2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Performance

Rather than employ a small-capacity turbocharged engine or a hybrid drivetrain, the Outlander borrows a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder from the Nissan Rogue. Front-wheel-drive is standard, but AWD drive is available across the range. Mitsubishi now offers an all-new Outlander PHEV with much higher outputs than what you get here.

Still, the 2.5-liter four-pot in the ICE range delivers 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. That's the same amount of power Ford gets out of a turbocharged 1.5-liter these days. This car wasn't built with raw performance in mind, as maximum power is only available at 6,000 rpm though peak torque arrives at a more accessible 3,600 rpm. You can see the results in independently tested 0 to 60 mph figures where the Outlander takes a leisurely 8.2 seconds to get to 60 mph. As for towing, the news isn't great. Mitsubishi claims a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs for the entire range. This is way below par, as some competitors, like the Jeep Cherokee, can tow up to 4,500 lbs.

The 2.5-liter engine in the Outlander produces 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Outlander models are available in front- and all-wheel-drive, all using the same CVT transmission. Mitsubishi calls it an eight-speed sport mode CVT, and even puts paddle shifters on the steering wheel in case you want to play with the ratios. We left the transmission to its own devices, as the whole concept of "shifting" a CVT seems pointless to us. The CVT simulates gear changes, but we could tell it isn't a true automatic. This drivetrain is not what we'd call "sporting," though it feels adequate for relaxed driving. You also have to work the Outlander's engine hard to move quickly, and if you mash the throttle, the noise sounds less than inspiring. Just don't rush the Outlander, and it won't feel underpowered.

The Mitsubishi Outlander's uninspiring powertrain is at least good from a fuel economy standpoint. According to the EPA, FWD models are capable of 24/31/27 mpg city/highway/combined, while the AWD models can do 24/30/26 mpg. We narrowly beat that average with 27 mpg combined in our testing.

The 14.5-gallon tank is on the small side, however. That means a theoretical range of 377 miles for the AWD models and 392 miles for the FWD variants.