Not too long ago, driving an SUV was seen as an environmental offence, but the times are changing.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (it stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) is a full-size five-seater SUV with 143mpg fuel economy and 49g/km emissions, plus it will qualify for the Government’s £5,000 electric car grant. So is it the ‘game-changer’ the company claims it is?
We tried one of Mitsubishi’s test mules, which hides the new hybrid drivetrain – as well as the PHEV’s dash – under the body of an old Outlander.
The car features an electric motor on each axle, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, to give four-wheel drive. It claims an electric-only range of up to 34 miles, but when necessary, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine kicks in to drive the front wheels and charge the batteries.
Plug the Outlander into a regular power socket and you’ll have the full EV range after four hours. And a quick-charging set-up provides 80 per cent battery capacity after just 30 minutes. Of course, you can always count on the petrol engine if you don’t have access to a socket.
On the road, there’s instant torque, so the car never feels too heavy or sluggish. Unlike some other hybrids, the petrol engine refuses to kick in below 62mph unless you floor the throttle, so this is a genuine zero-emissions commuter car. When it does fire up, you hear the engine over-rev as it picks up where the electric motors left off, but otherwise it’s refined.
Showroom versions of the Outlander PHEV will package the batteries under the floor, so it’s fair to say the lower centre of gravity will mean better handling than our test mule, which had the batteries in the boot. Yet accurate steering and good body control still bode well for the final model. If Mitsubishi can keep the price down, the PHEV looks like winner.
For an alternative review of the latest Mitsubishi Outlander 4x4 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV doesn't look interesting but the whole package sounds very interesting. A large 4WD that may enable many motorists to say adieu to petrol filling stations.
At a right price this Outlander may sell well. 30k after electric grant of 5k sounds like an ideal price for motorists many of whom may become partial or total strangers to the fuel pump.
Buuu... They've claimed the acceleration to be comparable to the 3.0 V6 petrol version, which is about 9s, which is OK. 11,7s?? It SUCKS!!!
Are putting down a car because of its 0 to 60 time?
Yes, I do. In a car it's all about a drive. You cannot sacrifice performance indifinately. So much has been spoken about the torque in electric cars and that it is available from 0rpm and so on. What performance it provides, how brisk they are... And after such advertising it turns out to be 0-62 in 11,7s... It is extremely disapointing! And what about passing? It is not necessary?