MITSUBISHI might not have the same track record as the likes of Toyota when it comes to hybrid motoring, but its first attempt, the Outlander PHEV, hits the ground running with boasts of 100-plus mile fuel economy figures and ultra low CO2 ratings.
Mitsubishi has opted for a petrol-electric set-up, which is claimed to offer high levels of refinement along with the low running costs associated with petrol motoring.
The car's 2.0-litre engine partners with two electric motors - one at each end - to drive the Outlander.
All-wheel drive performance is retained despite the absence of a propshaft, while the car can automatically channel power where it's needed, such as a front-wheel drive mode for undemanding urban duties.
A press of a button transforms this Outlander into a surprisingly capable 4x4, proving no less able than its diesel-powered stablemates.
There's ample space for five in the practical cabin, but the hybrid hardware has resulted in the removal of the regular car's third row of seats. The upshot is a flat, wide load space.
Famous more for purposeful off-roaders and ally replicas, Mitsubishi was also one of the first car-maker's in recent years to offer an all-electric vehicle in the form of the i-MIEV.
This first attempt at a hybrid is a genuinely excellent contender.
The hybrid Outlander behaves a lot like a regular model if you discount the quiet running on electric power.
Technically superb, it’s an easy car to drive irrespective of the power source in use, and the beauty of the hybrid is that it takes care of everything irrespective of the road conditions.
Recovery of kinetic energy is maximised using a unique paddle-shift system that selects from five precise levels of regenerative braking. Driver control of when and where kinetic energy is harvested significantly increases the mix of electrical power in the vehicle’s hybrid drive-train. Replenishing the battery in this way extends the petrol-free driving range.
Over 100 miles of mixed driving, up to 15kw/hrs of potentially wasted energy is harvested and put back into the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery. This means that in a year, driving 10,000 miles, a single Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in could create enough spare electricity to keep on the lights and appliances in 150 UK homes for a day.
What’s also clever is this Outlander’s off-roading skills, as the two electric motors work together to deliver a total-traction experience akin to that of a diesel Outlander but without the need for a bulky propshaft. Keeping you informed is a clear and colourful display detailing the car’s various systems, from which way the energy is flowing to reams of data outlining fuel economy and eco performance.
Unlike most hybrid vehicles, the Outlander can travel significantly further on electrical power alone - 32.5 miles in fact.
The impressive electric range gives the vehicle phenomenal environmental credentials. It emits just 44g/km of CO2 and the official combined fuel consumption figure is 148mpg, although quite how that figure was arrived at baffles me.
Plug-in hybrids aren’t know for being cheap, but Mitsubishi has dealt a blow to the opposition by pegging the Outlander’s price to that of the comparable diesel-powered model.
The main attraction for business users will be the car’s tax efficient properties: low running costs and the ability to offset the car’s cost against business activities. Factor in the potential ability to commute on electric power alone and charge up on low cost electricity, and the hybrid Outlander starts to make sense.
If you want family-friendly practicality, the ability to go off-road and tow plus minimise your tax outlay, this petrol-electric plug-in Outlander deserves serious consideration.
You will need to do the sums but, with a modest asking price compared to its rivals, there’s every chance it will trump a diesel SUV in terms of running costs if you spend a lot of time in the city.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hs
Price: £34,999 (range from £27,619.20)
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol unit plus twin electric motors producing a combined 200bhp
Transmission: Single speed transmission with electric motors driving the wheels
Performance: Top speed 106mph; 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds
Economy: 148mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 44g/km
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