In the realm of family friendly mid-size SUVs, few names have the same reputation as Mitsubishi’s Outlander.
While this new one looks almost identical to the previous version, it’s hiding some serious, Australian-flavoured changes under the skin.
But in a segment now full of not only upgraded mainstream rivals, but also new cut-price alternatives from China, does such a modest upgrade to the Outlander do enough to deserve your consideration in such a crowded market?
Forget the mini Toyota LandCruiser FJ and 2026 Suzuki Jimny: Mini Mitsubishi Pajero takes shape as tough little 4WD with production firming for next year
Aussie tweaked SUV taking on the world: Popular family SUV the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander now thousands more expensive as it arrives in showrooms to battle the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson
Mitsubishi's long awaited missing piece to launch soon: New three-row SUV to launch in the next 12 months, but will this 2025 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Sorento, MG QS, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Kluger rival come to Australia?
We went to its Australian launch to find out.
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 7/10
7 / 10
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: prices are up across the whole Outlander range.
The increases are modest, contained to between two to three thousand dollars across this mid-size SUV’s sprawling eight-variant range.
It sounds like an overwhelming number of versions but the Outlander is split across five grades in front- or all-wheel drive, with either five or seven seats.
Check out our pricing table below for the detailed prices before on-road costs:
| FWD | AWD | |
| ES (5-seat) | $39,990 | $42,490 |
| LS (7-seat) | $43,290 | $45,790 |
| Aspire (7-seat) | $47,790 | $50,290 |
| Exceed (5-seat) | -- | $55,140 |
| Exceed Tourer (5-seat) | -- | $57,990 |
Traditional rivals in the 5+2 mid-size SUV category include this model's platform-mate Nissan X-Trail (from $38,025 - $59,265) and the Honda CR-V ($41,900 - $59,900), with the Hyundai Santa Fe ($53,000 - $72,500) and Kia Sorento ($50,880 - $84,660) being a price-bracket above.
The biggest issue is the Outlander is facing increased competition from models like Chery’s Tiggo 7 (as a five-seater), which can be had for as low as $29,990 drive-away! Even the most expensive version of the Tiggo 8 (seven-seater) in plug-in hybrid form costs the same as a mid-grade Outlander, at $49,990 (d/a).
Options like this put the choice back in your hands. You can choose a brand with the heritage and support network of Mitsubishi, or you can go with the value of a new player yet to put those runs on the board.
.jpg)
Although it has an almost identical visage to the previous car, there are some major upgrades hidden below the metal. Sure, there’s a tweaked equipment list, but importantly, there’s a completely revised ride and handling tune, which was developed by Mitsubishi right here in Australia using local expertise.
It’s a similar program to the successful ones undertaken by Kia and Hyundai in recent years to improve the handling of their cars, and Mitsubishi in Japan was impressed enough with the depth of the changes that most of them have been adopted to the global tune for the car.
On the topic of standard equipment, LED interior lights and the 12.3-inch digital dash have been made standard across the range, there is now seat ventilation to join the seat heating for the front two positions in the top Exceed and Exceed Tourer grades, while the upper mid-spec Aspire grade scores front seat heating and a heated steering wheel.
.jpg)
The 12.3-inch multimedia screen has also been upgraded, featuring a smaller bezel and more processing power for a faster response rate, as well as a tweaked software suite with a new layout. This screen also hosts wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range.
In addition, there’s also the introduction of the Mitsubishi Connect phone app, which features a range of safety and security features, as well as the ability to remotely control things like the ignition, climate system, navigation and locking system.
Across the range the audio system has also been upgraded to an eight-speaker Yamaha-developed system, with the top-spec Exceed Tourer grade scoring a 12-speaker Yamaha system with up to 1650W of power.
.jpg)
The interior now uses higher-quality materials, according to the brand, with extended upholstery across the range. The top-spec Exceed Tourer also scores a new brown interior colour.
A 360-degree parking camera is now standard across the range, and the safety suite also includes the driver monitoring system and traffic sign recognition system as also used in the Triton.
The plug-in hybrid version, which is what the Outlander is arguably most famous for, is not yet available, but Mitsubishi tells us it will arrive in a few months time, at very least before the end of 2025, and it, too, will carry an Australian-developed ride and handling tune.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
8 / 10
Blink and you’ll miss the changes. Actually, squint and you still might miss them. Aside from the eye-catching new 20-inch wheels on the Exceed and Exceed tourer grades and the new ‘Moonstone Grey’ paint colour, it’s hard to tell the new Outlander apart from its predecessor.
Look closer and there’s new lower garnish designs front and rear, a tweaked grille and a smoked appearance for the rear tail-light clusters.
It’s very subtle stuff, but Mitsubishi has chosen to spend its time and money on upgrades on unseen areas.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
For example, the bonnet is now steel rather than aluminium, which helps with noise insulation (and also has the side-effect of removing the high-speed ‘fluttering’ effect the aluminium bonnet had on the previous version), there’s additional sound insulation throughout the car, and cladding in the transmission tunnel to make the cabin a quieter place.
Back on the topic of appearance, though, the dash and console has also been tweaked a little. For example, the new screen looks a bit more contemporary, with a much smaller bezel and more attractive software. The console has been rearranged to move the bottle holders to one side of the electronic gear shifter, which makes for a larger centre console.
High-grade leather seat trims also now have alternate patterns, but the range follows the same trims, from cloth on the ES and LS, while the Aspire gets a microsuede and synthetic leather blend, while the Exceed and Exceed Tourer get the ‘high-grade semi-aniline’ leather trim.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10
8 / 10
The previous Outlander was already known for having a spacious and versatile cabin, and this continues for the new car with a few small tweaks.
The width and satisfying seat positioning continue, and seats in all grades are generous and comfortable, but particularly the leather seats on the Exceed and Exceed Tourer grade we tested.
Adjustability is good in all positions, and the digital instrument cluster has an attractive dual-dial layout and functional display options. While not the best in class, it’s far better than many rivals.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The touchscreen’s new software is meant to be faster, but I found it a bit laggy still, although the integration of Google’s API into the navigation suite is an excellent tweak, making it relevant and useful for much longer.
The tweaks to the centre console make the area more space efficient and useful, but the new cupholders seem strangely shallow, potentially causing large bottles to tip. The tweaked centre console box is nice and large, and the wireless charger is nice and accessible, although its surface is not quite rubbery enough to stop your phone from leaving the charging area in the corners.
The back seat is noticeably stadium – you sit a fair bit higher than in the first row, which eats into headroom in cars equipped with a sunroof for adults. However, width is good, as is the seat comfort.
.jpg)
The rear doors open nice and wide, which should make fitting a child seat easy enough, and the floor is surprisingly flat, too, which makes the middle position more useful.
The third row, which I sampled in an Aspire grade, is both hard to get into and tight once you’re in there. The second row can slide forward on a rail, offering just enough room for me, at 182cm tall, to fit back there, with my knees hard up against the seat in front, and my head nearly touching the roof.
It is for this reason Mitsubishi calls seven-seat versions ‘5+2’. Good for kids, maybe, but not adults for any extended period of time.
The boot is enormous with two rows in use (485 litres in five-seat versions, or 478 litres in seven-seaters), and for this update, the space now has a wider aperture that should make loading objects easier. Space with seven seats up is 163L. Five-seaters get a full-size spare under the floor, while seven-seaters get a space saver.
Braked towing capacity is a middling 1600kg for petrol-powered variants. The brand says not many Outlander buyers are focused on towing as a key capability for the mid-sizer.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 6/10
6 / 10
The petrol-powered Outlander soldiers on with a drab non-turbo, non-hybrid 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission.
The brand calls this combination “proven” and it’s hard to argue given it hasn’t cropped up with any major reliability issues in the pre-facelift car.
.jpg)
Still, it produces a middling 135kW/244Nm, not as punchy as many turbo options, and nowhere near as efficient as hybrid alternatives.
Those seeking a more powerful fuel-sipping option may want to wait for the PHEV version arriving later this year.
Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 6/10
6 / 10
As a result of its relatively old-school sounding powertrain, fuel consumption isn’t at the forefront of the petrol-powered Outlander, with official consumption ranging between 7.5L/100km for the lightest five-seat ES 2WD version, to 8.1L/100km in the heaviest, top-spec Exceed Tourer AWD.
C02 emissions are also on the high side, which the brand will no doubt be off-setting with the new PHEV version which will offer even more emissions-free driving range than before.
One benefit of this long-serving engine, though, is it can be fed entry-level 91RON unleaded, better for the back pocket. The petrol-powered Outlander has a 55-litre fuel tank.
Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10
7 / 10
The Australian team had a significant amount of input on the driving dynamics of this new Outlander, but does it make a big difference behind the wheel?
We were granted the chance to drive the old one alongside the new version to find out, and the changes are significant.
Overall, the character of the car hasn’t been fundamentally altered. This is still a somewhat plush and soft-around-the-edges family SUV, but redeveloped new suspension parts and even very minor, nerdy modifications like the thickness of sway bars have added up to a much more pleasant vehicle to spend an extended amount of time in.
The first thing you’ll notice is the retuned steering. Mitsubishi’s engineers tell us the tweaked feedback was all down to the software in the rack, and it’s a big difference, upping the firmness of the steering at low speeds, keeping the vehicle on track with more confidence while heading straight, and also removing a slight twitchiness with sudden adjustments.
Next is the cabin ambiance. The new Outlander is a relatively quiet place to be thanks to the extra insulation throughout. It combines with the new steering to give the car much more of a sense of heft than before. The engine is reduced to a distant thrum, and the road is damped away for the most part. Mitsubishi says the 20-inch wheels are a particular hit with buyers, which to me is a shame because I’m willing to bet it’s particularly comfy on the lower-grade tyres.
Elsewhere, the Outlander has a softer initial response to bumps thanks to retuned shocks, and the reduced width of the front sway bar makes for less ‘head toss’ for front seat occupants.
Does it make a significant difference? Yes. The new Outlander is all-round better balanced and better suited to our road conditions. It might not have the sophistication of more expensive options, and it still might be a tad off what the also balanced-and-comfortable RAV4 offers, although it will be interesting to get one back to see how it compares to rivals in a like-for-like test.
Just expect a much more comfort-oriented option than some rivals. These changes don’t make the Outlander as fun to drive as a Mazda CX-5 or a Skoda Kodiaq. For example, while the 2.5-litre engine and CVT combo provides a surprisingly urgent initial response, it's a dull, rubbery power application from there on.
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 8/10
8 / 10
The Outlander has a robust array of active safety kit, with all the key gear like autonomous emergency braking, lane support, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available across the range. Traffic sign recognition and driver attention monitoring is now available from the new Triton, however it is also worth noting some relatively minor items are only available on higher grades.
The ES and LS grades miss out on adaptive high beams, traffic jam assist and steering assist (although they maintain lane departure warning and lane-keep assist).
Mitsubishi is hoping the updated Outlander will qualify for a continued five-star ANCAP safety rating held by the pre-facelift model.
During our drive we also found the lane-keep and driver attention software (which was much-derided at the launch of the Triton) was reasonably well behaved, with the brand saying it had had significant software tweaks over time to make it less invasive. We’ll need to save our final verdict on this system for when we spend an extended time behind the wheel.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 9/10
9 / 10
Mitsubishi continues to offer its near-industry-leading 10-year/200,000km warranty, conditional on the car being serviced at a Mitsubishi dealer. Otherwise, it reverts to a five-year/100,000km promise.
The 10 years of warranty is joined by 10 years of capped-price servicing required at 12 month or 15,000km intervals.
Prices are tame, varying between $320 and $680 per visit, for a total yearly average of $434. It’s not the cheapest yearly average out there, but most brands also don’t have capped price servicing extended this far, so it seems like a good deal regardless.
.jpg)
Verdict
Mitsubishi has leaned into its strengths with this Outlander update, spending its money in subtle areas to upgrade what was already a widely appealing mid-size SUV.
The local tuning has made a notable difference to the refinement and comfort of this version, while subtle updates to the software and interior trim help to refine things even further.
If you’ve had an Outlander before, you’ll love this one, although it doesn’t help the brand to challenge new players on the value front. This leaves you with the decision of whether to pick a brand with the reputation and network of Mitsubishi, or roll the dice on a far more affordable new player.
For what it’s worth, it’s genuinely tough to pick a sweet spot here. I think the best picks are at either end of the spectrum, with the ES being outstanding value, and the Exceed being particularly plush.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
