Mitsubishi Outlander VS Skoda Octavia
Mitsubishi Outlander
Likes
- Nice to drive
- Well-appointed cabin
- Refined hybrid system
Dislikes
- No spare tyre
- Squeeze third row
- Multimedia touchscreen should be bigger
Skoda Octavia
Likes
- Neatly packaged with good features
- Attractive kerb-side presence
- Clever storage spaces
Dislikes
- On the smaller side for a 'mid-size' wagon
- No option packs
- Rear row tight for three adults
Summary
Mitsubishi Outlander
At this point in history, hybrid vehicles are your best bet if you want to feel good about trying to save the world while actually enjoying daily driving duties and avoiding any (real or imagined) driving-range anxiety you may experience in a full EV.
A hybrid vehicle – i.e. one with a traditional fuel source (petrol or diesel) and electric power – is a cheaper alternative to a full-blown EV and yields better fuel economy and less environmental impact than a standard ICE vehicle (powered only by petrol or diesel).
And the Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV) version of the Outlander offers welcome fuel cost-savings over ICE vehicles and, in top-spec GSR guise, it has a premium look and feel and, on paper, packs plenty of standard features into a sub-$80,000 package.
Read more about
- Mitsubishi's updated family favourite spotted: 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander takes shapes as it prepares to battle the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Nissan X-Trail ePower and Kia Sportage
- Next-gen Mitsubishi Pajero takes shape in fresh renders: Details from Japan shed light on rugged new Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol rival apparently in development: Reports
- More electric range for Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid: updated family SUV and rival to BYD Sealion 6 gets better fuel economy and powertrain upgrades for 2025, but when will it come to Australia?
But how does this seven-seater SUV hybrid handle daily-driving duties?
Read on.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.4L |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 1.5L/100km |
| Seating | 7 seats |
Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia Wagon has had a minor facelift in terms of its design and technology. We're family-testing the 110TSI Select, which is the base model and replaces the previous Style variant.
But in a world dominated by SUVs, is there room for the humble station wagon anymore? Let's find out.
Read more about
- New model to challenge Tesla Model Y's dominance? Electric car with more than 560km range due to arrive in Australia next year in the form of the 2025 Skoda Elroq
- European car price slashed by $10,000: Last examples of current-gen Skoda Superb on run-out as larger wagon alternative to Toyota Camry, Mazda6, Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord
- Sporty seven-seat family SUV matches iconic hot hatch for pace: New-look 2025 Skoda Kodiaq RS outpaces Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line and equals Golf GTI off the line
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.4L |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | 6.2L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Mitsubishi Outlander7.8/10
The Outlander PHEV in GSR spec is a nifty daily driver, quietly appealing and more than capable of heading off-road as long as you drive it well within its AWD limits.
If you reside in the city or suburbs and your daily driving is not too punishing in terms of distance, then this PHEV makes a lot of sense. A hybrid vehicle is a happy-compromise move towards an EV future – and the Outlander PHEV is a big step in the right direction.
Skoda Octavia8.3/10
Wagons are my favourite style of family car and the Skoda Octavia Select offers great value-for-money. It’s on the smaller side for passenger hauling but is still a comfortable ride and has great ongoing costs. This is one to consider if you don’t want a massive SUV but still need some space.
Design
Mitsubishi Outlander
In terms of exterior dimensions, this PHEV is 4710mm long (with a 2706mm wheelbase), 1862mm wide and 1745mm high.
The Outlander is an inoffensive-looking AWD wagon with an appearance every bit in line with its GSR spec and price-tag without going over the top.
On the outside, this top-shelf GSR incorporates Mitsubishi’s 'Dynamic Shield' design facade, which was divisive in its early years but has since attracted its fair share of fans.
On the inside, this Outlander has black leather-appointed upholstery with silver stitching, the same treatment applied to the soft-touch armrests, centre console top, sections of the dash and elsewhere.
And the big 20-inch machined alloy wheels top off a classy yet relatively subdued overall look.
In the realm of medium-sized city-going SUVs with weekend road-trip inclinations – think Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage and the Outlander’s hybrid rivals like the Nissan X-Trail e-Power, Toyota RAV4, et al – this Mitsubishi AWD more than holds its own because in terms of design none of them are bound to set hearts a-flutter. But they’re all fine.
Skoda Octavia
The Octavia wagon is sporty-looking with its compact dimensions and sharp pleating, particularly across the rear. The tail-lights have been restyled, as have the 18-inch alloy wheels.
The facelift also sees new dusk-sensing LED headlights replace the previous matrix LEDs, which admittedly is a bit of a downgrade as you miss out on the anti-dazzling feature matrix LEDs have but the dusk-sensing function is handy if you're a 'set and forget' type of headlight user.
The interior is downright nice and not even for a 'base model'. The dashboard gains some fabric and soft-touch grey accent panelling which creates interesting focal points and feel nice underhand.
The mix of black synthetic leather and mottled grey fabric upholstery creates a warm and friendly cabin space, however, fabric always makes my eye tick with my eight-year old around!
Practicality
Mitsubishi Outlander
This SUV boasts a family-friendly and functional interior with a premium feel, even if it does seem somewhat underdone for the price.
But it has all the right elements of a family tourer, in a cosy cabin in which it’s easy enough for driver and passengers to spend a chunk of time on lengthy road trips without complaint. I know, because we did.
The GSR has comfortable leather seats, a (mostly) user-friendly multimedia system, plenty of charge points (USB-A and USB-C up front and two USBs for second-row passengers), lots of soft-touch surfaces and a reasonable amount of storage space peppered throughout.
Nice touches, such as the heated steering wheel and heated front seats, which also have the massage function, top off what is an impressive interior.
There is wired charging for smartphones with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as well as a wireless charging pad. There are also 240V/1500W power outlets.
The 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen is too small for me (perhaps a case of Old Bloke Eyes?), but it’s better when engaged in Apple CarPlay mode. The 12.3-inch high-resolution digital driver display is simple enough to use, and the 10.8-inch head-up display is a handy feature.
The driver has an eight-way power adjustable seat, so they’re able to dial-in their favourite driving position.
As stated, this Outlander’s seats are comfortable with a reasonable amount of room for everyone, though the third row is a tight fit for anyone other than children.
The second row is a 40/20/40 split configuration, while the third row is 50/50.
In terms of packing space, there is 191 litres in the rear cargo area when all seats are being used, 461 litres when the third row is folded flat, and 1387 litres when the second and third rows are stowed away.
Skoda Octavia
The Octavia wagon utilises the space available in its mid-sized body well but there's no hiding that it's on the smaller side for a family hauler.
Front passengers enjoy the most head- and legroom, and even with a co-pilot, you're not fighting for elbow room, either. The rear seat offers plenty of space behind my driving position but I'm 168cm tall and it might not be as comfortable if you're hitting 180cm or more.
The width of the rear seat makes it feel snug when the armrest is down and the door closed. However, it's the fixed storage cubby that sits on top of the transmission tunnel which spells trouble for any adult middle-seater.
The cubby houses two USB-C ports and collapsible drink bottle holders, making it a firm utility and storage space. So, it's best to think of the rear row as a two-seater.
All seats (except the middle) offer decent comfort with thick spongy padding, wide seat backs and long under-thigh support. The front seats have manual lumbar support adjustment which alleviates fatigue on longer journeys.
Storage is great throughout the car and both rows get two cup holders and two drink bottle holders, as well as storage bins in each door.
The glove box is large enough to hold a manual and some other bits and pieces but the middle console is on the small side. The large phone cubby that houses the wireless charging pad and two USB-C ports draws your attention away from this, though.
There is a drawer on the drivers side, as well as an umbrella holder in the driver's door and a brush (not sure what for) in the passenger door. A sunglasses holder rounds out the storage in the front.
The boot offers great capacity with its 640L (up from 600L for the sedan version) and the multiple luggage tie-down points and nets, as well as the ski-thru port open up your storage choices.
You miss out on a powered tailgate in the base model but the lid isn't hard to operate and you get a handy toggle to pull it down.
The upgraded tech is easy to use and looks great - always a good combo. There's not much in the way of customisation for the new multimedia touchscreen but the screen is responsive and the menus are easy to access.
There are also physical buttons which act as menu shortcuts and they're very helpful while on the go.
The satellite navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are simple to connect and the CarPlay maintained a steady connection for me.
Price and features
Mitsubishi Outlander
The seven-seat 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR is the top-shelf variant in a five-model PHEV AWD range and has a price-tag of $73,790, excluding on-road costs.
Standard features include a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, wireless smartphone charging, a nine-speaker BOSE sound system, multi-zone climate control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, head-up display, heated massage front seats, two-tone leather-appointed seat trim, a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Exterior paint options for the GSR are, 'White Diamond', 'Red Diamond', 'Black Diamond' or 'Graphite Grey'.
Note: The Outlander does not have a spare tyre – not even a space-saver.
The Outlander PHEV has few to no rivals in the mid-size SUV segment, certainly none that can offer anything near Mitsubishi’s (conditional) 10-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
Skoda Octavia
There are three variants for the new Octavia wagon and the line-up begins with our test model, the Select grade, which is priced from $41,090 plus on-road costs. That said, Skoda is offering a national drive-away price of $43,990 at the time of writing. The Select is the first facelifted model to hit our market, with the rest following early next year.
Sadly, there aren’t all that many wagons left to compare the Octavia to and the nearest rival is the Mazda6 Sport wagon which is a smidge more affordable at $37,590 MSRP.
After that you have to jump up a few price brackets for a similarly sized wagon, like the Volvo V60 Ultra which sits at $74,990 MSRP.
The Skoda's facelift brings with it a host of new features that either used to be a part of an option pack or was only available on the top model.
The cabin now gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger with ventilation function and design tweaks to the dashboard, including an upgraded 13-inch multimedia screen (up from the previous 10-inch screen).
The safety sheet gets a look in, too, with the addition of rear collision warning, lane centering aid, emergency assist and adaptive cruise control with a stop and go function.
Otherwise the standard kit includes keyless start but annoyingly, not keyless entry (via a proximity key), satellite navigation, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster with upgraded software and dual-zone climate control. There are a total of five USB-C ports, including one mounted near the rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing LED headlights.
For a base model, the Select offers great value for money.
Under the bonnet
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander PHEV has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 98kW at 5000rpm and 195Nm at 4300rpm, an electric motor on the front and rear axles, and a lithium-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 20kWh.
Combined output (engine and electric motors) is 185kW and 450Nm and this PHEV’s electric-only driving range is listed as 84km on a full charge.
It has a single-speed transmission and drive modes include 'Eco', 'Normal', 'Power', 'Tarmac', 'Gravel', 'Snow' and 'Mud'.
It has three power-use settings: 'EV Mode' for low to medium speeds urban running, 'Series Hybrid Mode' which allows the petrol engine to step in for urgent acceleration or climbing hills and 'Parallel Hybrid Mode' for highway overtaking where the vehicle runs on engine power with electric assistance.
Skoda Octavia
Nothing has changed for the new Select base variant's engine and it's still a front-wheel drive with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 1.4L four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine produces up to 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, which easily moves the mid-sized wagon around and the Select can do a 0-100km/h sprint in 8.6-seconds.
It's not crazy powerful but it has it where it counts.
Efficiency
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR has a listed fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km on a combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle but, as with all official fuel figures from any carmaker, you can take it with a hefty grain of salt.
That said, if your daily driving distances are within this PHEV’s electric driving range (84km, as listed) and you’re able to drive in EV mode most of the time, then at the very least you will have chopped your fuel bill.
On this test, dash-indicated fuel consumption was 5.8L/100km; actual fuel consumption, as measured from pump to pump, was 7.7L/100km.
The good news is the Outlander PHEV runs happily on the cheaper 91RON 'standard' fuel.
Our dash-indicated power usage was 20.8kWh/100km. This PHEV gobbled through most of its 20kWh battery capacity quite swiftly on the drive from the vehicle pick-up point in Sydney to our test start-point just over 100km away.
It recouped 10km electric driving range via regenerative braking on a series of long downhills when set to ‘Charge’ driving mode (with the combustion engine generating power to the battery), but I had to cycle through regen modes to optimise that power regain.
The dash-indicated combined driving range (battery and engine) was 748km on a full charge and a full 56-litre tank.
Mitsubishi states that if you’re charging off a standard household power point it will take “approximately” 9.5 hours to fully charge your Outlander – or 6.5 hours if you’re using a home or public charging device.
Things speed up considerably if you use a public rapid recharging station. In that case, Mitsubishi says your Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV will reach 80 percent battery capacity in 38 minutes.
Skoda Octavia
The beauty of a mid-sized wagon with the Select's engine is that you get a low official combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle fuel figure of 5.8L/100km! And after mostly urban driving my real-world average came in at 6.5L/100km, which is a great result.
Based on the combined fuel consumption cycle and the 45L fuel tank, you should see a theoretical driving range of up to 775km and just under 700km based on our test result. Which isn't too shabby for those families who want to do the annual road trip.
The Octavia only likes to drink the good stuff though and will accept a min 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.
Driving
Mitsubishi Outlander
As mentioned earlier, hybrids are your best buy at this moment in time, if you want to help save the world from climate-change disaster, avoid range anxiety, and save some money on fuel bills – all without having to sacrifice safety, comfort or features.
And – bonus – the Outlander is quite nice to drive. Not to mention a pretty handy light-duty off-roader. But more about that later.
It has a kerb weight of 2145kg with light but sharp steering and a tight (11.2m) turning circle so it’s an easy vehicle to manoeuvre around busy city and suburban streets.
The teaming of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors works seamlessly well. There's always plenty of power on tap and, no matter how energetic your driving becomes, this Outlander remains smooth and quiet.
Throttle response is sharp and there’s plenty of punch off the mark as well as zippiness around town when you need it.
The PHEV’s EV-only driving range is a listed 84km but our test vehicle chewed through most of its battery power on a 110km highway trip through hilly territory.
Regenerative braking regained very little of that used power and the Outlander switched to rely on petrol for the remaining 30km or so of that trip.
The driver is able to adjust the degree of regenerative braking via paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel: use the left to add more and the right to ease up.
The drive mode options tweak engine, electric motor, transmission and other factors to suit the selected set-up.
Other than that, ride is quite firm, handling is civilised and, overall, this Outlander is rather pleasant on sealed surfaces.
And, as I alluded to earlier, it’s surprisingly comfortable and capable off-road – as long as you stick within the parameters of the kind of 'off-road' terrain an AWD SUV is built to cope with: well-maintained gravel roads and dirt tracks with minor corrugations in dry conditions… or, at worst, rain-puddled blacktop.
The Outlander has satisfactory off-road measures for a city-focussed vehicle: of 18.3 degrees (approach angle), 22.2 degrees (departure), 18 degrees (ramp breakover) and 203mm of ground clearance (unladen).
It feels nimble in the bush because steering is light and precise, visibility is good all-around, and the vehicle settles well on gravel and dirt tracks at speed, only ever skipping around a bit on rougher sections, due to its firm suspension and road tyres.
You can switch drives modes to either Gravel, Snow or Mud to best suit the terrain on which you’re driving but with the Outlander’s lack of ground clearance, road-biased tyres and 20-inch wheels, this SUV is hamstrung by its city-biased physicality.
But, this is still a handy dirt-road tourer, yielding comfortable and controlled ride and handling, only ever becoming rattled when the road or track surface becomes very chopped up and bumpy.
The Outlander’s 'Super-All Wheel Control' (S-AWC) system deserves a fair amount of credit. This traction control system manages torque application so it is instantaneous, and delivers drive with impressive levels of throttle control and an even-handed management of power.
Worth noting the Outlander did, of course, go through battery capacity at a faster pace off-road than it did when we were on sealed surfaces .
Off-roading, by its very nature, is more difficult and demands more of a vehicle than driving on smooth sealed surfaces does. And, for that reason – and the fact the Outlander is quite low – I’d avoid driving this SUV on terrain more challenging than well-maintained gravel roads and dirt tracks with minor corrugations in dry conditions.
I’ve driven an Outlander PHEV on sand before and it taxes the capacity even faster.
As mentioned earlier, this Outlander does not have a spare tyre. The absence of a spare – even a space-saver – is a disappointment, especially if you’re considering using your PHEV as a touring vehicle. A puncture repair kit is provided.
Payload is listed as 605kg, towing capacity is 750kg for an unbraked trailer and 1600kg braked. GVM is 2750kg and GCM is 4350kg.
Skoda Octavia
The Select wagon is responsive enough with its power delivery but you get the occasional lag when accelerating from rest.
Other than that, it’s very easy to keep your speed consistent on hills and you still feel like you have some power in reserve when you have to put your foot down.
The steering is soft but accurate and feels more relaxed at lower speeds because of it. So not what you'd call sports-nimble but it has friendly handling for newbies and seasoned drivers.
Suspension is on the firmer side and you notice the worst of the bumps in the road but it’s a pretty comfortable ride overall. The road noise creeps in, even at lower speeds, and that may annoy some but it wasn’t a bother for us.
The visibility is excellent because of the wide windows and narrow pillars. Despite sitting low, you don’t feel like you’re a bug when you’re next to a big SUV at the lights.
The Octavia is an easy wagon to park with front and rear parking sensors, and a clear reversing camera that features dynamic guidelines.
Safety
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in 2022.
It has eight airbags (driver and passenger front, driver and passenger front side, driver knees, centre and curtain) , as well as a comprehensive suite of driver-assist tech including AEB (with pedestrian/cyclist/junction assist), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, driver attention monitoring, emergency lane-change warning (with auto braking), traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors as well as an around-view monitor.
There are two ISOFIX child seat anchors and three top-tether points across the second row.
Skoda Octavia
The Octavia has an maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2019 and features eight airbags which is great for a family wagon and includes the newer front centre airbag.
The facelift sees some new safety features including rear collision warning, lane centering aid, emergency assist and adaptive cruise control with stop and go function.
Other standard safety items include blind-spot monitoring, driver monitoring and alert, safe exit warning, LED DRLs, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure/keeping aids, seatbelt warning and a reversing camera.
None of the safety features are intrusive for daily driving, which I always like and you can easily fit a couple of big child seats in the rear with the two ISOFIX child seat points and three top tether anchor points.
The Octavia has AEB with pedestrian, cyclist and car detection and is operational from 5.0 to 80km/h (up to 250km/h for car).
Ownership
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander range is covered by a 10-year/200,000km warranty – as long as servicing is completed on time by an authorised Mitsubishi dealership (otherwise, five years/100,000km) – and 10 years capped price servicing and 12 months roadside assist.
Outlander service intervals are scheduled at 12 months or 15,000km. Service costs can officially range from $349 through to $799 for a 10-year average of $549 per workshop visit.
The battery set-up has an eight-year/160,000km warranty.
Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia is now offered with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty which is competitive for the class and you can pre-purchase a seven-year servicing pack for a flat $3650.
Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first and you get roadside assistance renewed if you service on schedule at an authorised dealer.