Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review

Range

The key to making the Outlander PHEV economically sensible is its ability to use electric power only for shorter journeys. It means you can plug in at home and then do an average commute on battery power alone. The petrol engine will only need to kick in if you want a bit more power or it’s particularly cold and you haven’t preheated. 

If you need to go further, the 2.4-litre petrol motor will take over once the battery is flat and take you another 340-ish miles if the tank is full. Don’t expect it to be particularly economical when using petrol only though. For anyone who just does short journeys in the week and occasionally needs the ability to go further without stopping, it could be ideal. 

Battery

The Outlander’s battery capacity is 13.8kWh, which is pretty big for a hybrid. For comparison, a Prius PHEV’s pack is 8.8kWh and a pure-electric Smart EQ is 17.6kWh. 

As with most electric cars, Mitsubishi has stashed the pack under the floor of the passenger compartment to keep it safe in an accident and ensure the car’s centre of gravity is kept low – the battery is the heaviest part of the car and it improves stability in corners if it is nearer the ground. 

The cells use Lithium Ion rather than the cheaper and less effective Ni-Cad ingredients used in some older hybrids and electric cars. 

Charging

Making the Outlander work financially relies on you actually charging the battery as often as possible. Most owners will do this at home or at work and even if you’ve only got access to a three-pin socket it will take about five and a half hours – so easily do-able overnight or during office hours. 

A dedicated home wallbox will make charging more convenient as it has a cable ‘tethered’ to the point and you’ll only need to plug in at the car’s end. It’s faster too – expect the Outlander to be at 100% after four hours.

Unusually for a PHEV, the Outlander also has the ability to be rapid charged at an appropriate DC point, such as those found in motorway service stations and close to major roads. It can provide up to 80% charge in 25 minutes, but expect the wrath of pure EV drivers if you hog the charger for long!