Mitsubishi established itself as a plug-in hybrid SUV chief with the first-generation Outlander PHEV, which hit the market virtually a decade in the past.
Since then the marketplace for electrified autos of all types has grown dramatically, but buyer sentiment clearly favours full-electric autos (EVs) and common hybrids.
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EV gross sales in 2022 throughout Australia tallied 33,410 items, whereas common (Toyota-style) hybrids discovered 81,786 consumers. PHEVs nevertheless languished with simply 5937 gross sales.
Regardless, Mitsubishi stays dedicated to its bridging know-how, designed to supply one of the best facets of those different two drivetrains in a single – every day zero-emissions EV functionality through a wall plug, coupled with a petroleum engine-generator for longer journeys.
This new-generation Outlander PHEV gives extra electrical vary than its predecessor, punchier efficiency, and flashier inside and exterior designs. – plus vehicle-to-home discharge performance.
However, there’s additionally a better price ticket for the privilege, particularly on this top-spec grade.
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer price?
There are 4 specification ranges for the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV), which is sweet contemplating some competitor autos solely provide their electrified engines in top-of-the-range variants.
Whereas our check automobile was a 2022 mannequin, Mitsubishi launched a light replace for the 2023 yr headlined by a number of driver-assist system alongside value rises of between $900 and $1500.
Pricing for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vary is as follows, with our flagship Exceed Tourer PHEV check automotive’s newest value in daring.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV pricing:
- Outlander PHEV ES: $55,490
- Outlander PHEV Aspire: $61,990
- Outlander PHEV Exceed: $67,490
- Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer: $69,990
Costs exclude on-road prices
At $69,990 earlier than on-road prices, our examined Outlander PHEV is a whopping $16,500 costlier than an Outlander Exceed Tourer with the common petrol engine choice.
Its checklist value traces up with the totally electrical Tesla Model Y ($72,300), in addition to the new-to-market Mazda CX-60 PHEV (from $72,300). This being mentioned, the Exceed Tourer gives a decrease sticker value than the equally sized Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV ($81,080) and the extra luxurious Lexus NX450h+ ($88,323).
For my part, the Outlander plug-in hybrid’s strongest worth proposition is definitely on the backside finish of the vary.
The $55,490 Outlander PHEV ES prices the identical as a extra luxurious however technologically much less superior Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid, and makes up for lacking some options by providing every day EV vary – in contrast to the much less succesful RAV4 which can not provide such a operate.
What’s the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer like on the within?
The inside is a giant step up over the outdated Outlander by way of design and really feel, though I’m personally not offered on the orange used on the sprint, doorways, console, and seats. Design is subjective!
The entrance (reminiscence) seats are heated and powered, and the motive force will get a cool therapeutic massage operate, whereas the wheel gives loads of adjustment and the digital instrument cluster has myriad display choices and high-quality graphics together with a real-time animation of the drivetrain working.
That mentioned, some extra information round electrical energy consumption and entry to a top quality cellphone app wouldn’t go astray…
The centre touchscreen gives a very good high quality 360-degree digicam view for parking, in addition to cellphone mirroring (wi-fi Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto), whereas the Bose audio system is great with well-placed audio system and a pleasant crisp sound high quality.
Under the centre touchscreen are easy digital local weather controls, your drive and battery mode selectors, and a stubby shift-by-wire gear stick – which it should be mentioned doesn’t at all times have interaction Drive if you assume it does upon startup, because the devices undergo a begin sequence.
There’s a affordable quantity of storage together with a rubberised charging pad forward of the gear shifter, cupholders with enamel, a good-size glovebox, sun shades cubby, door bins, and a glovebox.
Whereas it’s a pleasing structure with some properly contrasting supplies scattered about, there’s an excessive amount of piano black on the tunnel (a magnet for mud, scratches, smudges and solar glare) and there are nonetheless loads of cheap-feeling onerous plastics mounted decrease down.
The center seat row splits 60:40 with the bigger portion on the kerb aspect.
The backrests recline and the bases slide, and you’ve got facilities within the second tow reminiscent of vents, temperature controls, a ski port, USB factors, and window blinds. Plus the outboard seat bases are heated.
There’s a very good quantity of legroom behind the entrance seats which have quite a few pockets in them, however this mannequin’s huge sunroof does impinge on headroom. Granted I’m tall at 194cm, however my head was pushing into the roof, because the seats are mounted a bit larger than up entrance.
Entry to the third-row is achieved through a easy seat folding mechanism on the kerbside, however area again there’s very tight. Youngsters solely, I’d say, however a helpful new characteristic nonetheless.
Furthermore, mentioned third row packs away neatly into the ground so your boot area isn’t actually damage that a lot.
Entry to the boot comes through a powered tailgate, and also you get a rear 220V energy plug, levers to flip down the middle-row seat backs, bag hooks, and a pull-out cargo cowl.
Boot capability to the again of the second-row is a middling 461L, or 191L behind the third-row when it’s in use. With the second- and third rows folded you might have a 1.7m-long loading space.
Sadly there isn’t any spare tyre, only a restore equipment.
What’s below the bonnet?
Plug-in hybrids are sophisticated machines, extra so than both EVs or regular hybrids.
There’s an Atkinson cycle 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder engine-generator making 98kW and twin electrical motors rated respectively at 85kW and 100kW.
A single-speed transaxle is situated on the entrance axle, reasonably than a standard stepped-ratio gearbox like many PHEVs.
By having one motor on every axle, the Outlander PHEV is thereby in a position to drive as an electrical all-wheel drive (AWD), but the petrol engine can even hook up on to the entrance wheels in addition to serving as a generator.
This Mitsubishi is thereby in a position to operate as an EV, a collection hybrid, and a parallel hybrid.
Then two motors are powered by a 350V in-floor battery rated to retailer 20kWh (45 per cent better capability than the outdated mannequin), which might be recharged through a wall socket or wallbox quick charger, with ports behind a flap within the rear-right-side flank of the automotive.
You possibly can even use a DC fast charger if there’s a CHAdeMO level obtainable. Mitsubishi sticks with this charging plug reasonably than migrating to the extra prevalent Kind 2 form since CHAdeMO enables V2H and V2G functions, on this case as much as 10kW for off-grid purposes.
Mixed energy and torque outputs are fairly good. There’s by no means an event the place all three propulsion units are working at most concurrently, however the system could make as much as 185kW energy and 450Nm torque.
At 2145kg, it’s 385kg heavier than the petrol-only Exceed Tourer grade, on account of the battery pack and motors. However an uprated gross automobile mass means payload is basically unaffected.
Mitsubishi claims the Outlander PHEV can do a powerful 84km utilizing solely battery energy, which equates to petrol effectivity of round 1.5L/100km. Against this the outdated Outlander PHEV might solely declare 54km.
Needless to say this declare is on the super-lenient NEDC testing cycle, so take it with a really massive pinch of salt as I’ll element within the subsequent part.
To its absolute credit score, Mitubishi is open about the fact the Outlander PHEV’s anticipated gasoline use in the event you begin with no indicated battery mileage left is definitely 6.7L/100km.
With no useable cost, the PHEV reverts to being a light hybrid with further petrol-sapping battery weight, utilizing regenerative braking to maintain the battery in play at low speeds.
When it comes to towing, Mitsubishi charges each the petrol and PHEV Outlanders to a most braked-trailer weight of 1600kg.
Tech Specs:
- Engine: 2.4-litre, 98kW and 195Nm
- Transmission: Single-speed transaxle
- Entrance axle motor: 85kW
- Rear axle motor: 100kW
- Most system outputs: 185kW and 450Nm
- Battery pack: 350V, 20kWh lithium-ion
- Electrical vary declare: 84km NEDC
- Charging instances:
- Claimed gasoline effectivity – charged: 1.5L/100km
- Claimed gasoline effectivity – not charged: 6.7L/100km
How does the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer drive?
Presuming you permit your vacation spot charged up, the automobile in its default mode makes use of the battery at virtually all instances, solely tapping into petrol energy below moments of excessive stress – displayed by a cluster graphic displaying you engine energy utilization reasonably than rev pace.
Which means not solely does the automotive begin in silence, roll off the road in silence, and reverse in silence like a traditional hybrid, nevertheless it retains driving this manner, supplied you might have useable cost within the battery, and is due to this fact a BEV as a rule when commuting.
Whereas the 84km EV vary declare is a bit on the formidable aspect, the Outlander PHEV nonetheless gives far more vary than many others. A drive to the household farm at Christmas yielded a freeway vary of 73km, with the A/C on and two passengers, earlier than utilizing any petrol.
That is the context the place the sub 2.0L/100km gasoline effectivity declare has some fact to it.
On longer journeys, as soon as the battery’s useable cost is depleted, the Outlander PHEV tends to lean on the petrol engine as a generator to drive the motors like a collection hybrid, with claimed gasoline effectivity of 6.7L/100km. I noticed mid 7s in my driving when beginning sans cost, nevertheless.
This isn’t as environment friendly as a RAV4 Hybrid or most diesel SUVs on highways, that means as with all PHEVs it’s essential to cost the Outlander often to yield the effectivity advantages. For those who don’t plug it in because the title suggests, you then’re seeing it at its worst.
All instructed over my time within the automotive I travelled 1050km and by usually charging in a single day through my driveway three-prong wall plug yielded general indicated financial system of 4.4L/100km plus the price of charging up the battery each different night time (round $Four per 20kW in Melbourne).
What’s most spectacular in regards to the drivetrain past the mere numbers is its smoothness, in addition to its versatility. When the petrol engine kicks in both as a generator or direct front-axle drive unit, it’s decisive and refined, thanks partially to the single-speed entrance transaxle.
It additionally hammers alongside properly, with our 0-100km.h time of seven.9 seconds truly beating the producer declare. Whereas we are saying the PHEV instructions a steep value premium, it at the very least gives far punchier efficiency than the non-PHEV Outlander in addition to higher effectivity.
It’s additionally necessary to debate all of the totally different modes and drivetrain settings you’ll be able to play with, past the default Regular setting that it begins in.
When it comes to the battery you’ll be able to choose EV mode which makes use of all cost till gone with out leaning on the engine even when it will be environment friendly to take action, in addition to Save Mode (preserves your state of cost) and Cost mode (makes use of the engine to recharge the battery, which isn’t all that environment friendly).
You can too play with the regenerative braking’s charging depth or drive of resistance if you hop off-throttle, all the best way as much as one-pedal driving – besides it provides up under about 20km/h, that means you need to have interaction the mechanical brakes proper on the finish, except you’re utilizing adaptive cruise management.
Lastly there’s a dial on the centre tunnel (clearly not a transmission or driveshaft tunnel given the transaxle and twin motors rule them out) that lets you choose varied torque modes reminiscent of Energy, which masses up all three propulsion sources for optimum take-off.
It completely hammers at decrease speeds with fast response that actually places the dynamic S-AWC torque vectoring system to the check, although for larger pace overtakes it clearly tapers off above 100km/h.
The twin-motor AWD system additionally advantages from varied traction modes programmed to go well with varied surfaces, with the flexibility to channel and modulate torque as acceptable in fast time. Whereas not an off-roader, it’s fairly a succesful soft-roader.
The place it’s much less spectacular is within the areas of journey and dealing with. It feels heavy in corners, and the springs/dampers don’t management its rebound after undulations in addition to they may do.
Furthermore, the journey high quality is kind of brittle and poor over patchy roads, resulting from such low-profile tyres – much less of a difficulty within the base ES mannequin.
What do you get?
The characteristic stroll throughout the vary might be present in our 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander value and specs story here.
Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer options:
- LED headlights
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Tyre-repair equipment
- Mode 2 and Mode Three AC cables
- V2H and V2H compatibility
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Nightfall-sensing auto headlights
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Proximity key fob
- Powered tailgate, hands-free mannequin
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Privateness glass
- Roof rails
- Two-tone physique color choice
- Auto power-folding aspect mirrors
- 3-zone local weather with rear vents
- Leather-based-trimmed wheel and shifter
- 7 seats, leather-appointed
- Powered and heated entrance seats
- Driver’s seat therapeutic massage operate
- 12.3-inch instrument show
- 10.3-inch head-up show
- 9.0-inch touchscreen show
- Wi-fi charging pad
- 9-speaker Bose audio system
- Digital radio receiver
- Four x inside USB factors
- 2 x 240V and 1500W energy plugs
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer protected?
The Outlander has the requisite a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on testing performed in 2022. It acquired an grownup occupant safety ranking of 83 per cent, a baby occupant safety ranking of 92 per cent, a susceptible street person safety ranking of 81 per cent, and a security help ranking of 83 per cent.
The 2023 vary comes customary with the next security options:
- eight airbags
- 2 x ISOFIX and three x high tethers
- Ahead collision warning
- Autonomous emergency braking:
- Lane-keep help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise management
- Driver consideration alert
- Visitors signal recognition
For 2023, the Exceed and Exceed Tourer fashions decide up Visitors Jam Help (adaptive cruise management that re-engages after a whole cease), lane-keeping help with steering controls, and an energetic pace limiter that matches the Outlander to the indicated pace restrict.
Given the MY22 lacked steering help for the lane-keeping support, this can be a good replace.
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer price to run?
The price of recharging the battery is in fact contingent in your supply.
For those who’re utilizing family photo voltaic then it’s probably free, whereas utilizing Canstar Blue’s electricity price calculator, the fee to recharge the battery needs to be round $Four in Victoria (common energy value 21c/kWh) or $5.70 in NSW (common value 28.7c/kWh) from the grid whereas at house.
DC public charging on-the-go often prices about three-times as a lot. For those who’re trying on the Outlander PHEV as a cost-saver, take into account simply how lengthy it’s going to take you to make up the $16,500 value premium over the non-PHEV. Ain’t taking place…
Servicing intervals are 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and there are clear most costs for a decade.
The prices aren’t all that low-cost, and are as follows:
- 12 months or 15,000km: $349
- 24 months or 30,000km: $399
- 36 months or 45,000km: $349
- 48 months or 60,000km: $399
- 60 months or 75,000km: $349
- 72 months or 90,000km: $749
- 84 months or 105,000km: $449
- 96 months or 120,000km: $749
- 108 months or 135,000km: $449
- 120 months or 150,000km: $849
When it comes to guarantee, Mitsubishi’s customary cowl is 5 years or 100,000km, nevertheless it extends your protection to 10 years or 200,000km as long as you service your automotive at a franchise vendor.
The battery is warrantied for eight years or 160,000km, nevertheless the effective print stipulates that the battery will solely get replaced below guarantee if its retains lower than 66 per cent of its authentic vary. This determine is often extra like 80 per cent.
The ultimate price issue to think about is exterior of Mitsubishi’s management. I reside in Victoria, and right here the federal government has a controversial road-user cost for PHEVs of two.1 cents per kilometre, on high of paying gasoline levies each time you high up the tank. To not point out, PHEVs get not one of the State rebates and tax cuts that EVs do.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer
As a strict number-crunching train, the Outlander PHEV doesn’t solely stack up towards its petrol-only siblings, and as with all plug-in hybrids it’s solely extra environment friendly than a light hybrid with disciplined charging.
However this considerably soulless take neglects to say that the Outlander PHEV is only a significantly better automotive, with superior efficiency.
Mitsubishi has been making PHEVs for a very long time, and its dual-motor system with excessive ranges of adjustability could be very spectacular.
Whereas not with out different flaws, it’s a powerful machine for individuals who perceive and respect its talents – though I reckon I’d go for a less expensive model reasonably than the flagship Exceed Tourer with its gauche design touches and harsh journey.
MORE: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV sold out for now, but stock on the wayMORE: Everything Mitsubishi Outlander
Professionals
- Good electrical driving vary
- Loads of energy for acceleration
- Accessible 10-year guarantee
Cons
- Harsh journey high quality over patchy roads
- Value bounce over non-PHEV variations
- Third row is tremendous cramped
High Line Specs
- Energy: 98kW
- Gasoline Kind: Premium Unleaded/Electrical
- Economic system: 1.5L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 35g/km
- ANCAP Security Ranking: 5
