The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander: More Premium Details But Still The Most Affordable 3-Row SUV

The compact Mitsubishi Outlander 3-row SUV, at 185.8” long with seating for 7 remains the most affordable of its competitors with a price starting at $29,645. It is still powered by a four-cylinder direct injection engine that generates 181 HP and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. 

That it has a third row is probably its most notable detail, but it’s also notable that this is the smallest SUV with a 3rd row. Most buyers should considered this a convenience row rather than seating for daily use; it’s best suited for passengers shorter than 5’ tall. And, there is not an option for captains chairs to make the 3rd row more accessible or comfortable, but keep reading for the ways that the brands designers did think about how to make it easier to use.

Read: The World’s Best-Selling Plug-In Hybrid SUV: 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

While Mitsubishi increased the price a bit—about $1,250 over the starting price of the 2024 model—the increase represents more standard features added to all models, including the entry level EX, including making the 12.3” multimedia screen with navigation, voice activated assistance (in addition to the button on the steering wheel) standard. They also added a premium Yamaha sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED interior lighting, 3 front seat USB ports and a 5 year trial of Mitsubishi Connect, which allows you to send directions to the car and remote start it, among other things.

There’s also a newly redesigned center console with a new drive mode selector, relocated cup holders, a more powerful wireless phone charger and on the exterior, a few very subtly enhanced details.

Read: 9 of the Most Affordable 3-Row SUVs Deliver More for Your Money

One of the key areas that Mitsubishi found it could improve (thanks to buyer suggestions, perhaps?) was in driving dynamics, or how it feels on the road. The natural inclination of a 4-cylinder that delivers 181 HP and torque with a CVT, or continuously variable transmission, is to feel slow to respond under pressure, both accelerating onto the highway and more importantly, when slowing around a curve or accelerating up a hill. 

So I went to Mulholland Drive to find out. Getting to this famed two-lane road curve-fest, home to the Hollywood sign and billion-dollar views, required climbing up Laurel Canyon, much of it in traffic: stop, go, speed up, slow down, repeat. The Outlander handled that part with aplomb. It never felt sluggish even when traffic cleared and I could pick up speed.

On the curvy bends of Mulholland, which I used the onboard navigation to get to, the Outlander performed respectably too, though not with the embrace you get from a Porsche on roads like this. The Outlander, which was engineered to keep its frame flatter on curves and toss its passengers around less, did that. 

While much of the challenge is up to the driver, at posted speed limits I can see not worrying about spilling your coffee. Just don’t take a sip when coming to a straightaway; you know that’s just when the driver will floor the accelerator and you’ll have a mess to clean up, though not at the fault of the car.

This may be best part of the upgrade: the 12.3” multimedia screen with navigation and Apple CarPlay is standard on all models, and the digital driver display and head up display are options on mid-level trims (and worth the upgrade). Higher trims also have a surround view camera system.

The multimedia system has been redesigned with new graphics and functions, though its notable that many of the functions you might expect to find on the main screen are only available on the driver’s display, such as driver assist systems. 

But it’s the standard navigation system, a Google-operated system that uses Tom Tom maps, that is so nice: you can use “Hey Mitsubishi” voice activated assistance to set a destination and then it shows up on the main screen, in the driver’s display if you’d like and on the HUD. Apple CarPlay only displays on the main screen. 

We were excited to see, but not to drive, the Outlander Trail Edition, a sportier, more rugged version of the Outlander. It’s notable for black cladding along all the lower edges and a lack of chrome throughout; there’s even a carbon-fiber-like finish on the inside that adds a really premium feel. 

Based on the SE model, the Trail Edition has a nice array of standard features including 18” wheels, all terrain tires, roof rails, all wheel drive and an anti-glare decal on the hood. 

The Trail Edition’s features makes it capable on an off-pavement trail but it also looks really nice; the black accents add a lot to the Outlander’s style. 

By resisting the urge to overdo it with upgrades and by exercising a little restraint, the Outlander remains not just one of the most affordable SUVs on the road, but the most economical of all 3-row SUVs. 

Savings are found by maintaining the 4-cylinder direct injection engine, its 181 HP and the CVT transmission, all of which contribute significant savings. It’s worth noting that the size of this engine lends nicely to the size of this car, though when fully loaded with passengers, gear or both, the engine may feel strained.

Then, fewer options also contribute to efficiencies, as do the simplicity of the car’s tech. Mitsubishi tried to focus on what matters most and skip the rest. 

There is good news and mixed news for families considering the Mitsubishi Outlander as their main car. While it’s amply sized for four passengers, the 3rd row is small and best suited for shorter passengers, especially if center row passengers are tall.

I measured for kids car seats and found plenty of space for rear facing child car seats; behind my seat (I’m 5’8”) I had about 31” of space, which gives a bit of flexibility in installing a rear facing seat. A forward facing seat will fit with no issues. I also found that the rear doors open at a nearly 90 degree angle which is ideal for putting seats and kids in the center seat. There are only two full sets of LATCHes; they are in the center row outboard seats. There are 3 upper tethers on the backs of the center row seats but no upper tethers on the 3rd row seats, so they are not ideal for car seats.

Despite the small size of the 3rd row, Mitsubishi was thoughtful about its use. First, the center row is on a rail and slides forward and back to accommodate 3rd row passengers. Then, the middle seat back in the center row folds down to provide cup holders and an arm rest. It also lends to a more open, less claustrophobic feel in the 3rd row. In all, those who need to seat passengers in the 3rd row will find flexibility to make it work.

The entry level ES model now comes with a nice list of standard features, and each model in the lineup is offered with more details at each level. The SEL model, for an $8K upgrade ads leatherette and the digital driver display, two details I thought really made the upgrade worthwhile. Here’s how the Outlander shapes up by trim:

• ES model, with the 12.3” display with navigation and voice activated assistance, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, Mitsubishi Connect with 5 year trial, Yamaha premium 8-speaker sound, LED lighting, 3 USB ports in front seat, 18” wheels, 3rd row, cloth seating with driver lumbar support and heated front seats in AWD models starts at $29,645;
• SE Model adds 20” wheels, adaptive cruise, hands free liftgate, upgraded wireless phone charger, rear USB ports, heated front seats, heated folding mirrors and leatherette seating, priced tom $32,395
• Add the Tech Package to the SE, with Yamaha Ultimate 12-speaker sound, panoramic sunroof and a 12.3” digital driver display, for $3,200
• SEL adds leather seating, aluminum pedals, heated steering wheel, vented front seats, heated rear seats, rear door sunshades for $36,995
• Add the Premium package to SEL and get head up display, premium leather, a  digital rear view mirror and a two-tone roof for and additional $3,050
• Platinum edition adds black diamond paint and silver roof, light gray leather, digital rear view mirror, Yamaha Ultimate sound system, AWD and puddle lights for $43,145
• All wheel drive is an $1,800 addition on all but the Platinum model

In all, I can see why the Mitsubishi Outlander SE will be the volume model, and if I were go to that route I’d add the tech package. An additional $1,400 will get you to the SEL which has real leather, rear door sunshades and heated rear seats, details that will make your rear seat passengers feel pretty good. The Trail Edition gets my vote for best looking model, however; the black accents and toned-down chrome add a very nice aesthetic (and here, all weather mats that protect the carpet in the cargo area are a nice touch, too).

Either way, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a fun little SUV that is easy to drive, a pleasure to be in and comfortable for conversations in any seat, even in the 3rd row as long as the middle seat/arm rest is down. The configurability and cargo space, plus all the premium features mean you don’t need the company of Conan O’Brien to find a reason to grin.