2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vs 2025 Toyota Highlander

$40,445 · Crossover

$40,320 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The battle lines are drawn between plug-in efficiency and conventional power in the 2025 crossover segment. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV grabs attention first with its electrifying potential, offering a substantial 38 miles of pure electric range before reverting to its 26 MPG combined rating, starting at an MSRP of $40,445. This all-wheel-drive machine focuses on clean urban commutes. Conversely, the Toyota Highlander, priced slightly lower at $40,320, unleashes a punchier 265 horsepower from its conventional engine paired with a responsive 8-speed automatic transmission, achieving 29 MPG on the highway. While the Outlander is slightly shorter at 185.4 inches, the Highlander offers superior passenger and cargo volume, boasting 16 cu ft compared to the PHEV's 12.8 cu ft. The choice is between PHEV convenience and established gasoline performance leadership.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Outlander PHEV’s 38 miles of electric range is perfect for short, emissions-free daily trips without relying on gas stations.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander offers greater overall size and 16 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to Car1's 12.8 cu ft, providing more room for gear.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander delivers a more engaging powertrain feel with 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque managed by an 8-speed automatic transmission.

💰 Best Value

2025 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander offers slightly lower starting MSRP ($40,320 vs $40,445) while providing significantly more standard power and better highway efficiency.

Choose the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV if...

You prioritize minimizing gasoline use, leveraging the 38 miles of pure electric driving range.
You desire the inherent traction benefits of standard All-Wheel Drive across varying conditions.
You want the more modern 1-speed direct drive transmission setup for seamless city driving.

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

Your priority is outright engine power, benefited by 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
You require maximum hauling capability, benefiting from 16 cu ft of cargo space versus 12.8 cu ft.
You prefer the established driving characteristics of a traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	Toyota Highlander
Length	185.4"	194.9"
Width	84.4"	76.0"
Height	68.5"	68.1"
Wheelbase	106.5"	112.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Headlight Washers	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	—	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	2.4 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	plug-in hybrid	gas
Horsepower	248 hp	265 hp @ 6000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Torque	—	310 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm

Drive Train

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Transmission Type	1-speed direct drive	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	25/27 MPG	22/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	26 MPG	25 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	370.0/399.6 mi.	393.8/519.1 mi.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	67/61 MPGe	—
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	64 MPGe	—
EPA Electric Driving Range	38 mi.	—
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	52	—
Charging Time (240V)	6.5 hr.	—
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.8 gal.	17.9 gal.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	CHAdeMO	—

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	—
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	8.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Front Head Room	40.6 in.	41.2 in.
Front Leg Room	41.7 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.9 in.	59.0 in.
Front Hip Room	54.0 in.	57.2 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	39.4 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.1 in.	38.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.9 in.	58.7 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.3 in.	57.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
One-Piece Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.0 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P235/60R18	P235/65R V
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	—	18 in
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Underbody Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Mitsubishi	Toyota
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Hybrid Component Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	7 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	2 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 30000 mi.	2 yr./ 25000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and 2025 Toyota Highlander.

How significant is the difference in efficiency between the two crossovers?

The difference is massive, depending on usage. Car1 (Outlander PHEV) offers 38 miles purely on electricity, achieving 26 MPG combined once the battery depletes. Car2 (Highlander) offers a steady 29 MPG highway rating, beating the PHEV's gas-only efficiency.

Which vehicle is physically larger for interior space?

The Toyota Highlander is the physically larger vehicle overall, measuring 194.9 inches in length compared to the Outlander's 185.4 inches. This translates directly to better utility, as the Highlander offers 16 cu ft of cargo capacity versus the Outlander's 12.8 cu ft.

Is the Outlander PHEV significantly down on power compared to the Highlander?

Yes, the Highlander leads in raw output with 265 horsepower, significantly more than the Outlander PHEV's 248 hp. Furthermore, the Highlander also boasts 310 lb-ft of torque, which the Outlander's specs do not detail.

Does the drivetrain setup impact driving dynamics?

Car1 utilizes standard All-Wheel Drive, suggesting better traction management across slippery surfaces. Car2 defaults to Front Wheel Drive, though it uses a more performance-oriented 8-speed automatic transmission instead of Car1's 1-speed direct drive.

Are the starting prices very different between the 2025 Outlander PHEV and Highlander?

The prices are nearly identical, showing minimal difference. The Highlander starts at $40,320, narrowly beating the Outlander PHEV's $40,445 MSRP, making them highly competitive on entry cost.

Which vehicle would be better for buyers focusing solely on highway cruising?

For long highway trips where electric charging isn't available, the Highlander is superior, offering 29 MPG city/highway versus the PHEV's combined 26 MPG rating.