Mitsubishi Outlander review
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a spacious and practical seven-seat SUV that offers a lot of car for the money, especially on the used market.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
6th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a large and practical SUV that’s best known for its pioneering plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version. However, standard petrol and diesel models offer a more affordable route into Outlander ownership, and crucially, they come with seven seats as standard. Sold in its third generation from 2013, it’s a car that majors on space, value, and reliability. While it may not have the sophisticated interior or sharp driving dynamics of some rivals, it delivers as a robust and roomy family workhorse. With plenty of standard equipment and the confidence of four-wheel drive, the Outlander is a sensible choice for families who need maximum space and versatility.
Pros
- Seven seats come as standard
- Spacious interior and a large boot
- Generous amount of standard equipment
Cons
- Interior feels dated and uses some cheap plastics
- Petrol engine can feel slow and is thirsty
- Lacks the modern safety tech of many rivals
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The interior of the Outlander is functional and straightforward, but it’s starting to show its age compared to more modern rivals. The layout is simple, but the materials used feel a bit disappointing, with plenty of hard, dark plastics that don't give it a very premium feel.
That said, the technology is decent for a car of its era. Most recent models come with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This allows you to connect your smartphone and use your own navigation and music apps, which is a big plus. However, the system itself can feel a little clunky and less integrated than the slicker setups found in rivals.
Comfort
As a family SUV, the Outlander provides a reasonably comfortable experience. The ride is generally soft, and it does a good job of absorbing bumps, making it a relaxing car for daily journeys. The seats are supportive and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver to find a comfortable position.
It’s a car that’s easy to drive, with good visibility thanks to the high driving position. On the motorway it cruises along happily, although you might notice a bit of engine noise, particularly from the CVT automatic gearbox in the petrol model when you accelerate hard.
Quality
Mitsubishi has a reputation for building tough, reliable vehicles, and the Outlander feels like it’s built to withstand the rigours of family life. While the cabin materials might not feel luxurious, everything feels solid and durable. It’s a no-nonsense interior that prioritises function over flair. If you’re looking for a car that will shrug off spills and scrapes without any fuss, the Outlander is a good bet.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
This is where the Mitsubishi Outlander really comes into its own. It’s a very spacious car, with plenty of head and legroom in the front and middle rows. Adults can sit comfortably in the second row, making it a great choice for families with older children.
The big selling point for the petrol and diesel models is the standard inclusion of seven seats. The third row of two seats folds up from the boot floor. Like in most SUVs of this size, these rearmost seats are best suited for children or for occasional use on short journeys by adults, but having them gives you brilliant flexibility.
Boot space
With the third row of seats folded away, the Outlander has a very generous 591-litre boot. That’s more than enough for a big family holiday, a couple of buggies, or all the kit for a weekend camping trip. The boot opening is wide, making it easy to load bulky items.
When you have all seven seats in use, the boot space is significantly reduced, with just enough room for a few shopping bags or a couple of school rucksacks. When you need maximum load space, folding both the second and third rows of seats down creates a huge, van-like load area.
Versatility
The Outlander’s seven seats make it an incredibly versatile family car. It can switch from being a five-seater with a huge boot to a seven-person carrier in a matter of seconds. Combined with standard four-wheel drive, it’s a car that can handle whatever family life, or the British weather, can throw at it. There are also plenty of useful storage areas around the cabin for keeping things tidy.
Driving
Driving experience
The driving experience in the Outlander is safe and predictable, rather than exciting. It’s designed to be a comfortable and easy-to-drive family SUV, and it does that job well. The steering is light, which helps with parking and manoeuvring in town, and the soft suspension provides a comfortable ride.
It doesn’t feel as sharp or agile as some rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq, and there can be a bit of body roll in corners. The standard four-wheel-drive system provides extra grip and confidence, especially in wet or slippery conditions, which is a real bonus for a family car.
Performance
If you’re looking at a newer Outlander, the only engine option is a 2.0-litre petrol. It produces 150bhp, but because it’s not turbocharged, it can feel a bit sluggish, especially when the car is fully loaded. The CVT automatic gearbox it’s paired with can also make the engine sound strained under acceleration.
If you’re looking at older used models, the 2.2-litre diesel is a much better choice. It has more pulling power, which makes the car feel more relaxed and capable, especially for towing or long motorway journeys. It was available with a manual or a conventional automatic gearbox.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
Running costs are a bit of a mixed bag. The later 2.0-litre petrol model is quite thirsty, with an official fuel economy figure of just 32.5mpg. Its high CO2 emissions also mean it will be more expensive for annual road tax.
The older 2.2-litre diesel engine is much more economical, with an official figure of around 48.7mpg, making it a much cheaper car to run, particularly for those who cover a lot of miles. Of course, for the ultimate in low running costs, the Outlander PHEV is the star, but it costs more to buy and only has five seats.
Value for money
This is a real strength for the petrol and diesel Outlander. It offers a huge amount of space and equipment for the money. New prices were competitive, but it’s on the used market where it represents a real bargain. You can pick up a practical, seven-seat, four-wheel-drive family SUV for a very reasonable price.
Standard equipment is generous across the range, with even entry-level models getting an eight-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, and a reversing camera.
Reliability & Warranty
Mitsubishi has a strong reputation for building reliable and durable cars, and the Outlander is no exception. It feels like a tough, well-engineered vehicle that should provide years of hassle-free motoring. From new, it came with a five-year, 62,500-mile warranty, so many used examples will still have some manufacturer cover remaining.
Safety
Safety features
The Outlander’s age means it lags behind more modern rivals when it comes to the latest advanced safety assistance systems. Many models don’t come with autonomous emergency braking or lane-keep assist, features that are now standard on most new cars.
Top-spec Exceed models do get a bit more kit, including blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, which helps when reversing out of parking spaces. All models come with multiple airbags and electronic stability control to keep you safe. The Outlander PHEV version scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests back in 2012.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The trim range for the latest petrol Outlander is simple, with just two options: Design and Exceed. The Design model is very well equipped, with 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, a reversing camera, and heated front seats.
Upgrading to the top-spec Exceed trim adds luxuries like full leather upholstery, an electric driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, LED headlights, and a 360-degree camera system. It also includes satellite navigation and the extra safety features of blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Engines
The engine choice in later Outlanders is very simple: there’s just one. It’s a 2.0-litre, non-turbocharged petrol engine that produces 150bhp. It comes as standard with a CVT automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
If you look at used models from before 2019, you can also find the Outlander with a 2.2-litre diesel engine. This unit produces 147bhp but has significantly more torque (pulling power) than the petrol, making it feel more powerful in everyday driving. It was available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.