Item: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Outlander PHEV brochure prices are competitive by class standards. However, if you hanker for range topping Dynamic Safety trim, just be aware that it breaches £40,000: the barrier beyond which the UK’s premium car tax is levied. It's also worth noting that like other plug-in hybrids, the Outlander PHEV is no longer eligible for government grants for electrified vehicles.

The PHEV can travel short distances on electric power alone and should be cheap to fuel if you use it mainly around town. That advantage will rapidly fade when you make longer trips, though, when the petrol engine will do most of the work. Although its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">official fuel economy</a> and electric range look remarkable on paper, expect them to be much lower in the real world.

And while the PHEV’s low official CO2 emissions figures do attract relatively low <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">benefit-in-kind company car tax bills</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/grandland-x/hatchback/review/n115">Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4</a>, <a href="http://v">Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-7/hatchback/review/n188">DS7 E-Tense</a> all have longer pure-electric ranges and generate less CO2, putting them into a lower BIK bracket.&nbsp;

Service intervals are fairly short at 12,500 miles or 12 months, though, and the Mitsubishi servicing plan – fixing the price of the first three scheduled services – is worth considering, but it isn’t as cheap as plans offered by many rivals.

Mitsubishi as a brand performed admirably in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">2019 Reliability Survey</a>, finishing 13th out of 31 manufacturers. However, the Outlander PHEV itself didn’t particularly shine, finishing down in 10th place out of 11 models in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-electric-and-hybrid-cars/n20068">the hybrid category</a>. Thankfully, the PHEV gets a comprehensive five-year/62,500-mile warranty, which should quell any concerns about battery life and electric motor problems. There’s also a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty and three years’ pan-European roadside, home and accident assistance.

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Despite being powered by a combination of two battery-driven electric motors and a conventional four-cylinder 2.4-litre petrol engine, the PHEV actually feels remarkably ‘normal’ to drive. There's no need to change gear – just a seamless delivery of power; the onboard 'brains' deciding when the electric motors should either contribute to your progress, and when they should turn themselves into generators to recharge the battery.&nbsp;

That said, Mitsubishi has also fitted switches to the centre console that allow you to make those decisions for yourself; you can dictate when to recharge the batteries, when to use electric drive only and when to ensure all four wheels are being driven. The battery-save mode is particularly useful if you commute into a city, as you can use the petrol engine on the motorway (‘saving’ your charge) and then switch to electric power once you enter a low-emission zone.&nbsp;

Refinement is impressive at low speeds, especially when the electric motors do all the work of moving the car. And, because the car can travel at speeds of up to 84mph in its fully electric mode, most commutes can be done without waking up the petrol engine. However,&nbsp; if you plan on driving the car at motorway speeds for extended periods of time, just be aware that the car's claimed 28-mile electric-only range will fall very quickly. It’s better to limit pure electric running to trips around town. It’s also worth noting that, for a plug-in hybrid, the Outlander PHEV isn’t all that quick. Put your foot down and 0-62mph takes a rather sluggish 10.5 seconds; the 2.4-litre petrol engine making quite a racket in the process.&nbsp;

The Sport driving mode (which can be selected via a button on the centre console) sharpens the car’s throttle response and adds weight to its steering, but doesn’t make the PHEV any more engaging to drive. Even under full acceleration, the PHEV fails to deliver the kind of effortless pace you’d get from a traditional diesel engine, or from a more modern plug-in hybrid set-up such as that found in the Vauxhall <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-vauxhall-grandland-x-hybrid4-review-price-specs-and-release-date/n20905">Grandland X Hybrid4</a> (for reference, the Hybrid4 can complete the run from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds).&nbsp;

The same goes for the Outlander’s handling. It feels less agile than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-volvo-xc40-recharge-t5-plug-in-hybrid-review-price-specs-and-video/n21114">Volvo XC40 Recharge</a> or the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-audi-q5-55-tfsie-review-price-specs-and-release-date/n20147">Audi Q5 55 TFSIe</a>, leaning in faster corners and not steering with the accuracy we’ve come to expect from the latest crop of SUVs. This is a car that’s at its best when wafting along at a relaxed and comfortable pace.

But surely the PHEV’s soft suspension results in a more supple ride than that of sportier rivals? Well, yes and no. At higher speeds, the PHEV does a reasonable job of dealing with a wavy road surface, but sharp abrasions such as expansion joints and potholes send jarring impacts through the interior around town.

While not exactly being a household name in the UK, Mitsubishi has a far higher profile in the field of plug-in hybrids; the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV consistently ranks as Britain’s best-selling plug-in hybrid. And, with SUV looks and the practicality to back them up, its popularity is justified.

Key to the PHEV’s appeal though, is the low company car tax it attracts, thanks to its clever hybrid system which <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">produces lower CO2 emissions</a> than the conventional <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mitsubishi/outlander/4x4/review/n96">petrol-powered Outlander</a> emits. The PHEV can be driven by its naturally aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine, by its electric motors and batteries alone, or by a combination of the two. Those batteries can be charged on the move by the petrol engine, or the car can be plugged into the mains to charge overnight.

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Because the Outlander PHEV&nbsp;can run on pure electric power, many commuters will be able to travel to work and back after an overnight charge, using no petrol at all. As a result, under <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">the WLTP testing cycle</a>, the car is rated as being able to travel 28 miles on pure electricity alone, and should be able to return an incredible 139mpg in mixed use.

At one point the Outlander PHEV accounted for a staggering 50% of sales in the electric car and hybrid sector in the UK. It was refreshed for 2020, but, with a raft of increasingly advanced large plug-in SUVs entering the market, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/grandland-x/hatchback/review/n115">Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4</a>, <a href="http://v">Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-7/hatchback/review/n188">DS7 E-Tense</a>, could Mitsubishi’s time at the top of the plug-in market be coming to an end? Read on over the next few pages to find out.&nbsp;

And, if it, or indeed any other car takes your fancy, check out our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/hybrid">New Car Deals pages</a> to find some tempting offers.

Not everybody will find it terribly easy to set a comfortable driving position in the Outlander PHEV. Although you get electrically adjustable seats&nbsp;and standard adjustable lumbar support for the driver, it’s frustrating that the seats don’t drop low enough for those over six feet tall. The steering wheel doesn’t adjust sufficiently for height or reach, either.&nbsp;

Most of the dashboard controls are simply laid out, but some of the buttons are tucked away out of sight. Also, the 8in touchscreen infotainment system (standard on Design trim and above) is plagued by complex menus and small, hard-to-hit icons. Compared with the better-integrated systems on rival cars, this system feels more like an aftermarket unit, and is rather fiddly and frustrating to use. Mercifully, as part of an update for 2020, models onwards equipped with the 8in touchscreen gain <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone integration as standard, so you can avoid using the native user interface.

All versions also get a small LCD vehicle and journey information display in the instrument cluster, but compared to the fully digital dials of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40 Recharge</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5 55 TFSIe</a>, the PHEV’s setup feels rather archaic.&nbsp;

You get a decent view from the high-set driver’s seat, and visibility is aided by large door mirrors. On top trim levels, these contain an amber warning light that will flash to notify when a car is in your blind spot. Rear parking sensors are fitted as standard, although Design trim provides a rear-view camera in lieu of the rear parking sensors, while top-spec Dynamic Safety models get both front and rear parking sensors.&nbsp;

When it comes to quality, the Outlander PHEV's upper interior surfaces feel pleasantly squidgy when you give them a prod, and the harshest plastics are generally confined to lower areas where they are less noticeable. Unfortunately, though, fit and finish isn’t up to rivals’ standards.

While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.

There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

OUTLANDER

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV makes a tempting company car, but its ride and refinement let it down

Most will find adequate leg and head room in the front, but really tall people may feel a little cramped. Storage cubbies abound, including large door bins with integrated bottle holders, two cupholders ahead of the gear lever, a useful storage tray for a phone, and a front centre armrest with an integral storage compartment.

Space in the rear is more impressive, with easily enough space for two six-footers to get comfortable. And despite the middle seat being narrower and higher than the outer two, the interior is wide enough to accommodate three adults sitting side-by-side quite comfortably. Plus the floor is nice and flat, so everyone in the back gets plenty of foot space.

The boot is slightly smaller than that of the conventional <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mitsubishi/outlander/4x4/review/n96">Mitsubishi Outlander</a> – the missing space is consumed by the battery pack for the hybrid system. The second row of seats can be folded completely flat, and there’s a vast amount of load space with them all down.

The conventional 60/40 rear seat split fold mechanism is handy if you need to accommodate a bulky item while still carrying one or two rear seat passengers. The front passenger seat folds flat – this might come in handy for those longer loads. The rear seats also recline.

The high boot lip can make loading heavy items tricky, but the tailgate opening is wide and the boot itself is free from obstructions, making it easy to slide things in. It is worth noting, however, that the Outlander’s 463 litre boot is not as big as more conventional rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a>, which offers a vast 780 litres of storage. An electric tailgate is standard.

Thanks to low emissions, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is worth considering as a company car, but its ride and refinement let it down, and newer plug-in rivals offer a more appealing all-round package.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

Hybrid

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review

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Read review covering Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

Most will find adequate leg and head room in the front, but really tall people may feel a little cramped. Storage cubbies abound, including large door bins with integrated bottle holders, two cupholders ahead of the gear lever, a useful storage tray for a phone, and a front centre armrest with an integral storage compartment.,Space in the rear is more impressive, with easily enough space for two six-footers to get comfortable. And despite the middle seat being narrower and higher than the outer two, the interior is wide enough to accommodate three adults sitting side-by-side quite comfortably. Plus the floor is nice and flat, so everyone in the back gets plenty of foot space.,The boot is slightly smaller than that of the conventional Mitsubishi Outlander – the missing space is consumed by the battery pack for the hybrid system. The second row of seats can be folded completely flat, and there’s a vast amount of load space with them all down.The conventional 60/40 rear seat split fold mechanism is handy if you need to accommodate a bulky item while still carrying one or two rear seat passengers. The front passenger seat folds flat – this might come in handy for those longer loads. The rear seats also recline.,The high boot lip can make loading heavy items tricky, but the tailgate opening is wide and the boot itself is free from obstructions, making it easy to slide things in. It is worth noting, however, that the Outlander’s 463 litre boot is not as big as more conventional rivals such as the Peugeot 5008, which offers a vast 780 litres of storage. An electric tailgate is standard.,

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