2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: First Look

Competes with: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Looks like: Familiar Outlander styling hides an advanced drivetrain

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter gas engine and two electric motors powered by a lithium-ion battery pack; all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Fall 2016

CARS.COM — Mitsubishi is set to broaden its midsize Outlander SUV lineup with the debut of the 2017 Outlander PHEV at the New York International Auto Show. Featuring the same styling updates that the Outlander received last year, the plug-in hybrid version has standard all-wheel drive and features a drivetrain that consists of a 2.0-liter gas engine and two electric motors. Already on sale in Europe, the Outlander PHEV is scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships in the fall.

Related: More 2016 New York Auto Show Coverage

Exterior

The Outlander PHEV’s exterior styling doesn’t differ that much from the regular Outlander; it has the same slim grille and vertical chrome bumpers that the Outlander adopted for the 2016 model year. There’s an EV badge on the front fender and the alloy wheels have a different design, but the Outlander PHEV easily could pass for the gas-only Outlander.

Under the Hood

Besides the SUV’s 2.0-liter gas engine, the front and rear axles each have an electric motor powered by the 12-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Mitsubishi says the Outlander PHEV will have high electric range and combined mpg, but EPA estimates aren’t available yet.

The plug-in hybrid drivetrain has three operating modes: fully electric, electric operation with the gas engine working as a generator and, lastly, power from the gas engine with electric-motor assistance. Like traditional hybrids, the Outlander PHEV has regenerative brakes that capture kinetic energy to replenish the battery pack.

Safety

Available features include a surround-view camera system, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and a blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert.