We like
Improved performance and range, long warranty, quality of fit and finish, useful all-wheel drive system, generous equipment levels, natural steering and brake pedal feel, smooth and instantaneous acceleration

Room for improvement
Price premium over ICE variant, tyre noise in entry-grade ES, weight is evident in handling and ride, tight third-row seating, limited second-row headroom when sunroof fitted

Overview

 

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia has launched its four-variant Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV) range this week, the new-generation medium SUV featuring a beefed-up power unit, larger capacity battery, stronger electric motors, and a longer pure electric driving range (84km) when compared with the outgoing model.

 

Priced from $54,590 to $68,490 plus on-road costs, and with trim grades comprising ES, Aspire, Exceed and Exceed Tourer, the Outlander PHEV range is said to offer “a smoother, more responsive and quieter drive, with sharper acceleration and longer EV only driving range”, thanks in no small part to an updated 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack (45 per cent more capacity than the previous version’s 13.8kWh unit) and specifically tuned 98kW (+4kW) 2.4-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine.

 

Combined outputs for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are listed at 185kW and 450Nm – which is about the same figure offered by a 5.0-litre V8 powered HSV Commodore only a few short decades ago.

 

The Outlander PHEV also features a larger fuel tank than before (up 11 litres to 56) and new rear electric motors with an integrated control unit occupying a smaller space than before, enabling the new Outlander PHEV to offer a three-row, ‘5+2’ seating configuration for the first time (on Exceed and Exceed Tourer versions).

 

The twin e-motor setup, which supplements the vehicle’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system, consists of an 85kW front-axle motor (up from 60kW previously) and a 100kW rear motor (up from 70kW). Claimed combined cycle fuel consumption is 1.5L/100km (NEDC).

 

The petrol engine acts primarily as an on-board generator (or range extender) in series hybrid mode, though is also capable of driving the front wheels directly in parallel hybrid mode, which is enabled at cruising speed or under high load driving situations.

 

Meanwhile, a new battery cooling system ensures optimum battery operation by using the vehicle’s air-conditioning unit, while an upgraded power drive unit is equipped with a voltage boost function that bolsters the performance of the front e-motor, while simultaneously reducing power consumption.

 

A reinforced differential employs a thicker carrier and stronger shaft and pinion, Mitsubishi claims, which allows the new Outlander PHEV to turn up its regenerative braking capability.

 

There are six adjustable energy regeneration levels – the maximum energy regeneration (also known as “one-pedal”) drive mode is accessible via a centre console button.

 

Multiple charging modes are supported. Charging ports include an AC connector that supports Mode 2 (standard 240V AC) and Mode 3 (fast 240V AC, with dedicated Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging, while adjacent is a CHAdeMO port that enables Mode 4 DC rapid charging. Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables come as standard equipment across the range.

 

In Aspire and Exceed variants, there are also two on-board 1500W/240V AC three-pin power points that provide vehicle-to-load capability for powering camping equipment or domestic appliances.

 

Five-seat Outlander PHEV ES ($54,590 plus ORCs) are equipped with LED headlights and DRLs, 18-inch alloys, a reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors. The model features cloth upholstery, a urethane steering wheel, 12.3-inch instrument panel, push-button ignition, and dual-zone climate control.

 

Infotainment is courtesy of a 9.0-inch touchscreen with native satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio reception and a six-speaker sound system.

 

Safety technology includes a full complement of airbags and electronic chassis controls, hill start assist, trailer sway control and hill-descent control on top of adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist, blind-spot warning and intervention, lane change and lane departure warning, as well as emergency lane keeping.

 

For the five-seat Outlander PHEV Aspire ($60,990 plus ORCs) we find 20-inch alloys, LED fog lights, silver skid plates front and rear, a roll type cargo cover, adaptive LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an automatic tailgate, 360-degree camera technology, rear automatic braking and rear cross-traffic alert.

 

The Aspire variant also features a leather-trimmed steering wheel, combination upholstery, a power adjustable driver’s seat, front seat heating, head-up display, self-dimming rear-view mirror, power folding and heated wing mirrors, keyless entry, a wireless charging pad and two USB outlets in the rear.

 

Outlander PHEV Exceed ($65,990 plus ORCs) is distinguished by colour-coded lower body accents, B- and C-pillars with gloss black paint, a panoramic sunroof, quilted leather upholstery, 5+2 seating, an electrically adjustable front passenger seat, front seat memory, auto-tilt wing mirrors, aluminium gearshift trim panel, front door trim illumination, tri-zone climate control, pull-up second-row sunshades, and a Bose nine-speaker audio system.

 

Finally, the Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer ($68,490 plus ORCs) features a two-tone exterior finish (Black Diamond with Deep Bronze or White Diamond with Black Mica), which is complemented by a two-tone high grade leather interior (black and saddle tan), as well as driver and front passenger seat massage function.

 

All Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV variants are sold with an eight-year/160 000km drive-battery warranty and a five-year/100,000km manufacturer warranty, the latter of which may be eligible to be extended to 10 years/200,000km if all scheduled services are done through the Mitsubishi dealership network.

 

Similarly, the 12 months of complimentary roadside assist can be maintained for up to four years if the vehicle is serviced by authorised dealers in accordance with the service schedule.

 

 

Drive Impressions

Mitsubishi sold over 300,000 examples of the previous generation Outlander PHEV globally, which says something about the appetite for a ‘best of both worlds’ electrified SUV among buyers who aren’t yet ready to tread the fully electric path.

 

Considering the relative shortcomings of the outgoing model – when compared to the newcomer, at least – those numbers say a lot, and should prove a solid datum from which this vastly improved next-generation car can springboard its sales.

 

There’s an honesty to driving the car, and to the sales pitch, that I really admire here. Mitsubishi calls the Outlander PHEV a 5+2-seater, and it is. The rear row is tight and best for younger children on short journeys but makes a handy fall-back that wasn’t available before. There is no promise of a seven-seat option here – seemingly, Mitsubishi calls it like it is.

 

But perhaps more importantly, it also calls the performance and range expectations of its newest Outlander PHEV with refreshing accuracy. On test, the high-grade Exceed variant in which we spent most of our time closely mirrored the range claims of its manufacturer, an impressive feat considering the circuitous urban drive route and later winding hill roads that comprised Mitsubishi’s Adelaide launch.

 

Performance, most especially from a standstill, is instantaneous and smooth. The Outlander PHEV uses its electric motors until it is absolutely certain combustion power is required, which in 90 per cent of driving scenarios is a constant we found hard to break. You really need to push the throttle to the floor – or have depleted the battery pack entirely – before the thermal engine is engaged, which not only brings obvious environmental benefits, but also incredibly quiet and efficient travel.

 

The only real caveat here is that the road noise from the tyres fitted to the “fleet focused” ES grade is quite intrusive, which may prompt buyers to step up to the larger wheel and tyre combination offered higher in the range.

 

Mitsubishi says the Outlander PHEV will travel up to 84km before calling the ICE unit into play, and with numbers on the instrument panel displaying “92km EV range” at one point, we imagine this figure should be easily achieved. What’s more, it’s managed with little consideration for economic pedalling, the digits we managed on test achieved for the most part in Normal mode and with moderate regenerative braking engaged.

 

And there’s a real difference noticed between the modes Mitsubishi offers in the Outlander PHEV too. Spin the dial to the Power setting and you can feel the all-wheel drive system redistribute its torque and the throttle response bristle. Wind it to Economy and the whole car seems to relax, instantly as if it has just enjoyed a warm cup of tea. Combined with five levels of regenerative braking (with up to 0.3g of braking possible) and a truly useful array of terrain settings, and it is likely that the Outlander PHEV offers one of the most customisable – and genuinely useful – drivelines on the Australian market.

 

Of course, as well as asking a premium in price over its ICE siblings (between $12,000 and $17,000 depending on grade), the plug-in hybrid version also brings a premium in weight to the table, around 200kg depending on grade. It’s weight that in urban running and out of the open road is of little consequence, but makes itself know in tight, challenging corners, and over heavily pockmarked unsealed roads. Here, you can feel the suspension working hard to keep the body in check, the effort of the tyres in gripping the road surface challenged by the PHEV’s mass, but overall, with little compromise to the driving line.

 

We found the steering feel of the Outlander PHEV to be appropriately weighted for a family SUV but with enough feedback to remain enjoyable. Surprisingly, the brake pedal also felt completely natural (i.e., very much like that of a conventionally powered car) with none of the woodenness usually found in electrified models.

 

As is increasingly evident in Mitsubishi models, the Outlander PHEV offers a generous level of equipment and technology (see above) for the price. There are few option boxes to tick and no hidden extras. The what-you-see-is-what-you-get approach is one we genuinely admire here, and with a long warranty and solid aftersales support, speaks volumes of where this brand is headed locally.

 

If you’re considering an electrified SUV, but aren’t quite ready to, umm, go all the way, the Outlander PHEV is a compromise of the best kind – a compromise without compromise, if you will.

 

Remember to charge it up, and you’ll enjoy economical emissions free driving that still comes with the reassurance of a petrol engine back-up – arguably the perfect here-and-now solution to electrified travel in our wide brown land.