Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid EV) is big yet still delivers impressive fuel economy! So just how impressive is Outlander PHEV’s fuel consumption? How does 1.9 l/100km sound - that’s 148mpg! Michael Sheridan finds out.
The World’s first plug-in hybrid SUV is available in five-seat guise from €42K. Sitting only fractionally above the standard Outlander, which starts at €39,950, Outlander PHEV offers four-wheel drive traction with the ability to run purely on electric power when required. Using PHEV couldn’t be easier. Power comes from a 121hp petrol engine and two electric motors (60kW) mounted on the front and rear axles.
Outlander PHEV can drive in three different modes EV mode (using electricity only), Series Hybrid mode (EV mode but with the engine acting as a electricity generator) or in Parallel Hybrid mode (petrol power mainly with EV assistance when needed).
While this is all a bit nerdy for most users the good news is that behind the wheel you can simply relax and let the car sort all the black magic out for you. If you want you can intervene by pressing a few refreshingly big buttons depending on your driving needs. You can get the car to hold its charge and run using the 2-litre petrol engine only.
You might want to do this if you’re heading for a city where EV use would be beneficial on arrival. You can press a button to put additional charging efforts into the batteries – again on a long run where the petrol engine is more efficient this is a mode you could use. Leaving the car to do things automatically works great too. The best technology is effortless to use and blends seamlessly into our lives and the Outlander PHEV does just that!
We’ve tested a plug-in hybrid a few years ago at motors, namely the Toyota Prius, but there was little interest in the distributor bringing the car into Ireland, as the savings over the standard Prius hybrid just didn’t stack up. The idea was sound, but the lack of substantial additional driving range coming from plugging the Prius hybrid into the mains to charge up the batteries meant it provoked little interest – Outlander PHEV’s designers have learned from this lesson.
With Outlander PHEV you can use it just like a normal hybrid but the plug-in part really starts to make sense when you have to use the machine for shorter journeys like the school run. A 15km urban route can be done using virtually no fuel at all – just battery power. While testing, we averaged from a full charge, to add roughly 40kms of EV range to the vehicle (official figure is 52km).
Outlander PHEV comes in two trim levels: Intense+ (€41,950) and Instyle (€47,450). Both are in the lowest tax band A1, producing an average of just 44g/km of CO2 and zero in EV mode! The price includes the government SEAI grant of €5K that for now is in place until the end of 2014.
Mitsubishi gives a 5-year battery warranty with Outlander PHEV and unlike Renault’s ZE vehicles you own and do not have to rent the batteries. Business owners can in addition o to the cars low running costs benefit from the ACA scheme (Accelerated Capital Allowances).
On the road Outlander PHEV could absorb bumps a little better but otherwise is very quiet inside and civilized. The steering could be faster geared as about town it requires a lot of input and the sound system/nav unit needs to be simplified as it was less than intuitive to use.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is full of innovation and a very sensible buy too.
Michael Sheridan
