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Review
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander review
Andrea Matthews
July 10, 2025
The Mitsubishi Outlander has been updated for 2025 with a series of changes focused on improving its on-road manners as well as enhancing its in-cabin ambience.
Already one of Australia's favourite SUVs, the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander model hit the spot for over 27,000 buyers last year, making it the second best-selling SUV for the year behind the Toyota RAV4. While it doesn't often make headlines, the Outlander is a proven performer, meeting the needs of family buyers for over 20 years.
Available as both a five-seat vehicle and a 5+2 (Mitsubishi stresses the Outlander is not a full seven-seater), the Outlander has offered the flexibility of a third row in its range-topping Exceed and Exceed Tourer up until this latest update. Now, both high-spec models are reduced to five-seat models, the extra seats replaced with the convenience of a full-size spare alloy wheel. (Seven-seat options remain in lower-series models.)
Mitsubishi says this change has been made in direct response to motorists looking for the surety of the full-size wheel when taking road trips or travelling frequently on Australian country roads. It's just one of a range of enhancements made to the range due to direct customer feedback, and we reckon all the updates have delivered a mid-size SUV which continues to earn the right to sit towards the top of buyers' lists.
The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander has been improved for Australian road conditions.
How much does a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander cost?
The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offers a broad range of price points to meet the needs of most buyers. The range starts at $39,990 plus on-road costs for the front-wheel drive ES model and tops out at $57,990 (plus on-road costs) for the all-wheel drive Exceed Tourer.
It's important to note that we're only talking here about the petrol-powered Outlander models as the updated plug-in hybrid versions will not arrive in Australia until September. Expect these variants to carry a significant price premium over equivalent petrol-powered versions once they go on sale.
Each Outlander ICE grade is powered by the same 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and most grades are available as both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants. The two exceptions are the Exceed and Exceed Tourer, which are available exclusively as all-wheel drive models.
On test is the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed Tourer, packed with the most gear and wearing the biggest price tag. It's distinguished from the rest of the line-up with a two-tone paint job, shares a 20-inch wheel design with the Exceed and Aspire grades, and receives updated front and rear bumper designs that are an evolution of the Outlander's popular exterior styling.
Like the rest of the range, the Outlander Exceed Tourer features an upgraded infotainment system with large 12-inch colour touchscreen and digital driver information display. It also receives Mitsubishi Connect, the brand's new connected car service which debuts on the Outlander (with the exception of ES models). This technology enables over-the-air updates, remote operation of heating and door locking functions, and the embedded SIM facilitates valuable safety technology such as eCall which can connect the vehicle with emergency assistance if required, as well as calling for breakdown assistance from within the vehicle.
Exclusive to the Exceed Tourer are luxury touches including revised single-tone brown leather upholstery, new massaging front seats and heated rear seats. Where the entire range gains a bespoke Yamaha premium sound system, designed specifically for the Outlander, the Exceed Tourer boasts extra audio firepower in the form of a 12-speaker, 1650W Ultimate system.
Capped price servicing is available across the Mitsubishi Outlander range with visits set at 15,000km/12 months. If you choose to service at one of Mitsubishi's dealers, expect to pay either $320 or $370 per service for the first five years, depending on kilometres travelled. Servicing costs are elevated for years six-thru-10, with costs ranging between $360 and $680.
The Outlander is supported by Mitsubishi's conditional 5+5 extended warranty offer. The standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is extended to 10 years if you choose to have all services carried out at a Mitsubishi dealer.
A new paint colour, Moonstone Grey, is available on the 2025 Outlander.
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander exterior design
Design changes to the updated Outlander are definitely evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but that's because buyers tell Mitsubishi they love the way it looks. The fenders and bonnet are now manufactured from steel, contributing to a reduction in noise intrusion, while the entire range has received an updated front and rear bumper design.
In total, 12 paint options are available across the range while a new paint colour, Moonstone Grey, has been introduced to Aspire, Exceed and Exceed Tourer grades, where it is paired with a black roof in the Exceed Tourer models.
The Mitsubisi Outlander Exceed Tourer has received an updated upholstery finish.
The cup holders have been relocated to be easier to use, and free up more storage space.
A digital rearview monitor is available on higher-grade Outlander models.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed Tourer has an effective and easy-to-read head-up display.
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What is the Mitsubishi Outlander like inside?
Fresh revisions to the interior of the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander have produced a cabin which continues to deliver for family buyers but also feels sophisticated and well finished.
The Exceed Tourer is now available in simplified brown leather upholstery, the front seats are now ventilated as well as heated, and gain a massaging function, while rear seat passengers benefit from a pair of heated seats. Rear passengers also benefit from additional support in the seat cushions which stop them from slipping across the seat through corners, a criticism of ours when we drove the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV last year.
Across the range, key areas have been reconfigured to be more ergonomic to operate. This includes the cup holders which have been relocated due to driver feedback and are now easier to access.
Moving the cup holders has freed up 45 per cent more space in the centre storage bin, while a second storage bin has been added under the glove box which is large enough to accommodate the vehicle handbook, offering up more space in the glove box.
The larger infotainment screen is easy to use and quicker than the outgoing model, while there's a nice combination of dials and buttons on the console and steering wheel that control key functions. Even the volume button has been located in the centre of the dash so it's easier to reach. The result is a car that's intuitive to operate, meaning the driver can focus on the main game, instead of hunting for controls for functions like the heating.
Boot space is generous in the Outlander Exceed Tourer. Four airline cabin bags fit across its width, with plenty more room for other gear. The removal of the third row also gives space for the full-size spare wheel which will be of interest to anyone who has been caught out by a space-saver or tyre inflator kit.
The big change for Exceed and Exceed Tourer is the removal of the third row in favour of a full-size spare wheel.
Rear passengers benefit from two heated seats in the second row of the Exceed Tourer.
A purpose-designed Yamaha sound system offers crisp, clear audio.
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Is the Mitsubishi Outlander good to drive?
In the spirit of improving the Outlander, the Australian team hosted Mitsubishi engineers from Japan to refine the way that the SUV performs, particularly on our country roads. A route from Adelaide to Normanville through Maclaren Vale in South Australia presented the team with a variety of road surfaces, from pothole-riddled tarmac to twisting unsealed roads. Our roads are so challenging that the view of global engineers is that if a car drives well here, it will drive well everywhere.
In our reviews, we often focus on what's referred to as ride and handling by the professionals, but you might wonder why that matters. A car with good engineering, suspension, wheel and tyre choices can display great ride and handling characteristics, which means it is well balanced and avoids the jiggly, jittery ride you can get if a car becomes unsettled on poor roads. The outcome engineers are seeking is a vehicle which is less 'busy', where the way it drives isn't intrusive but rather feels composed and allows you to focus on the road ahead.
Mitsubishi Australia says that the outgoing Outlander faced criticism for the way that it handled some road conditions. They put some of that down to the fact the car was developed during COVID, so wasn't able to be fully assessed in Australia. This time around, a new electric power steering tune, revised suspension settings including recalibrated spring rates, a new 20-inch wheel and a revised tyre choice – Bridgestone Alenza replaces the Ecopia tyre on the larger wheels – have all been added to Outlander to improve its on-road manners.
Mitsubishi was so confident in the improvements that it brought the previous generation for back-to-back comparisons at the launch of the vehicle, on the same test roads in SA. Having driven the pair in close succession, the result of the most recent updates is an SUV which does feel more compliant, has reduced 'busyness' and is a pleasure to pilot. The large rims do not compromise the ride too much, and there's little pitch and roll through corners. Steering feel is less vague so delivers better feedback.
If anything, the 135kW/244Nm powertrain is the weakest link in the Mitsubishi's arsenal; it's fine for driving around town but lacks responsiveness at speed. Changes have been made to reduce the noise from the transmission, a common criticism when a continuously variable transmission is loaded up, which have reduced the noise somewhat. But I found the trick to reduce it further is using Mitsubishi's Super-All Wheel Control selector to choose Tarmac mode, which makes the engine and transmission more urgent, delivering a driving experience that is better matched to the tuned suspension.
It's worth noting as well that the Super All-Wheel Control system includes functions such as 'gravel' which improves traction on loose surfaces, delivering a more confident driving experience.
As more manufacturers introduce mild hybrid systems, or focus on turbocharging petrol engines, normally aspirated engines such as the 2.5-litre employed in the Outlander start to feel a bit old fashioned, and lacking in spirit. Claimed fuel consumption at 8.1L/100km is not as compelling as the hybrids employed in the Toyota RAV4 or Hyundai Tucson, but we were at least able to get close to the claimed figure on our test drive.
The 2025 Outlander feels more accomplished on the road.
How safe is the Mitsubishi Outlander?
The current Mitsubishi Outlander has a five-star ANCAP rating based on testing conducted in 2022, which will carry over to this updated version. The inclusion of new digital technologies such as eCall and driver attention monitoring will help to future-proof it ahead of changes to ANCAP protocols next year.
I'm happy to report the driver attention monitoring function is significantly improved over the first iteration we experienced at the launch of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton. This time around, the system does still alert the driver if it senses too much time has been spent looking away from the road, but it initially gives a visual cue rather than an audible one, so it's enough to advise the driver but not too much that the passenger becomes concerned.
Added to all Outlander grades is a 360-degree camera with top-down view which makes reversing the SUV easy, while a digital rearview mirror using a rear-mounted camera is added to Exceed and Exceed Tourer variants. The same camera is used to deliver enhanced accuracy from the rear emergency braking system.
Additional safety and security functions are enabled through Mitsubishi Connect including anti-theft notification, automatic collision notification, breakdown assistance, curfew alert, geofence alert, SOS emergency assistance, speed alert and tow-away notification.
Australia has a love affair with medium SUVs and the Outlander is one of our favourites. Last year it came in second behind the phenomenally popular Toyota RAV4, and this year so far has been bumped down by the Mazda CX-5, but this is largely due to Mitsubishi running out of last year's model.
One in five new cars sold in Australia are mid-size SUVs and it's also the most competitive segment too, with over 60 individual models on offer. Japanese brands remain the dominant force in the market, closely followed by the Korean marques, Kia and Hyundai, but all established brands are being challenged by newcomers like the BYD Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV, and the GWM Haval H6.
With such innovation and competition in market, a vehicle needs to stand out, and on first sampling, the revisions at the top of the Outlander range have certainly helped to keep it in contention. But the market is shifting – a new Toyota RAV4 including its first PHEV version has been announced for next year and Subaru is readying the launch of its the 2026 Forester hybrid which is a direct competitor when it comes to tackling gravel roads. So, today, the Outlander compares favourably with its competition, but its changes may not be interesting enough to get dyed-in-the-wool Toyota fans moving ahead of the RAV4's introduction in 2026.
The new 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander has a lot in its favour. The changes and enhancements made over the outgoing model are all worthwhile, and have delivered an SUV which deserves a position towards the top of your test drive list. It's a comfortable SUV that's easy to drive, and in a sea of newcomers favouring fashion over function, it feels refreshingly normal.
The Exceed Tourer offers plenty of creature comforts which will appeal to families with older children, or couples looking for decent space and a touch of refinement. It drives well, and despite the engine and transmission combo being a bit lacklustre, it's not a bad unit, and it certainly is tried-and-tested.
Add in the new safety technology and stonking Yamaha sound system, and the Outlander presents as a much more interesting package.
Another reason to pick it is Mitsubishi's extensive dealer network – it's the second largest in the country behind Toyota which means aftersales support should be decent in the event you have a warranty claim to make or service appointment to book in. If you choose to service with Mitsubishi you'll also have the benefit of its 10-year warranty.
As more manufacturers fight for your attention, don't overlook the importance of an established service and parts network to look after you on the road.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
