Mitsubishi Outlander GF (2012–2021)

What the GF did differently from the CW

The second-generation CW had been developed alongside the Peugeot 4007 and Citroën C-Crosser. The GF had no PSA twins, and its engineers concentrated on weight and efficiency. High-tensile steel made it about 90 kg (200 lb) lighter than the CW, and the body has a drag coefficient of 0.33. German sources also note a cabin 335 mm longer than before, with five or seven seats depending on the version.

The wheelbase stayed at 2,670 mm (105.1 in), but the engine line-up changed. The CW's diesels from Volkswagen and PSA disappeared, and European buyers got Mitsubishi's own DI-D diesel, offered with a six-speed automatic from November 2012. The headline arrival came a year later: a plug-in hybrid that could cover around 50 km on electricity. For context on the earlier and later cars, see the Outlander generations overview.

Body, cabin and the facelifts

The GF is a five-door SUV with a conventional suspension layout: MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle, both with anti-roll bars. Petrol and diesel versions could have a third row, which UK reviewers judged best suited to children. The PHEV, with its battery under the floor, was sold with five seats only, and its boot is smaller at 463 L in UK data.

The car changed visibly over its life:

• 2015 (2016 model year): a new front with Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield design, LED daytime running lights, the Jatco CVT8 gearbox for four-cylinder petrol models and less cabin noise. It was first shown at the 2015 New York motor show.
• 2017: extra equipment, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the UK PHEV Juro.
• 2018/2019 (2019 model year): a twin-blade grille, revised bumpers, new 18-inch wheels, a new 2.0 petrol and a reworked PHEV with a 2.4-litre engine.

In the UK, the 2.2 diesel was dropped in favour of the 2.0 petrol, and the diesel's production for Europe is listed as ending in August 2018. Mitsubishi then left the UK market in 2021.

2.2 DI-D, 2.0 MIVEC and the plug-in hybrid

European GFs used one diesel, one petrol engine and the PHEV system. A 2.4 petrol and a 3.0 V6 were sold in other regions; their outputs are not listed here because they vary by market.

Although badged 2.2, the diesel actually displaces 2,268 cm³. With a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive it was quoted at 10.3 seconds from 0 to 62 mph, 126 g/km of CO2 and 58.9 mpg (4.8 L/100 km) on the NEDC cycle. The four-wheel-drive automatic needs 11.7 seconds and is listed at 48.7 mpg (5.8 L/100 km) and 153 g/km. The 2.0 petrol with CVT is quoted at 11.5 seconds.

The PHEV deserves its own page, so only the essentials here. The 2013 car had a 12 kWh battery and an NEDC electric range of 52.3 km (32.5 mi); the petrol engine can drive the front wheels or act as a generator, while the rear axle is electric only. The 2018 update raised the battery to 13.8 kWh and the NEDC range to 65 km (40 mi), or 28 miles (45 km) on WLTP, and lifted top speed in EV mode from 120 to 135 km/h (84 mph). DC charging to 80% took about 25 minutes through a CHAdeMO socket.

AWC four-wheel drive

Diesel and petrol versions with four-wheel drive use AWC (All Wheel Control). The driver can select 4WD ECO, 4WD AUTO or 4WD LOCK, the last intended for slippery surfaces. It is an electronically controlled, road-biased system, so a GF is better suited to wet grass and snowy lanes than to rough tracks.

GF dimensions and towing

The table shows a European five-seat GF. Height, boot volume and fuel tank vary by version, so ranges are given where sources differ.

The diesel is the best tow car of the range. UK reviewers described the petrol and PHEV limits as adequate but not class-leading.

Euro NCAP 2012 in detail, and the 2013 PHEV test

Euro NCAP published its GF result in November 2012, testing a left-hand-drive 2.2 diesel Intense weighing 1,495 kg. The car earned five stars and these scores:

• Adult occupant: 94% (33.7 points), with 15.6 points in the frontal offset test, 14.9 in the side impact and 3.3 for whiplash protection.
• Child occupant: 83% (40.6 points); the 18-month and 3-year-old dummies were both rated Adequate.
• Pedestrian: 64% (22.9 points), with 16.9 points for the head area, 6.0 for the legs and nothing for the pelvis area.
• Safety assist: 100% (7.0 points) for stability control, seat-belt reminders on all seats and speed assistance.

Euro NCAP tested the heavier PHEV separately in 2013 and gave it five stars too: 88% adult, 84% child, 64% pedestrian and 81% safety assist. Euro NCAP lists the 2012 rating as expired since January 2019, and it should not be compared directly with results under today's tougher protocols. Outside Europe, ANCAP's 2012 test gave 15.58 of 16 points in the frontal offset test and 16 of 16 in the side impact, and the IIHS made the US-market car a Top Safety Pick+ in 2014.

Ownership: documented problems and servicing

Independent reliability statistics for the GF are limited, so the list below covers documented events rather than owner anecdotes.

• PHEV battery, 2013: in March 2013 a battery pack overheated at a Japanese dealership after charging. Nobody was hurt, but Mitsubishi paused PHEV production and sales until 19 August 2013.
• PHEV Wi-Fi link, 2016: security researchers showed the app connection could be attacked; our report on the Outlander hacking case covers it. Unpairing devices in the app closes the gap.
• Owner satisfaction: the GF came 88th out of 100 cars in Driver Power 2019, a UK owner survey.
• Servicing: UK PHEVs are due a service annually or at 12,500-mile (roughly 20,000 km) intervals, whichever comes first.