Whereas plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are a small nook of the Australian market, the Mitsubishi Outlander is among the few autos that has appeared to make the tech stick.

It was one of many first autos to supply a plug-in hybrid system again in 2014, and has garnered a loyal following from patrons wanting electrical each day driving skill and a combustion engine for longer journeys.

Typical hybrids and pure electrical autos have taken centre stage of late, with PHEVs languishing on the gross sales charts in Australia by comparability.

EV gross sales in 2022 throughout Australia tallied 33,410 models, whereas common hybrids discovered 81,786 patrons. PHEVs, in the meantime, managed simply 5937 gross sales.

Not like most different manufacturers that restrict PHEV choices to a single, high-spec trim degree with a lofty price ticket, Mitsubishi is certainly one of few to supply a number of trim ranges – together with an attainable entry-level mannequin.

Right here on take a look at we’ve the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES, a fleet-focused base mannequin that eschews luxuries to ship a beginning worth inside attain of petrol and diesel rivals.

It prices virtually $17,000 greater than the equal petrol Outlander, however the base PHEV is across the similar cash as a Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD Hybrid, which as we all know is in-demand and topic to lengthy wait occasions.

Does the Outlander PHEV pack sufficient goodness on the base degree to sway you from high-spec alternate options?

How a lot does the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES price?

At $56,490 earlier than on-road prices, the entry-level Outlander PHEV ES is about the identical worth as a top-spec RAV4 Hybrid.

That’s up $900 on the 2022 vary, offset with extra tools together with auto high-beam, rear cross-traffic alert, and AEB in reverse.

It’s important to spend up for the Exceed ($67,490) and Exceed Tourer ($69,990), to get the MI-Pilot semi-autonomous driving help system which provides Visitors Jam Help and lane centring to the usual adaptive cruise management system.

Not like the petrol Outlander ES, the PHEV ES isn’t accessible with seven seats, as a substitute having to once more go for the costlier Exceed and Exceed Tourer variations.

The Outlander PHEV ES has few direct plug-in hybrid rivals, though it’s within the ballpark of a number of typical hybrid alternate options.

Maybe this model’s closest like-for-like competitors is Mitsubishi’s personal Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid EV Exceed, which at $55,990 and runs a really related (if earlier technology) PHEV system beneath.

The aforementioned Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD Hybrid is $58,360 earlier than on-roads, which is the flagship specification with all of the fruit. Equally, the associated Nissan X-Path is offered in series-hybrid Ti-L e-Energy with e-4orce guise from $57,690.

There’s additionally the new-generation Honda CR-V e:HEV RS now on sale for $59,900 drive-away, which shapes as a discount right here. Not like the Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, nevertheless, the Outlander presents prolonged EV vary (as much as 84km NEDC).

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV pricing:

• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES 4WD 5 seat: $55,490 (+$900)
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Aspire 4WD 5 seat: $61,990 (+$1000)
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed 4WD 7 seat: $67,490 (+$1500)
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer 4WD 7 seat: $69,990 (+$1500)

Costs exclude on-road prices

What’s the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES like on the within?

Whereas there are some clear indicators it is a base mannequin, choosing the PHEV clothes up the cabin barely.

The important thing variations are in infotainment and show tech, which might actually assist to carry the atmosphere.

Forward of the motive force you get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster often reserved for greater grades of the petrol vary, whereas the 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen positive factors an inch over the petrol ES’s unit and presents embedded navigation in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

That cluster sits behind a plastic steering wheel, which is the actual reminder that you’ve got the bottom mannequin. It’s additionally not a tactile delight, notably given the value level.

The seats are trimmed in material, however the generously padded and bolstered entrance pews are snug, and supply good ranges of adjustment, notably for the motive force. I used to be fairly pleased sitting there for prolonged durations of time.

General materials and construct high quality is strong, and an enormous step up on the earlier Outlander – which was arguably dated from the second it hit the market. That stated, the X-Path feels extra premium being successfully the identical automotive underneath the pores and skin.

There’s an excellent ratio of soft-touch plastics on high-traffic surfaces, although bits just like the door playing cards and centre console have exhausting, scratchy plastics that aren’t good to the touch. That plastic steering wheel likewise dulls the in any other case sturdy presentation.

The high-grade digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen go a protracted approach to elevate the cabin, with crisp graphics and cargo occasions, in addition to a aggressive degree of performance and user-friendliness.

Whereas the infotainment system was usually trouble-free, I had a couple of cases in the beginning of the week the place the reversing digicam wouldn’t work, and would then flash up a clean blue display in reverse that jogged my memory of plugging in your Nintendo 64 into the TV and never matching the cables to the best colors.

Storage and practicality up entrance is fairly good, with a phone-sized slot underneath the bodily local weather management cluster (it really works nice), with out the wi-fi charger from greater grades. A pockets will match there, and there’s USB-A and USB-C ports alongside a 12V socket.

There’s a number of clean house across the shifter that would have been higher utilised for my part, and the partial gloss black sections are a magnet for fingerprints. The shift-by-wire selector, rotary drive mode selector, in addition to EV mode and one-pedal driving buttons are all straightforward to make use of and have a pleasant, damped motion to them.

A pair of huge, toothed cupholders are nestled between the entrance seats, and there’s a deep centre console bin that’s lined with a properly padded leatherette lid.

Not like the X-Path, nevertheless, there’s no slot beneath the centre console bridge to cover purses or different gadgets, which is a tick for Nissan for higher utilising that house.

Nevertheless like the X-Path, the Outlander’s biggish dimensions for the section enable for an excellently spacious rear seat for the category.

On this five-seat base mannequin, you don’t must stress about adjusting the second row for the rearmost occupants. The rear seats will be left of their rearmost place, and supply capacious leg, head and knee room for the category.

Just like the entrance, the seats themselves are fairly comfortable and comfortable, and facilities like rear air vents, map pockets and bottle holders all assist. There’s a fold-down armrest with cupholders, too.

Mother and father are catered for with ISOFIX anchors on the outboard seats, in addition to top-tether factors throughout all three.

The boot measures 494 litres (VDA) with all 5 seats in place, which is definitely 9L up on the petrol model. Fold the seats down and there’s 1414L (VDA) to the roof.

The place petrol-powered Outlanders get both a full-size spare or space-saver relying on variant, the PHEV variations make do with a tyre restore package.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV includes a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine working the environment friendly Atkinson cycle, teamed with two electrical motors and a 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

By itself the petrol engine places out 98kW (5000rpm) and 195Nm (4300rpm). In the meantime the entrance electrical motor places out 85kW, and the rear e-motor has a 100kW output.

Mitsubishi lists complete system outputs of 185kW and 450Nm, which is a good whack of grunt for this section.

The Outlander PHEV has a claimed 84km of pure electrical driving vary and gasoline consumption of 1.5L/100km, each on the extra lenient NEDC cycle. It has a 56L gasoline tank, up from 45L within the outdated automotive.

DC charging is supported by way of the automotive’s CHAdeMO port. Mitsubishi says it’ll take 38 minutes to cost from 0 to 80 per cent on a DC charger by way of its CHAdeMO port.

How does the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES drive?

Begin the Outlander with a full battery in EV mode, and also you’ll be capable to drive this as an electrical car.

It’ll begin silently in its EV setting, and makes use of its dual-motor electrical drive system primarily whereas there’s enough cost ranges in its lithium-ion battery.

The Outlander PHEV feels easy in its efficiency, and is quiet and refined on the transfer. It’s not fairly electrical automotive quick when driving as one, but it surely feels extra responsive and fewer noisy than the petrol fashions by some margin.

Solely in ES trim do you get the smaller 18-inch alloy wheels 235/60 profile tyres, which assist to deal with a key criticism of fashions with bigger 20-inch rims – the experience.

Round city and on the freeway the Outlander has a supple experience that’s extra befitting a household car more likely to be loaded up with folks and their stuff. Increased grades of the Outlander get busy over tram tracks and pockmarked roads.

These chubbier tyres pay dividends in transmitting much less highway noise into the cabin than in greater grades with low-profile rubber, so it presents a extra luxurious drive all-round regardless of being the bottom variant.

As with different Outlander fashions, the motive force controls are gentle and assisted, clearly targeted on consolation and refinement versus driver engagement. That’s no unhealthy factor.

The sunshine steering makes the 4710mm lengthy and 1862mm huge Mitsubishi a lot simpler to park – when the reversing digicam is working – and fewer of a chore to string by means of tight metropolis streets and carparks.

Conversely, it will possibly make the tall and huge entrance finish really feel slightly obscure at occasions, and the comfortable suspension means it’ll lean a bit by means of sharper turns. It feels extra SUV-like than car-like on this regard.

As soon as the petrol engine kicks in while you’ve depleted the battery or caught the Outlander in Hybrid or Energy mode, it’ll primarily act as a sequence hybrid prioritising electrical drive with the back-up of the petrol motor as a generator, although it’ll have all techniques work collectively underneath exhausting acceleration.

At a cruise the electrified drivetrain shuffles between energy sources to prioritise efficiency or effectivity. It’s fairly a intelligent system.

Mitsubishi is to be counseled for the extent of insulation on the petrol engine, which is heard faintly underneath load however isn’t intrusive. It’s a stark distinction to the usual Outlander, which might get fairly vocal while you sink your boot in.

Highway noise is effectively suppressed for the category with out providing luxurious ranges of refinement, whereas the Outlander’s boxy physique and fats wing mirrors can at occasions transmit slightly whistle at greater speeds. It’s in any other case fairly good for the category.

The inclusion of blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is welcome, as is adaptive cruise management for freeway stints. Whereas the Outlander’s adaptive cruise will convey you to a cease you need to maintain re-engaging it because it doesn’t supply Visitors Jam Help on this spec.

Lane departure warning will provide you with a warning with each chimes and vibration by means of the steering wheel in case you drift over lane markings, and there’s a Lane Departure Prevention (maintaining help) operate that can apply the brakes on one aspect of the car at speeds over 60km/h to cease you from leaving the lane.

For a correct lane centring operate it is advisable to get the Exceed or Exceed Tourer with MI-Pilot, which provides semi-autonomous freeway driving functionality.

What do you get?

Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights, daytime working lights
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 6-speaker sound system
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Keyless begin
• Twin-zone local weather management with rear air vents
• Fabric upholstery
• Urethane steering wheel
• 40:20:40 cut up fold and reclining second-row seat
• Hill descent management
• Terrain management
• Trailer stability help
• Mode 2, Mode 3 charging cables

Is the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES secure?

The Outlander wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on 2022 checks – and applies to all variants together with PHEV fashions.

It acquired an grownup occupant safety ranking of 83 per cent, a toddler occupant safety ranking of 92 per cent, a susceptible highway person safety ranking of 81 per cent, and a security help ranking of 83 per cent.

Customary security options embody:

• 8 airbags incl. front-centre, driver’s knee
• Adaptive cruise management
• Auto high-beam
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
  • Junction help
  • Reverse AEB
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver consideration alert
• Ahead collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Lane maintain help
• Parking sensors entrance, rear
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing digicam
• Visitors signal recognition

Outlander Exceed provides:

• MI-Pilot
  • Adaptive cruise management incl. cease&go
  • Lane centring help
  • Steering wheel contact sensors
• Pace Restrict Help

How a lot does the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES price to run?

The Outlander PHEV is roofed by a five-year, 100,000km guarantee; although that is elevated to 10 years/200,000km in case you service inside Mitsubishi’s dealership community.

The high-voltage battery can be lined by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.

Mitsubishi presents 10 years of capped-price servicing, with intervals of 12 months or 15,000km. Every service prices $299 apart from the sixth, eighth and tenth, which price $599, $599 and $799, respectively.

For 5 years you’re taking a look at $1495, which is on the decrease aspect of the section.

Actual-world gasoline consumption will rely upon how often you cost the Outlander PHEV. With nightly charging I may mainly do a whole day’s commuting with EV vary to spare, thus attaining 0.0L/100km.

On the event I exceeded the battery’s EV vary – which might usually hit the 60-70km mark in real-world testing – you’d see the gasoline consumption creep up. With prolonged use as a traditional hybrid, indicated gasoline consumption would rise to concerning the 5-6L/100km mark which nonetheless isn’t unhealthy.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES

Even in its most elementary trim, the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid ES is a number of household automotive for the cash.

Sure you forego some luxuries you’d count on for the value level, however the Outlander PHEV presents an awesome stability of EV vary, driving efficiency and refinement, and options that covers key areas after which some.

That stated, the plastic steering wheel and adaptive cruise management sans Visitors Jam Help are inclusions that might have me spend as much as the next grade.

It’s not exhausting to attain 70-75km of EV driving vary per cost, and there’s loads of house to hold the household in consolation. Actually, it’s the form of no-frills household transport that needs to be good for most individuals.

Be sensible with charging it and also you’ll not often go to the gasoline station, and in case you service it with Mitsubishi you’ll be lined for a decade with the guarantee.

Drawbacks embody the $17,000 worth premium over the equal petrol – although in case you lease it the FBT financial savings will shut that hole, alongside the gasoline financial savings – in addition to the bottom cabin and tech gremlins in our take a look at automotive.

However all informed the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV is among the most convincing PHEVs on sale, if you will get your fingers on one – we perceive someplace round 1500-2000 models ought to arrive right here in 2023, throughout quite a few batches.

Click on the photographs for the total gallery

BUY: Mitsubishi Outlander
MORE: All the pieces Mitsubishi Outlander