2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Review
Price Range: $14,790 - $21,990





+215
Edmunds' Expert Review

by Travis Langness
Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
Pros
- Generous list of standard features
- Standard three-row seating
Cons
- Slow acceleration with the base four-cylinder
- Upgraded V6 is available only on pricey and thirsty GT
- Limited Mitsubishi dealer network
What’s new
Most of the changes on the 2018 Outlander relate to trim levels and features. For instance, there's a new Limited Edition (or LE) trim level slotted between the SE and SEL trim levels. It adds some safety equipment and aesthetic touches in the middle of the lineup. Also, the base ES trim level now receives the 7-inch touchscreen as standard and the top-trim GT gets a top-down, 360-degree parking camera and heated steering wheel included as standard equipment.
Vehicle overview
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander provides the answer to a very specific question: What should I buy if I'm looking for one of the least expensive three-row crossovers on the market? Indeed, the Outlander is one of just a few vehicles in this price range to offer a third-row seat. You get a lot of features as part of the deal, too.
For sale nearby
56 listings
- $8,900great price$3,068 below market
- 102,922 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 4cyl automatic
- Merit Auto Group (450 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Third-row seating
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
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Located in Jacksonville, FL
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (25 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JA4AD2A31JZ069848
Stock: 609
Certified Pre-Owned: No - $20,990fair price$1,672 above market
- 30,907 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- Carvana - Birmingham (143 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
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Located in Birmingham, AL
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (25 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JA4AD3A35JJ000438
Stock: 2003571646
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-20-2025
Now for the fine print. The Outlander isn't particularly exciting to drive; it's also not the most modern, fuel-efficient or comfortable vehicle in its class. That third-row seat is pretty small and difficult to access.
If you're looking for an all-weather-capable three-row crossover on a budget, the Outlander is probably worth a look. But these days, just about every manufacturer is making a competitive crossover, so we recommend shopping around before settling on the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
6.6 / 10The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander might be the right vehicle for you if you're looking for a three-row crossover for an affordable price. You get some modern technology and safety features as part of the deal, too. But a lack of refinement lowers the Outlander's overall appeal.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL (2.4L inline-4 | CVT automatic | AWD).
NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Mitsubishi Outlander has received some revisions, including the addition of some standard equipment such as a bigger 7-inch infotainment screen and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Other changes are relatively minor, relating to features content on individual trim levels. Our findings remain applicable to the 2018 Outlander.
Scorecard
Overall | 6.6 / 10 |
Driving | 6.5 |
Comfort | 7.0 |
Interior | 7.0 |
Utility | 6.5 |
Driving
6.5All Outlanders except the GT come with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Mashing the gas results in slow and loud acceleration. Handling is uninspiring no matter which model you get.
Acceleration
6.5The gas pedal is initially jumpy, which gives the impression that the Outlander has more power than it really does. But the engine's 166 hp simply isn't enough. Getting to 60 mph takes 9.2 seconds. You'll need to think twice about pulling into fast-moving traffic.
Braking
6.0The brake pedal has a spongy feel and doesn't give great confidence. But the brakes aren't touchy, and our test vehicle stopped in 121 feet from 60 mph, an average distance.
Steering
7.5The steering has a natural feel. It turns in quickly enough that you can have some fun on a back road, yet the effort is appropriately light for around-town driving. It's easy to keep the Outlander steered straight on the highway.
Handling
5.5The tires provide enough grip around turns to drive at a moderate pace. The Outlander is adequately competent on real roads, but it was a sloppy mess on our test track's handling course.
Drivability
6.5Pressing the Eco button is the only way around the surging throttle. The engine lacks power in critical situations, though it's still pretty easy to drive. Adaptive cruise control isn't a smooth operator.
Off-road
7.5Mitsubishi calls the Outlander's all-wheel-drive system Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC). The four different modes (Eco, Normal, Snow, Lock) affect the system's parameters, with Lock being the high-traction mode for off-road driving.
Comfort
7.0It's not as refined in most areas as competitors. The seats could use more cushioning. The third row, in particular, is suited to kids only. Given the less than stellar handling, we expected a more absorbing ride. Other than the loud engine during acceleration, it is a pretty quiet vehicle.
Seat comfort
6.0The front seats are far from plush and only OK in terms of comfort. The door and center armrests are nearly unpadded. The rear seats are also not overly comfy, and the middle seat is hard. The third row is situated low, which puts your knees up into your chest.
Ride comfort
7.0The ride isn't as cushioned as the underwhelming handling would suggest. The Outlander handles mild bumps pretty easily, but city potholes and bigger bumps at speed upset its composure significantly. It comes down to a lack of suspension design refinement.
Noise & vibration
8.0Wind noise is well-controlled, and the tires are exceptionally quiet. There's some suspension noise over big bumps. The engine stays at low rpm at steady-state highway speeds, but in slower running that low rpm causes unsettling vibrations in the cabin.
Interior
7.0The first two rows offer plenty of space for adults, but the third row is only suitable for small kids. Build quality is still a bit disappointing as well. Outward visibility is excellent.
Utility
6.5While it isn't the most utilitarian car in its class, the Outlander does have some versatile features such as third-row seating and a decent tow ratings (depending on engine selection). Despite its large-for-the-class size, several rivals better it in terms of cargo capacity and interior volume.
Small-item storage
6.0For an SUV of this size, the Outlander has good-size door pockets, but the front bin is far away and the center-console cupholders have no anti-tip function.
Cargo space
6.0The second-row seats fold in a three-step process. The trunk measures 10.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 63.3 cubic feet with all seats folded.
Towing
7.5The Outlander SEL 2.4 is rated to tow 1,500 pounds when properly equipped. Opt for the V6-powered Outlander GT and you can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Technology
Mitsubishi in-car tech isn't our favorite, especially when it comes to the usability of their Rockford Fosgate systems. They simply seem dated and tacked on. For 2018, the bigger 7-inch screen is standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all but the base ES trim level.
Which Outlander does Edmunds recommend?
The Outlander we'd go with is the midlevel SE. It sits just above the base ES and gets extra features such as foglights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and heated front seats. The top-trim GT has the more powerful and more desirable V6 engine that increases the tow rating, but the GT is also the most expensive Outlander. That makes it hard to recommend over more refined rivals. Luckily, the SE still has the third row of seating and available all-wheel drive, along with the relatively reasonable price that makes the Outlander appealing in the first place.
Compare 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander models
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander is a seven-passenger crossover SUV that comes in five different trim levels: ES, SE, LE, SEL and GT.
The Outlander's base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (166 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque) paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.
Standard features for the ES include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights and taillights, heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split folding second-row seat that slides and reclines, a 50/50-split third-row seat, a rearview camera, voice controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, a CD player and a USB port.
Stepping up to the SE gets you foglights, body-colored side mirrors with integrated turn signals, keyless ignition and entry, an electronic parking brake (all-wheel drive only), heated front seats, and an upgraded audio system with satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
The LE (Limited Edition) mostly adds a few aesthetic upgrades (such as black roof rails and black exterior trim) and also gets you blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
The SEL starts with the SE's content and adds automatic headlights, power-folding mirrors, automatic wipers, gloss-black interior trim, a power liftgate, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a power driver seat.
The SEL also has some optional equipment that you can't get on lower trim levels. The Premium package adds LED headlights and LED foglights, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree parking camera system, and a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system. The SEL Touring package includes the Premium package contents plus automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, a forward collision mitigation system with automatic braking, and a lane departure warning system.
The GT comes standard with all of the above options except the advanced safety technologies, all of which are included in the optional GT Touring package. Exclusive standard features on the GT include a 3.0-liter V6 (224 hp, 215 lb-ft) paired with a conventional six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, chrome exterior beltline accents and steering-wheel shift paddles.
Stand-alone options for all trims include remote engine start, a tow hitch and a rear-seat entertainment system. All trims except the ES are eligible for LED foglights and front and rear parking sensors.

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Nissan and Mitsubishi Want to Bring an Electric Truck to America
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.68 per gallon for regular unleaded in Mississippi.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Mississippi
$123/mo for Outlander ES
Outlander ES
vs
$155/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
See Edmunds pricing data
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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average
#15 out of 29 among Compact SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Mitsubishi Outlander from 2008-2022.$466/yr
vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.04x/yr
vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).13%
vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Mitsubishi Outlander Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(74%)
4(12%)
3(2%)
2(7%)
1(5%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Why the press hates these cars is beyond me
5 out of 5 starsMichael, 08/20/2018
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
My family has bought 5 of these cars (so far) a few Outlander Sports, and I have bought 2 Outlanders myself. This is the only vehicle on the market that can seat 6 or 7 people, has all-wheel drive and gets better than 30mpg. These are the criteria I use to make a vehicle purchase. The 10 year warranty (7 years beyond everyone else's) is an awesome plus. I routinely get 32 mpg driving … around coastal Maine, and the only vehicle with a better AWD system is a Range Rover (which will set you back about 3x what this thing costs!). We live in Maine, where we have ice, snow, and slush 5 months a year, and a majority of people's houses are down long, un-paved driveways. This is the only car that has yet to get itself stuck! The S-AWC system keep the thing on the road really well, and adds a significant amount of control in everyday driving. The 3rd row seat IS tight, but I can ride back there in a pinch, and my wife and my kid can do so with no issues, and it is temporary! This is not a Caravan, or a Suburban, but for the 4 or 5 times a year when we really need to carry a bunch of people it is perfect. A far bigger impact is the fuel economy, which comes into play every time you start it- there is nothing on the road (that is not an EV) that can touch this car for efficiency. If the performance/acceleration of this thing bothers you, you should buy a sports car, not a mid-sized SUV. This thing has plenty of performance unless you need to drive like a moron, I have yet to get into a drag race with a Nissan Rogue or a CR-V, and my masculinity would survive if I did. This is not the fastest car in it's class, but it is the best. Your rational choice should outweigh whatever rubrik the automotive press uses to describe this type of car. Anyone who owns one of these will sing it's praises, and that should tell you something!
2018 Outlander SEL S-AWD still good 1 year later
5 out of 5 starsFormer Mitsubishi skeptic , 01/16/2020
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
Researched throughly and test drove Crv, traverse, nearly bot a Buick Enclave, Highlander. Bought a Outlander SEL S-AWC. Find it to be well done. As others noted...the “expert” reviews and rankings are wrong. They compare 0-60 times and some random specs to $50k SUVs and say it’s no good. There is plenty of plastic in even luxury SUVs, I have seen it and touched it.
I was More … influenced by the owner reviews because people that have them love them. I went to drive one and really did not want to like it, but I did. The pricing for new or used is friendly, great warranty, good performance. I have owned many GMC, Ford, Honda’s and Toyota’s over time and I find the Mitsubishi quality as good as anyone’s.
Cars have become an “appliance” for me, but I remain a sucker for the features of the Luxury and status brands. I recommend you check out Mitsubishi.
Update 6 months later: Even better than expected...not one issue. 30mpg in town with the ac on. Once you get used the CVT transmission you can get all the performance you want. Small details demonstrate to me it is well engineered and true Japanese quality. Check it out for yourself then look at the price.
Still don't recall ever seeing a positive 'professional' review.
Update after 1 year...Very Satisfied Owner...Good commuter and Comfortable cruising on a 3500 mile road trip with 18 hour legs. 30 mpg on that trip. Only routine scheduled maintenance required. Still strongly recommend it, go look at one for yourself.
Update after 2.5 years and 50,000 miles: still good with zero problems. Oil changes and some new tires is the complete list of maintenance items. Multiple 4000 mile road trips summer and winter without incident. Still 30 mpg hiway and 26 in town.
Update after 3 years. Put 55,000 miles on in 3 years. Tires and brakes are only expense. Good in town good on hiway. Gonna keep it, can’t find anything better.
Update January 2025: still reliable Ez to maintain. 80,000 miles. Never had an issue of any kind. Below Zero starts recently without a problem. Just routine maintenance. Cost to replace it doesn’t result in a significant upgrade. Keeping it!
Aside swop collision rolling twice
5 out of 5 starsTaylor Walton, 06/23/2019
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
This car and my guardian angle saved my whole family. I have a family of 6 about to be a family of 7. 2 of my 4 children were in the accident. One was 1 years old in a rear facing car seat behind the driver the other a 5 year old behind the passenger. we hit another car cutting into our lane going around 70 miles per hour throwing our car into the air rolling us twice through an … intersection. All the airbags deployed upon impact once we stoped rolling the car landed on its tires we hit in the passenger side leaving the front door unable to open me and my husband crawled out the front driver door quickly running to the back doors to remove our children who were extremely frightened but ALIVE! My 1 year old received bruises on her thighs and head my son cuts to neck and hips seat belt burns he was transferred from our local hospital to children’s hospital in l.a due to leaking fluid which they believe now was some internal bleeding that corrected itself no need for surgery thank god. My husband received a hand sprain and bruising and burns along his forearm and hips. I revived a broken wrist and hand seatbelt burns bruises and cuts. I am also 8 months pregnant the baby was monitored for 24 hours and has shown no signs of distress and no detachment from placenta. We were all wearing our seat belts I believe the combination of seat belts this cars saftey rating and a miracle saved my family’s life the fact that we walked away from this with such minor injuries blows my mind and also the doctors I would 100% recommended this car based on the fact that it saved my family Iv never been more thankful
Beware of "professional reviews" this car is a gem
5 out of 5 starsMac Jt, 10/11/2018
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
Like the heading, beware of so called expert reviewers who for some reason bash this car. The truth is this car is an underappreciated gem. I returned my leases car a year ago and a new job got me looking at new cars. I'm not into luxury cars so looked at Subaru Outback and the Outlander. The Subaru drove better but in terms of value for money the Outlander blew all competition out of … the water. I really love this car, bought the highest trim for 25k and as of today cant say anything wrong with it. It drives smoothly, very intuitive entertainment system, handles the road well. It is true that the acceleration isnt all that great,but I'm not going to race anytime soon. The car I got has power liftgate, blind spot monitor and rear sensor all included. Unlike the other Japanese cars dont forget this one is 100% made in Japan so the workmanship is definitely good. So far no regrets. BTW im getting 27 miles to the gallon in the city!
2018 Outlander Highlights
ES
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $23,945 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 27 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $123/month |
Seating | 7 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 10.3 cu.ft. |
front wheel drive | |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Outlander models:
- Blind-Spot Monitoring
- Alerts the driver of a car hidden in their blind spot (or an approaching one) to protect them from dangerous changing lanes.
- 360-Degree Camera
- Creates a simulated bird's-eye view of the car for tight parking situations, allowing the driver to see the car from all angles.
- Forward Collision Mitigation
- Helps mitigate an accident by monitoring ahead, warning the driver of an impending collision and applying the brake in certain scenarios.
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover18.5%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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