Sporty GSR joins Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV range

An injection of GSR sportiness is the key change to the 2021 edition of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, along with bi-directional (vehicle-to-home) charging and a handful of new advanced safety features as standard for all models.

Rolling into dealerships next week, the upgraded MY21 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV AWD has increased in price by $600 for the entry-level ES model and by $100 for the flagship Exceed model, to $47,990 and $56,490 plus on-road costs respectively.

The Outlander ES ADAS model has been phased out due to an upgrade in safety across the PHEV range, with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic high-beam now standard equipment on all variants.

But the major talking point will be the addition of the new Outlander GSR model grade (priced at $52,490 and positioned in the idle of the range), with which Mitsubishi is hoping to bait people who want more driving enjoyment.

The MY21 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR gets Bilstein dampers and stiffer springs, as well as a rear spoiler, unique 18-inch alloys and micro-suede seat trim with faux leather side bolsters.

However, there is no change to powertrain performance. That means the GSR gets the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (94kW/199Nm) as regular Outlander PHEV models, which together with front (60kW/137Nm) and rear (70kW/195Nm) electric motors delivers maximum combined outputs of 157kW and 332Nm.

A small 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery provides around 50km of EV driving range, and the battery can be charged in around seven hours on a normal power point or 25 minutes via a fast-charger.

The Outlander PHEV GSR has darker visuals borrowed from the previous Black Edition, and it stands out more than the ES thanks also to the deletion of the roof rails on the starter model.

The sportier new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is nothing like the pocket-rocket Lancers which wore the GSR badge in the past, but Mitsubishi says there is good reason to apply the badge, which these days also graces the Triton ute.

“It is the most powerful of all Outlanders, so it makes sense to offer it on the PHEV,” the senior manager of product strategy at Mitsubishi Australia, Owen Thomson, tells carsales.

“There is a group of medium SUV buyers who like a car with a bit more of a sporty flavour. For the first time it has the Bilstein suspension package, and the springs are 11 per cent stiffer in the front and five per cent rear in the rear.

“It’s for people who are getting out and doing stuff, and from Monday to Friday they don’t pay for petrol. They are generally more active and taking adventures.”

Thompson wouldn’t be drawn on the potential for other GSR models in the Mitsubishi line-up.

On top of the safety kit for the ES models, the Outlander PHEV GSR adds blind spot warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and front parking sensors.

Top-spec Outlander PHEV Exceed models get the full bag of tricks, by adding an unintended acceleration mitigation system and a 360-degree surround-view parking camera.

The plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV’s other big upgrade is two-way charging on the home power grid and its ability to be operated as a battery reserve in suburbia.

After five years of underwhelming sales in Australia, with just 3347 delivered since March of 2014, the plug-in Outlander’s latest update is intended to improve its profile and relevance as more shoppers look to hybrids.

The late-life update for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV comes just months before the Japanese brand is due to reveal its all-new, next-generation Outlander in early 2021, ahead of its Australian showroom debut in late 2021.

PHEV versions of the all-new Outlander could also get a larger 20kWh battery to deliver a 70km electric-only range.

Thomson wouldn’t talk about the next-gen Outlander, instead focussing on changing the Australian perception of hybrids.

“Vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home [charging] will be a reality in Australia. Outlander owners will be able to access that,” he said of the new two-way charging set-up on the Outlander PHEV.

“Bi-directional charging is an emerging technology as energy storage. By the end of 2021 we should see three players in that space,” he added.

Mitsubishi is doing drive-away deals for the release of the 2021 Outlander PHEV models, with ES, GSR and Exceed models pegged at $51,990, $56,490 and $60,990 alike.

Mitsubishi offers a 10-year warranty for people who stay inside the factory dealer network for servicing, pricing for which is capped at $4890 over the first decade of ownership.

How much does the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV cost?
ES – $47,990
GSR – $52,490
Exceed – $56,490
* Prices exclude on-road costs