Toyota RAV4 vs Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: bigger boot or bigger towing in a plug-in hybrid SUV
Both cost almost the same, but the RAV4 gives you more boot space and lower claimed fuel use, while the Outlander tows more, carries more and comes with a longer warranty.
By Uzzi · 5 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$58,840
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$58,840 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES
$58,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$58,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
Who the Toyota RAV4 suits
The RAV4 XSE PHEV suits buyers who fill the boot more often than they tow. It has a 655L boot with the seats up and the lower combined fuel use figure of the two at 0.7L/100km. It is a FWD SUV with a 800kg braked towing limit, so think small trailers only.
Who the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV suits
The Outlander PHEV ES suits buyers who need to tow or carry heavier loads. It is rated to tow 1,600kg braked, has a 581kg payload and is AWD. It also has a 10-year, 200,000km warranty and a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2022.
What decides it
1. Towing
The Outlander is rated to tow 1,600kg braked, against 800kg for the RAV4, a difference of 800kg. Unbraked towing is the same at 750kg for the RAV4 and 750kg for the Outlander. If you have a camper or boat to pull, this probably decides it.
2. Boot space
With the seats up, the RAV4 has a 655L boot and the Outlander has a 494L boot. That is 161L more in the RAV4. We have a seats-folded figure of 1,414L for the Outlander but no figure for the RAV4.
3. Warranty and safety rating
The Outlander comes with a 10-year, 200,000km warranty, while the RAV4 has a 5-year, unlimited km warranty. The Outlander also has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2022, and the RAV4 has no ANCAP rating on record in our data. Price barely separates them, with the RAV4 at $58,840 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Outlander at $58,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), a gap of $150.
Running costs
The RAV4 has a combined fuel use figure of 0.7L/100km, against 1.5L/100km for the Outlander. Both have a 22.7kWh battery and 50kW max DC charging, and we have no electric range figure for either. Both are serviced every 12 months, but we have no capped servicing figures for either car, so check with the dealer. The running-cost chart below lets you compare the two side by side.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$4,318
per year to run
$80,431
total 5yr cost
$1.03
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $4,318/year to run, or $21,590 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$4,648
per year to run
$82,228
total 5yr cost
$1.05
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $4,648/year to run, or $23,240 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
The RAV4 has 5 seats, and the Outlander has 5 seats. The Outlander is the longer car at 4,720mm against 4,600mm for the RAV4, yet the RAV4 has the bigger boot with the seats up at 655L. The Outlander carries more, with a 581kg payload against 400kg, and has 195mm of ground clearance, a figure we don't have for the RAV4.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ PHEV: the rated tow capacity is legal, but once the battery is depleted it tows on the petrol engine alone — expect noticeably lower speed on highway climbs and much higher fuel use (real-world tests hit ~30 L/100km near capacity on a flat battery). Keep some charge in reserve for hills.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (25% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Toyota doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 655 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ PHEV: the rated tow capacity is legal, but once the battery is depleted it tows on the petrol engine alone — expect noticeably lower speed on highway climbs and much higher fuel use (real-world tests hit ~30 L/100km near capacity on a flat battery). Keep some charge in reserve for hills.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
FitsExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Top-down
1070mm between arches × 941mm floor length
Side-on
941mm floor length × 870mm to shelf
Boot dimensions are manufacturer figures; items are kept upright and rotated flat only.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
How quick is it?
No manufacturer 0-100 time is held for this car, so it isn't ranked.
Safety
The Outlander PHEV has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2022. The RAV4 XSE PHEV has no ANCAP rating on record in our data.
The figures side by side
| Toyota RAV4 | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $58,840 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $58,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Powertrain | PHEV | PHEV |
| Fuel | Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in Hybrid |
| Drive | FWD | AWD |
| Transmission | CVT (e-CVT) | Automatic |
| Power | 201kW | 185kW |
| Combined system power | 201kW | 221kW |
| Torque | No data | 450Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 7.8 seconds | No data |
| Fuel use (combined) | 0.7L/100km | 1.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 55L | 53L |
| Battery | 22.7kWh | 22.7kWh |
| Max DC charging | 50kW | 50kW |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 655L | 494L |
| Boot (seats folded) | No data | 1,414L |
| Length | 4,600mm | 4,720mm |
| Width | 1,875mm | 1,862mm |
| Height | 1,685mm | 1,747mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,690mm | 2,704mm |
| Ground clearance | No data | 195mm |
| Turning circle | 11.36m | 11.2m |
| Kerb weight | 1,920kg | 2,084kg |
| Towing (braked) | 800kg | 1,600kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 750kg | 750kg |
| Payload | 400kg | 581kg |
| ANCAP rating | No rating on record | 5-star (2022) |
| Warranty | 5-year | 10-year |
| Warranty distance | unlimited km | 200,000km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
With the prices so close, pick the RAV4 for boot space and lower claimed fuel use, or the Outlander for towing, payload, warranty and a rating on record.
Pick the Toyota RAV4 if
you rarely tow anything heavier than 800kg and want the bigger 655L boot with the lower 0.7L/100km combined fuel use figure.
Pick the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV if
you need to tow up to 1,600kg, want AWD, and value the 10-year, 200,000km warranty and 5-star ANCAP rating.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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- Toyota RAV4 XSE PHEV 2WD
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES
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Questions buyers ask
Is the RAV4 PHEV cheaper than the Outlander PHEV?
Only just. The RAV4 XSE PHEV is $58,840 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Outlander PHEV ES is $58,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), a gap of $150. We have no drive-away prices for either.
Which tows more, the RAV4 PHEV or the Outlander PHEV?
The Outlander PHEV is rated to tow 1,600kg braked, against 800kg for the RAV4 PHEV. Unbraked, they are both rated at 750kg.
Which has the bigger boot?
With the seats up, the RAV4 has a 655L boot and the Outlander has a 494L boot. We have no seats-folded figure for the RAV4.
What ANCAP rating do the RAV4 PHEV and Outlander PHEV have?
The Outlander PHEV has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2022. The RAV4 XSE PHEV has no ANCAP rating on record in our data.
Which uses less fuel?
The RAV4 has a combined fuel use figure of 0.7L/100km and the Outlander has 1.5L/100km. We have no electric range figure for either car.
More on these cars
- 2026 Toyota RAV4 XSE PHEV 2WD: full specs and priceEvery Toyota RAV4 gradeAll Toyota models
- 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES: full specs and priceEvery Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gradeAll Mitsubishi models
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