Outlander PHEV

While hybrid vehicles usually carry a premium over their diesel or
petrol equivalents, Mitsubishi has priced the Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) the same as its diesel variant.

Historically, 4x4 vehicles have had the reputation of being gas-guzzlers. But Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid electric version of its Outlander is a remarkably clean car. It can do 32.5 miles in pure electric mode and it also has a 2.0-litre petrol engine, giving the car a claimed 512 miles. The theory is that, for most people’s daily commutes, which average 25 miles (according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), the electric power will be sufficient and you won’t need to fill up at the pumps. But for long distance trips, the petrol engine will get you there.

If you let the car’s computer system decide where to take its power, it will use a combination of electric and petrol for the best fuel efficiency, keeping petrol consumption to a minimum. The quoted fuel economy figure is 148mpg, which is great. But what is even greater is that you can get much higher than that. On the first leg of the launch trip, which was town driving, I achieved 941mpg. On the second part, which involved the motorway, I achieved just under 134mpg, and the last part, which was both fast and town
driving, I got 564mpg. What struck me was that the petrol engine was barely ever engaged. This car can do a lot in just pure electric mode, including getting up 70mph, using its 4x4 capability, and even towing. And when all the battery bars went down, the energy recouped from the regenerative system topped up the battery enough for the car to switch back to electric mode.

The car can be charged though a domestic socket which will take 5 hours. On a 16amp dedicated wall socket – which can be supplied by British Gas for free thanks to government subsidies – it will take 3.5 hours. Using a rapid charger, it’ll take 30 minutes for an 80 per cent charge. What is interesting is that you can also charge the car up using the petrol engine, which powers a generator, if you needed electric power and couldn’t get to an external source. Another clever feature is that you can save the power on the battery if, for example, you had a stretch of motorway to do before reaching a town.

Generally for hybrid technology, you have to pay a premium over the diesel/petrol option. The Volvo V60 for example, which has the most comparable technology, you pay over £11,000 more for the hybrid version. What’s very compelling about the Outlander PHEV is that it is the same price as the diesel version – £28,249 after the government grant. What’s more, there are no compromises due to the size of the battery, in that you still get five seats and have the same boot space, something that other hybrids can’t always claim.

The Outlander PHEV was enjoyable to drive. Spending most of its time using electric power, it was silent with instant torque. When you put your foot down, the petrol engine is engaged. You can hear it, and it is fleetingly coarse, but then it softens again and cruises quietly along at speeds. With the battery being under the cabin floor, the car has a low centre of gravity and good weight distribution, which makes the Outlander handle well.

Compelling fleet case
Company car drivers can save substantially with the Outlander PHEV. At 44g/km of CO2, it attracts just 5 per cent BIK. So if you are a 40 per cent tax payer, company car tax on the Outlander PHEV is £665 for the first year. In the tax years 2015 to 2016, company car tax is increasing, and the savings will become even greater. Comparing it to the Honda CRV EX Auto, a 40 per cent tax payer keeping their Outlander PHEV for three years will save £11,201. Companies also benefit with National Insurance contribution savings and 100 per cent write-down allowance in the first year. And van drivers take note, there will be a commercial variant of the Outlander PHEV coming out later this year.

ENGINE: 1,998cc, four-cylinder petrol,
 12.0kWh battery pack plus
two 60 kW electric motors
CO2: 44g/km
MPG (combined): 148
VED: Band A, £0
BIK: 5%
PRICE (OTR): £28,249
(after government
 Plug-In Car Grant)