2025 Outlander: Up front drama
The Outlander might appear almost the same as last year’s model, but look closely and you’ll find a few tweaks. None of those tweaks makes the front end design simpler or sweeter. With the large headlights pushed out to the edge, surrounded by sparkling chrome and topped by a skinny eyebrow of daytime running lamps, the Outlander’s front end still jars us to attention. I enjoy a bold design choice just as much as the next reviewer, but the Outlander’s front fascia just doesn’t work. If you want to stand out in a crowd, go for it, but I’ll take the crisp lines of the Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson over this monstrosity any day.
Mitsubishi only had the top trim on hand for this first drive, so I can’t speak to what the interior of the base ES model looks like. However, the SEL can be had with quilted leather in a new Brick Brown color that is quite nice, giving the cabin a rich, soothing tone. There are a few bits of plastic here and there, but that’s not surprising given that it competes with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, both of which also have a smattering of cost-cutting materials in the cabin.
On the good side, the 2025 Outlander still has actual physical controls for the HVAC system and heated and cooled seats, with chunky knobs to set the temperature. No need to mess about with the 12.3-inch touchscreen just to add a few degrees of warmth. Speaking of, the screen looks like a bit of an afterthought, like that of most of its rivals, just kind of plopped on to the padded dash. It doesn’t impede my eyeline but I wish it were more integrated into the overall design. The good news is that wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both here as standard fare.
The SEL comes with a 15-watt wireless charger that kept my phone secure, although the space isn’t very tall so there’s not much room there to throw a set of keys if you decide to use one of the USB-C ports instead. In fact, there isn’t much room for small storage at all, but at least the center console is larger than last year. The cup holders can accommodate two 44-ounces cups with no problem, but the holders aren’t very deep and road sodas can be unstable. Keep those lids and caps tight, y’all.
Mitsubishi went big on the Outlander’s stereo system with a standard eight-speaker configurable system by Yamaha. Those who want a bigger boom can upgrade to a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system to really pump up the base. The speaker grilles are a nifty design based on traditional Japanese geometric patterns that are both functional and cool to look at.
Mitsubishi paid special attention to the doors, sealing them completely so they would act like speaker boxes, cutting off any unwanted sound from making its way into the cabin. The system can adjust the volume based on the car’s speed, the noise of the air coming from the HVAC vents and can even compensate for the sound of rain. Drivers can choose from four different sound modes to suit their taste and direct music towards the individual front seats, both front seats at the same time, the rear seats only or the entire vehicle. I do not have what one would call a finely tuned ear but the different sound modes were distinctive and I could crank up the volume on my Spotify playlist and not hear any distortion. I probably wouldn’t pony up the extra $3,000 or so the 12-speaker system costs, but it’s worth it for audiophiles with long commutes.
The seating surfaces in the first two rows are soft yet supportive and the first row seats have plenty of adjustability. In this upper trim the second row is heated and there are rear door sunshades as well. However, the third row is best left stowed. It’s way too small to fit an adult-sized human and even a pre-teen would likely feel crowded. Plus, with that third row up the Mitsu has less than 11 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold it down and you get 30 cubes–much more useful.
2025 Outlander: Nimble thanks to rally-style AWD
Mitsubishi let me loose on a windy road through the mountains outside of Los Angeles. I had never been on this particular two-lane stretch of goodness and I immediately marked it in Google Maps as a place I want to return in a car meant for turning.
Not that the Outlander doesn’t handle well. With an all-wheel-drive system developed over years of podiums in rally, the Outlander is more nimble than any crossover at this price point has the right to be. The suspension has been retuned just a bit for 2025 resulting in a comfortable ride and a fairly planted feel. There are drive modes here, dubbed Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Snow, Mud and Gravel. Given that it was 75-degrees and my drive was pavement-only, I spent the day in Tarmac mode. This doesn’t enhance the suspension at all but does calibrate the steering for a bit of a heavier feel. Oh, and the car whips a pretty tight U-turn when need be.
The main problem here is the drivetrain. Like many of the cars in the class it feels underpowered and in need of a turbocharger. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produces just 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers aren’t far off what you find in offerings from Honda or Toyota, but you can get a regular hybrid in those vehicles for more chutzpah. If you want more power in the Outlander, you’ll need to step up to the plug-in hybrid with 248 ponies. However, that has not been updated for the 2025 model year.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) doesn’t do the Outlander any favors, either. It’s divided into eight steps that tries to mimic the shifting feel of a standard automatic, but trust me– it’s not fooling anyone. The thing is loud and buzzy and doesn’t even offer up exemplary fuel economy, which is the whole point of a CVT. The EPA gives the Outlander a rating of 26 mpg combined, worse than the RAV4 and CR-V and only one mpg better than the Korean offerings with a standard automatic.
The Outlander comes standard with blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alerts and rear emergency braking, but you have to move up to the SE trim if you want features like active lane control, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.
2025 Outlander: Hold out for the PHEV
The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander starts at $31,140 including destination, which is on a par with offerings from Mazda, Honda and Toyota, although it’s more than what you’d pay if you were looking at Hyundai and Kia. It’s just a little more than the related 2025 Nissan Rogue, which costs $30,620 in base trim. Adding all-wheel drive is an extra $1,800, which is a bit more than you’ll pay with the competition. There are a few packages you can add on that include various combinations of the 12-speaker Yamaha stereo, head up display, panoramic sunroof, rear camera mirror and a digital gauge cluster in prices ranging from $3,050 to $4,350. My SEL tester with all the bells and whistles stickered at $45,930.
I could get a top trim Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 with the hybrid motor for less and have more power. Heck, I could even purchase a turbocharged Mazda CX-50 for a bit less coin. If you really feel like you need three rows, you can get a mid-trim all-wheel-drive Kia Sorento at about the same price with better fuel economy and more engaging technology.
The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander isn’t a bad vehicle. Yes, its acceleration is a bit sluggish and the front end is something to see, but the all-wheel-drive system is great and the stereo is one of the best out there. In an uncrowded market I’d say the whole package is pretty good. However, there are oodles of midsize, mid-priced crossovers to choose from and the Outlander has less speed and more price.
If you really dig the Outlander, my advice is to skip the gas-powered model and get the PHEV. In this guise you’ll get 248 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque with a fuel rating of 64 MPGe and 38 miles of all-electric range. The Outlander can also charge at 50 kw, going to 80% charge in 38 minutes. You’ll just have to wait until later this year until it’s refreshed.