First Drive: 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander is the Affordable 3-Row SUV You Shouldn’t Forget About

Of all the Japanese brands now available in the U.S., Mitsubishi is the one most likely to run under the radar for most buyers. But for those looking for a three-row SUV, it’d be a mistake to ignore the Mitsubishi Outlander. Surprisingly well-equipped, it is also one of the most affordable models in its segment. If anything, it becomes an even bigger bargain for 2025 with a modest mid-cycle update, as Headlight.News discovered during a day’s drive in and around Los Angeles. Here’s our review.

There was a time, long ago in terms of automotive lifecycles, when Mitsubishi was the hot, up-and-coming brand from Japan with standout products like the original Eclipse sports coupe. But few manufacturers have followed up with more missteps, both with off-putting products and failed marketing moves.

But if you’ve largely written off Mitsubishi it might be time to think again, at least if you’re in the market for a surprisingly well-appointed three-row SUV that stands up to better-known nameplates like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Better yet, the Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the most affordable products in its segment. And it also offers buyers a choice of either a reasonably efficient gas engine or a downright fuel-stingy plug-in hybrid.

There aren’t a lot of big changes for the new model year, one of the more intriguing upgrades coming in the form of two new high-end audio packages from Yamaha that arguably deserve reviews of their own. But Mitsubishi is hoping there’s enough to keep the momentum building, with Outlander not only the brand’s best-seller but responsible for roughly half its U.S. sales.

Here’s what I discovered during my time behind the wheel of the Outlander.

What’s new

From a design perspective you’ll have a hard time telling the 2025 model apart from the original design that debuted in 2022. As before, the SUV adopts a polarizing look that starts with its Dynamic Shield grille – which its chief engineer described as a “sculpted hexagon.” There are subtle tweaks to the rear lighting, as well, along with new wheels and a revised front skid plate.

But most of the changes can easily be missed, such as the now-ventilated front seats and aluminum pedals.

That said, potential buyers could be surprised when they slip inside the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander. It delivers a number of features you might not expect from a vehicle in its class, such as the quilted seats and knurled switchgear on the Premium trim I drove in Los Angeles.

Three rows – with an asterisk

The 2025 Outlander continues to offer three rows with seating for seven. Now, let me clear, that’s not seven full-size adults, not unless some folks you really dislike get relegated to the cramped back bench. But it’s there in a pinch, and it can be folded out of the way for those looking to haul cargo.

With all rows up, there’s an acceptable 11 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold that back bench down and the number jumps to 31 cf. The second row laid flat, as well and you now have a capacious space that can swallow up 64 cubic feet of cargo.

And while the back bench may be a penalty box, the first and second rows are surprisingly roomy.

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Powertrain options

Mitsubishi offers two powertrain options with the Outlander:

• A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four gas engine making 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Power is directed through a continuously variable transmission, buyers having the choice of front or all-wheel-drive;
• The alternative is a plug-in hybrid pairing a 2.4-liter gas engine paired with two electric motors, making a combined 248 hp and 332 lb-ft. Available only in all-wheel-drive, the PHEV draws power from a 16.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and manages to squeeze out enough electronics to get you an EPA-estimated 38 miles per charge.

Potential buyers need note that what updates there are for 2025 apply only to the gas-powered Outlander trims. The PHEV package won’t get the same refresh until 2026.

Driving impressions

I spent my day behind the wheel of the gas-powered version of the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander, though I’d only recently had the chance to spend several days with the 2024 PHEV package.

The gas model is a reasonable choice – but, back-to-back there are some notable differences. The plug-in bumps up performance quite nicely, cutting 0-60 times to around 6.6 seconds, or roughly 1.6 seconds less than the gas-only model. Of course, you’ll sacrifice that added performance when operating in EV-only mode.

Though clearly offering less of a visceral thrill, the internal combustion package is still worth considering. It’s not only roomier but quieter than many of its competitors and Outlander also stands tall when it comes to providing a more luxurious feel than products like the more plebian RAV4 and CR-V. I also found it more pleasant an experience than with the Nissan Rogue – also updated for 2025 – which shares its platform with Outlander.

Those Yamaha audio packages

Fully half of the time I spent at a background briefing on the 2025 Outlander was devoted to the new Yamaha audio system. Make that plural, as the consumer electronics company developed two distinct packages, noted its audio chief engineer Tomokayu Hikeda.

There’s the impressive 8-speaker premium system. But the gold star goes to the Yamaha Ultimate, with its 12 speakers handling 11 channels of audio and a full 1,650 watts of power.

High-end audio systems are commonplace today, typically tuned to the unique acoustic signature of a vehicle’s interior. Yamaha went a step further, actually modifying the structure of the Outlander, adding dampening sheets and stiffeners to door panels to ensure just the right sound qualify, especially for bass notes.

The Ultimate system also can be set to adjust for different driving conditions, such as when you’re driving fast, or when its raining. It can even compensate for the changes to the cabin’s acoustic profile when the air conditioning is blowing.

Final word

Pricing for the gas-powered 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander starts at $31,535 for the base, front-drive ES package. It pushes to $45,035 for the all-wheel-drive Platinum.

For the money you get a lot of features which – where available – would drive up the cost of most competing models significantly higher.

The powertrain might be a weak link for some drivers. There’s always the old PHEV package to opt for – though you’ll have to wait a year to get all the latest updates.

Nonetheless, the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander has enough going for it that I expect it will remain the overwhelmingly dominant product in the automaker’s portfolio this coming year.