2023 Mitsubishi Outlander

Every 2023 gas Outlander uses the same naturally aspirated 2.5L four; no turbo option, so output sits near the bottom of the compact-SUV range.

Modest torque for a three-row-capable compact SUV; unchanged from the 2022 launch year.

Instrumented figure is from the current-generation 2.5L/CVT S-AWC Outlander, mechanically identical for 2023.

The 2.5L is adequate around town but gets loud and strained when merging or loaded with passengers, trailing turbocharged and hybrid rivals.

The CVT with 8 simulated steps masks some rubber-band feel, but drone under hard acceleration is a common complaint.

Light-duty towing only, typical of the non-turbo compact class.

S-AWC with multiple drive modes is available on every trim above the base ES (and optional on it), a more sophisticated torque-vectoring system than most mainstream rivals' basic AWD.

Roughly 8.4 in of ground clearance and snow/mud drive modes, but no underbody protection or off-road trim; the 2023 Ralliart is appearance-only.

Two choices: the 2.5L gas four and, new for 2023, the next-generation Outlander PHEV; no conventional hybrid or turbo option.

Scored on the S-AWC volume configuration; average for a non-hybrid compact SUV.

Same city rating for both drivetrains.

Unremarkable highway efficiency versus segment gas rivals.

A small 14.5-gal tank limits range below most compact-SUV rivals.

EPA estimate at current standard fuel-price assumptions.

Runs on regular 87-octane unleaded; no premium requirement on any gas trim.

NHTSA rates the 2023 Outlander 4 stars overall in both FWD and S-AWC form, with a 4-star frontal result held back against a 5-star side result. That is a step down from the 5-star overall rating the 2022 launch year carried.

The legacy crashworthiness tests are all Good: small overlap on both sides, original moderate overlap, roof strength and head restraints. But the gas 2023 Outlander earned no award under IIHS's tougher 2023 criteria. The 2022's TSP+ came under the older rules, and the gas-model award only returned for the 2024 model year, as a TSP.

Every trim gets forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning with lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning and auto high beams. But the base ES keeps conventional cruise and no lane keeping; MI-PILOT Assist (ACC Stop & Go with lane keeping) starts at the volume SE trim.

The standard system rates Superior in IIHS's original vehicle-to-vehicle test and in the daytime pedestrian test, but Poor in the harder, higher-speed vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 test. There is no nighttime pedestrian rating.

Blind-spot warning with lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert and rear automatic braking are standard from the base ES, which is ahead of many rivals. The coverage is mainly alert-based, and there is no safe-exit warning.

Lane departure warning is standard on every trim, while lane keep assist, lane departure prevention and centering come with MI-PILOT Assist from the volume SE up. Reviewers find the centering competent and hands-on, though it depends on clear lane markings.

On the volume SE and above, MI-PILOT Assist pairs full-range adaptive cruise (Stop & Go) with Navi-link, which uses map data to slow for curves. The base ES keeps conventional cruise, and reviewers call the system capable rather than polished.

No 2023 Outlander trim offers hands-free driving. MI-PILOT Assist is a hands-on Level 2 system.

IIHS rates the LED headlights Good for 2023. The glare problem that hurt early-build 2022s was corrected before this model year, and automatic high beams are standard.

Sightlines are reasonable for a boxy compact SUV, though the rear pillars are thick. The multi-view camera comes on the volume SE and up, which makes up for most of the blind zones.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good for ease of use. The sliding second row and wide rear doors make car-seat installation easy, while the tight third row is less useful for child seats.

Every 2023 Outlander trim seats seven, which is rare among compact SUVs.

Front headroom is generous without the panoramic roof, which the SE volume trim does not have as standard.

Front legroom is merely average for a compact SUV.

The second row has good headroom for the class.

Second-row legroom is among the best in the compact class.

A standard third row adds flexibility, but at about 19 in of legroom it is for children only, and it has no LATCH anchors.

Space behind the second row trails two-row rivals such as the CR-V and RAV4, because the folded third row sits under the floor.

Maximum cargo space is competitive for the class.

Everyday storage is conventional: console bin, door pockets and rear USB, with second and third rows that fold flat. The 2025 refresh later reworked the console.

The front seats are well padded for long drives, but the rear bench is flat and firm, and reviewers called both rows only 'alright'.

The ride is comfortable over most surfaces, but the stiff tuning lets larger bumps jolt the cabin. Mitsubishi retuned it for 2025.

Wind and road noise are average, but the engine is clearly audible under acceleration. Pre-refresh cars lack the extra sound deadening added for 2025.

Heated front seats arrive at the SE. The SEL adds three-zone climate and heated rear seats, and the Touring package adds a heated steering wheel. The base ES has no heated seats.

The 2023 ES FWD is $900 above the 2022 ES and remains one of the cheapest compact SUVs sold with a standard third row.

The SE with S-AWC is the representative configuration, as for the adjacent model years. Its price is confirmed, but Mitsubishi does not publish the trim mix, so choosing it as the volume trim is an inference.

The simple 2.5L four-cylinder and CVT are cheap to service. Estimates vary widely by source, so this uses a mid-range figure. Edmunds' very high estimate is well outside the others.

Depreciation is the Outlander's weak spot. KBB shows the 2023 has already lost about 37% of its value, and its five-year projection trails the Japanese-brand rivals by about 10 points.

This ties Hyundai and Kia for best in class and beats the 3 yr / 36,000 mi coverage from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru.

This is the top of the band, matched only by Hyundai and Kia. The 10-year term applies to the original owner only.

The 2023 has no complimentary scheduled maintenance, because Mitsubishi's 2 yr / 30,000 mi plan began with the 2024 model year. It does get 5 yr / unlimited-mile roadside assistance with trip-interruption coverage, which is better than the usual 3-year roadside plan.

$32,745 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $16,373) leaves about $16,373 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,173 in total.

2023 is the second, carry-over year of the fourth generation (launched for 2022). The predictors agree on roughly average reliability, better than the unproven launch year but short of the 'Great' rating the 2024 car earned. That puts it mid-band.

Mitsubishi's dependability record swings rather than holding steady. It placed 4th among mass-market brands in the 2023 J.D. Power VDS and was the top mass-market brand in 2024, then fell to 26th in 2025. Consumer Reports does not rank the brand, so the multi-year picture is mid-pack.

The 2023 gas Outlander is covered by two NHTSA campaigns, and both are the same A-IVI infotainment software fault that freezes or blanks the rearview camera. There are no fire, airbag or powertrain recalls for this model year. It is software-only, but the defect needed a second campaign, which keeps the score in the typical band rather than the clean one.

The 2023 gas Outlander carries over the 181-hp 2.5L four and Jatco CVT unchanged from 2022. The engine family has broad high-mileage exposure through the Nissan Rogue and Altima, but Jatco CVTs have a mixed durability record, and owners of 2022-2023 cars report shudder and hesitation. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is a real backstop.

The fourth-generation cabin is widely rated a big step up for the brand and feels near-luxury on upper trims, which get quilted semi-aniline leather. The volume SE/ES trims carry more hard plastic, and the car predates the 2025 interior refresh.

Assembly is generally solid, and Consumer Reports found fit and finish good throughout the cabin. Owners of early fourth-generation cars do report scattered hatch and dash rattles and console trim issues, and there is no strong initial-quality award to lift the score.

The service network is the clearest ownership liability. Mitsubishi had only about 320 US stores in 2023 and has kept shrinking, against roughly 1,000 or more each for Honda and Toyota, so many buyers have no nearby dealer. Satisfaction at the dealers that do exist has historically been respectable.

Repair costs sit right at the compact-SUV norm, and the shared Alliance 2.5L/CVT hardware helps parts supply. Aftermarket support is thinner than for a RAV4 or CR-V, and a small dealer network slows parts logistics.

The 9-in screen is on the small side for 2023.

The interface is simple, but the screen is small, and a 2023 tester had repeated connection drops over both Bluetooth and USB.

Wireless Apple CarPlay comes on the SE and above, but Android Auto is wired-only on every 2023 trim.

Built-in TomTom-based navigation comes on the 9-in unit, but owners rate it poorly and the voice control is basic.

The 10-speaker Bose system, available in the SE Tech and SEL Touring/Premium packages, sounds solid. The base system is six speakers.

The 12.3-in full-digital cluster is standard on the SEL and optional on the SE through the Tech package. The ES and base SE use a 7-in multi-information display.

No over-the-air software updates were offered for the 2023 Outlander. Mitsubishi did not add OTA until the 2026 model.

Mitsubishi Connect provides remote start, lock/unlock, car finder and SOS. It comes with a 24-month free trial on 9-in trims and is a subscription afterward.

USB-A and USB-C ports serve the front and second rows. Wireless charging comes with the 9-in unit on the SE and above.

The SE adds FAST-Key proximity entry, remote start and a power liftgate. The ES uses a remote key fob, and no phone-as-key is offered.

A Multi-View 360-degree camera and front/rear sensors come standard from the SE up. The ES has a rear camera and rear sensors.

A 10.8-in windshield HUD is available only on the SEL, through the Touring or Premium packages.

The second row has good legroom and IIHS rates its LATCH anchors Good. The third row lacks LATCH and suits booster-age kids only.

Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, RCTA and rear AEB are standard, and IIHS crash tests are Good. However, NHTSA rates it only 4 stars overall, and the gas 2023 model earned no IIHS award.

The second row has space, vents and USB, and the SEL adds three-zone climate. With all seats up there is only 11.7 cu ft of cargo space, and the rear seats are flat.

Quick, light steering and a compliant ride make it easy around town. The weak 181-hp engine and CVT feel sluggish when merging.

At 26–27 MPG combined on regular fuel, it is average-to-weak for gas compacts and well behind hybrid rivals near 40 MPG.

The 36.1-ft turning circle and the 360-degree camera on the SE and above make it easy to place in town.

A 2,000-lb tow rating and modest power suit only light utility trailers.

It shares the Nissan Rogue platform and uses a 2.5L engine with a Jatco CVT. It has no fleet or work-duty reputation, and CVT durability is a known segment concern.

There is no household AC outlet on the gas model and no work packages; power is limited to 12V and USB.

MI-PILOT Assist adaptive cruise with Stop & Go (SE and up) and a roughly 377-mile range help on the highway. Engine drone and the stiff ride limit its endurance.

The S-AWC system with Gravel/Snow/Mud modes is a genuine strength. About 8.4 in of ground clearance and a 2,000-lb tow rating limit it beyond gravel.

The second and third rows fold flat for 79.7 cu ft, and roof rails are available. Space behind row two is only 33.5 cu ft.

It feels nimble and secure, with modest body roll. Reviewers found the tuning adequate but not engaging.

Reviewers disagree: some call it agile and well weighted, others light, nervous and too sensitive on center. Mitsubishi retuned it for 2025.

Stopping power is adequate, but the pedal feels soft. No instrumented 2023 gas stopping distance was found.

The 181-hp 2.5L and CVT are smooth at a cruise but feel strained moving 3,800 lb under load.

The engine drones under acceleration, a common complaint about the pre-refresh car.

The turning circle is tight for a seven-seat SUV.

The redesigned cabin has clear physical controls, good forward visibility and an 8-way power driver's seat from the SE up.

Competent but appliance-like; the weak engine drains any enthusiasm.

The $27,895 ES comes with a third row, LED headlights, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning and an 8-inch touchscreen. Rivals like the CR-V and RAV4 cost about the same without the third row. Some ES features, such as the larger screen and dual-zone climate, are held back for higher trims.

The lower trims are strong value: three rows, a class-leading warranty and an upscale cabin at a low price. The value case thins toward the $37k–$41k SEL Premium and 40th Anniversary trims, which keep the same slow 181-hp 2.5L. Weak resale also offsets part of the low purchase price.

It is a wide, well-spaced ladder: ES, SE Special Edition, SE, SE Tech, SEL, SEL with Touring or Premium packages, and the new 40th Anniversary Edition, with FWD or S-AWC on most trims and a separate PHEV line. There is only one gas engine, and there is no hybrid or turbo option.

US sales kept rising in calendar 2023, to roughly 42,500 gas Outlanders plus a record 6,681 PHEVs. That is still only about a tenth of CR-V or RAV4 volume.

Mitsubishi remains one of the weakest mainstream brands in the US, with a thin dealer network and resale well behind Toyota and Honda. The 2022 redesign helped the Outlander's image but has not lifted the brand.

Mitsubishi relies on incentives, and low-APR financing and cash offers on the Outlander were common through 2023 as supply recovered, so few buyers paid sticker by the end of the model year. Early in the model year, while supply was tight, deals were thinner than they became for the 2024.

This is the second year of the all-new fourth generation launched for 2022, on the current Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi CMF-C/D platform. It carries over with new SE Special Edition, SE Tech and 40th Anniversary trims, and the mid-cycle refresh is two years away (2025).

Reviewers praise its cabin, standard third row and warranty, but rank it behind the CR-V, RAV4, Tucson and CX-5, mainly for its slow, coarse 2.5L and CVT. The gas model also lost its IIHS award under the tougher 2023 criteria, after the 2022 had earned a TSP+.