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Verified Customer
I’ve had the Outlander PHEV for a short time now, and I’m genuinely torn on it. There are things it does extremely well—and a few things that frankly make me question whether I’d buy it again.
Pros
Exceptionally cheap to run for short trips.
I can get from my house to town and back on a single charge for about $2.00, versus around $15.00 in fuel. That’s a big win, and as my first hybrid, the experience has been impressive.
Interior quality is surprisingly good for a base model. It doesn’t feel cheap or stripped down.
Drives smoothly and handles well.
The ride is comfortable, the acceleration is decent, and the EV mode is quiet and pleasant.
Great digital dashboard.
The cluster design is modern, clean, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the car.
Good base-model tech.
Even without upgrades, the tech package is better than expected apart from the infotainment system (more on that below).
Cons
The “7-seater” claim is misleading.
Yes, technically it has seven seats. Realistically, you’re not fitting seven people comfortably—even with small booster seats, the third row is cramped and barely functional. If you truly need a 7-seater, this isn’t it.
Terrible base-model stereo.
Tinny, weak, and feels like something from a 2005 econobox.
The infotainment system looks ancient.
The center display design is straight out of the 90s. Slow, clunky, low-resolution, and nowhere near what you'd expect from a 2025 vehicle.
Front collision warning system is overly sensitive.
Constant orange warning light, unnecessary beeps, and cruise control cutting out mid-drive. It’s more annoying than helpful.
Overall regret factor.
The car isn’t bad but I don’t think I’d order one again. If the dealer offered a refund, I’d probably take it. I normally stick with GM, but I chose this for my wife because it was smaller and claimed to seat seven. In reality, it doesn’t meaningfully seat seven.
Final Verdict
The Outlander PHEV has definite strengths, especially the running cost, the smooth drive, and the digital dash. But the combination of poor infotainment, misleading seating capacity, weak stereo, and overly sensitive safety systems takes some of the shine off.
If you need a true 7-seater or value modern infotainment, this likely won’t be the right fit. If your main priority is cheap commuting and a comfortable drive for four or five people, it does that job exceptionally well.