Episode 453: 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70, A Long Digression About Cell Phone Design
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV emerges as a surprisingly refined and powerful plug-in hybrid, defying its long-standing reputation as a compromised Nissan Rogue clone. Despite its 5,000-pound weight and a third row that’s practically unusable for humans or pets, the Outlander delivers real-world electric range (78 km / 48 miles), near-300 horsepower, and a luxurious interior that feels far above its price point. The podcast hosts are stunned by its seamless drivetrain—switching between series and parallel hybrid modes without any driver awareness—while also praising its quiet, smooth ride and excellent infotainment system, which avoids the menu clutter and useless apps plaguing competitors like Toyota. Yet the car’s biggest flaw isn’t mechanical—it’s the third row, which offers no legroom and a flimsy Velcro latch, making it a design failure that undermines the vehicle’s otherwise strong case. In a broader critique, the hosts argue that the automotive industry has reached maturity: incremental improvements in engines and batteries are no longer the focus. Instead, automakers now compete on gimmicks—overcomplicated keyless entry, inconsistent infotainment, and flashy but useless features—mirroring the stagnation seen in smartphones, where flagship devices now offer no meaningful upgrade over older models.
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV delivers 78 km (48 miles) of real-world electric range, a 20% increase over the previous model, with a 297-horsepower powertrain that feels smooth and seamless despite its 5,000-pound weight.
The Outlander’s interior is a standout, featuring a luxurious brick-brown leather cabin, intuitive infotainment, and a well-designed gauge cluster—rare in today’s auto market where many systems are cluttered or useless.
The third row is functionally useless: it offers no legroom, is difficult to access, and relies on a flimsy Velcro strap instead of a proper latch—making it a design failure that undermines the vehicle’s value.
The automotive industry has reached maturity: incremental improvements in engines and batteries are no longer the focus; instead, automakers compete on gimmicks like inconsistent keyless entry, overcomplicated infotainment, and flashy but impractical features.
Smartphones have stopped meaningfully improving in core areas like battery life and screen size for nearly a decade—flagship devices now offer no real upgrade over mid-range models, trapping users in a cycle of forced upgrades.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to the Unnamed Automotive Podcast
Hosts Sammy Hajesad and Benjamin Hunting introduce the show, discuss their online presence, and briefly touch on the challenges of securing internet domains in the modern era.
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: A Surprising Refresh
“The closest I ever came to catching the vehicle in the act was the times where it was sitting at idle. And if the AC was on the crank or something, or if I changed the drive mode... But other than that, it's really impressive.”
The Outlander’s Efficiency and Real-World Performance
The hosts discuss the Outlander’s impressive fuel economy, including a 101 MPG on a 130 km trip with 78 km on battery, and its 73 MPGE combined rating. They note that the gas engine performs better than rated when the battery is depleted.
The Third Row: A Design Failure
“It basically has no leg room. I think that there is a certain age window for children where they might be able to be inside of that third row. When they have paper-sized legs.”
The Outlander’s Interior and Quality Concerns
While praising the Outlander’s luxurious interior, the hosts express concern over early wear—leather peeling under the infotainment screen and scuffing on the cargo cover—raising questions about long-term durability.
“It sounds like I'm being obtuse about this, but what happens when an industry is mature is that the changes and updates and features that you start to get as a consumer are no longer related to functionality. They are things that are intended to entice you to buy a particular product.”
“It has basically no leg room, right? None. I think that there is a certain age window for children where they might be able to be inside of that third row. When they have paper -sized legs.”
“I had a OnePlus 7, which is I think maybe the best phone I've ever had. It did everything I needed it to do well. Eventually, I ran out of Android updates for it. The manufacturer was no longer supporting it.”
Hosts
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
other
Benjamin Hunting
person
Sammy Hajesad
person
Genesis Electrified GV70
other
Toyota
brand
Nissan Rogue
other
Super Cruise
other
Eclipse Sportback
other
OnePlus 7
product
OnePlus 12
product
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