The Outlander is one of the smallest and most affordable three-row crossovers. Mitsubishi has made it better over the past few years, and the 2025 model is much nicer than its predecessors. But even with the improvements, it has a tough time standing out in the crowded compact SUV class. Still, it will appeal to those with small kids who want a reasonably priced vehicle with a third row.
Base Price: $38,795
As Tested: $45,930
Horsepower: 181
Mileage: 24 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined
The Outlander was fully redesigned for 2022 and gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2025 that includes some exterior tweaks, an updated suspension, improved tech, and better infotainment and sound systems.
It comes in four trims: ES, SE, SEL and Platinum. Starting prices range from $29,645 to $43,145. Front-wheel drive is standard and Mitsubishi’s S-AWC all-wheel drive is available on the three lower trims. All-wheel drive is standard on the Platinum trim.
There’s room for up to seven passengers in three rows of seating; however, the third row is very tight and suitable only for small kids, and it cuts into cargo space.
The Outlander keeps the same powertrain, a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that makes 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. On paper, this doesn’t sound like much for a three-row crossover, and that’s the case when you’re behind the wheel.
The Outlander is definitely not quick and is, in fact, underpowered compared to many rivals. The engine can groan when you hit the accelerator, and you’ll want to plan ahead for speeding up when merging or passing, as it may take longer than you’d expect. This is especially noticeable when the Outlander is loaded up with passengers and cargo. But the Outlander does have a comfortable and composed ride and is pleasant to drive around town. Mitsubishi has updated the steering and suspension, and the Outlander feels planted when cornering. There are several drive modes that adjust powertrain and transmission settings for different driving conditions: Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud (available on AWD models only).
Fuel economy is decent for a three-row crossover. EPA ratings for the front-wheel drive models are 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with a combined rating of 27. Models with AWD get 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with a combined rating of 26. I got 25 mpg during my week with my AWD tester with a mix of city and highway driving.
The cabin is a strong suit for the 2025 Outlander. It’s attractive and well-designed. Mitsubishi says the interior reflects Japanese “omotenashi”, a word that can loosely be translated to English as “hospitality.” Most materials are nice, although there are some hard plastics as you’d expect at this price point. All trims get a large 12.3-inch touchscreen and Yamaha audio. Upper trims rival some luxury brands with quilted leather seating. The first two rows are spacious with good leg- and headroom. Seats in both rows are comfortable and supportive, even on long drives. The third row is a different story – it’s cramped and only suitable for smaller kids.
Standard features include remote keyless entry, rearview camera, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, seven-inch driver information display, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, eight-speaker Yamaha audio system, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, USB ports, voice commands, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Available features include a head-up display, rear-camera mirror, tri-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, real leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated rear seats, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12-speaker Yamaha audio system, additional USB ports, wireless device charging, universal garage door opener, and a sunroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, driver-attention monitoring, and rear-seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-jam assist (controls braking, acceleration and steering at slow speeds), traffic-sign recognition, and front parking sensors.
The infotainment system with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard on all trims. The system is user-friendly with logically arranged menus. But the graphics look a bit dated and the system can sometimes be slow to respond. There are several handy physical controls for volume, tuning, climate settings and the heated and cooled seats. It’s so nice not to have to go through the touchscreen to make these adjustments.
Cargo space is good with the third row folded, and below average with the third row in place. Behind the third row, there are only 10.9 cubic feet of storage. That grows to 30.6 cubes with the third row folded, and a generous 64.3 cubes with the second and third rows folded. The second row has a 40:20:40 split so that long items can be transported. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
The Outlander has an excellent warranty: 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain plus two years of limited maintenance.
The good:
Standard three-row seating in a smaller crossover
Comfortable, composed ride
Decent fuel economy
Many standard and available features and tech
User-friendly infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Excellent warranty
The not-so-good:
Sluggish performance
Cramped third row
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $38,795. Moonstone Gray paint with black roof is $795. The Premium Package is $3,050 and includes a 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system, synthetic leather door inserts with quilting in Brick Brown, semi-aniline leather appointed seating surfaces, 10.8-inch head-up display, and digital rearview mirror with rear camera. The tonneau cover is $210. The Welcome Package is $185 and includes a tough up paint pen, console tray mat, carpet floor mats, and vehicle manuals binder. The Launch Package is $1,400 and includes “Outlander” scuff plates, spoiler, door ground illumination with Mitsubishi logo, and black hood emblem. The destination fee is $1,495 bringing the grand total to $45,930.
Bottom line:
Mitsubishi continues to make the Outlander better. The refreshed 2025 Outlander is appealing to those who want a relatively small three-row crossover that won’t break the bank. The Outlander has a smooth ride, comfortable and attractive cabin, and comes well equipped. Yes, the third row is cramped but it’ll work for families with small kids. Performance is definitely not a strong suit, but the Outlander is still worth a look, especially by budget-conscious families.
