keep assist, speed sign recognition that automatically changes the speed of the car and stop-start functionality to assist in heavy traffic. 

However, the Exceed Tourer goes further, expanding its list of two-tone colour combinations and adding heated seats in the second row.

All PHEV grades continue to make use of a 2.4-litre petrol engine working in conjunction with an electric motor on the front and rear axle, producing a combined 185kW of power and 450Nm of torque. 

The electric motors draw from a 20kWh battery, which Mitsubishi says provides enough energy to travel 84km purely on electric power before the petrol motor needs to kick in.

New stock set to arrive in January

The first batch of MY23-badged Outlander PHEV models began production in November this year and would arrive locally in January 2023.

Mitsubishi Australia product public relations manager Adam Davis recently told Chasing Cars that it had experienced stronger than-expected demand for the Outlander PHEV and had already sold out of stock for 2022. 

Davis said Mitsubishi Australia was working to secure additional stock with head office, though noted that there was “substantial demand and pre-orders on Outlander PHEV that will take time to fulfil” when MY23 stock arrived.

Outlander PHEV features by grade

Outlander PHEV ES – five-seat

The entry-level ES grade comes standard with cloth upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, dual-zone climate control, and a six-speaker audio system mated to a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.

Last year ANCAP awarded the Outlander PHEV a five-star rating across the range under its more stringent protocols that were introduced in 2020. Features fitted to the ES include:

• Front AEB with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection detection
• Blind-spot monitoring and intervention
• Forwards and reversing parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control

Outlander PHEV Aspire – five-seat

Stepped up to the Aspire swaps out the 18-inch alloy wheels for larger 20-inch options, adds LED fog lights, a leather steering wheel, a head-up display, a power tailgate, a 360-degree camera, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and wireless phone charging.

The interior also nets upholstery made up of a combination of synthetic leather and suede material with front heated seats as well as Mitsubishi’s vehicle-to-load 240-volt system with two three-pin socks.

Outlander PHEV Exceed – seven-seat

The Exceed is the first to score seven seats, which Mitsubishi refers to as a five+two arrangement, alluding to the fact that in our experience these seats are not spacious enough to fit large adults.

Buyers net quilted leather upholstery and power adjustment across both front seats, along with pull-up sunshades in the second row and a nine-speaker Bose Premium sound system.

Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer – seven-seat

Building on all the aforementioned equipment, the Exceed Tourer stands out by offering two-tone paint options, massaging front seats and heating in the second row.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2023: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• PHEV ES five-seat: $55,490 (+$1000) 
• PHEV Aspire five-seat: $61,990 (+1000)
• PHEV Exceed seven-seat: $67,490 (+$1500)
• PHEV Exceed Tourer seven-seat: $69,990 (+$1500)