Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – 7 Key Facts You Need to Know

If you are on the market for a fuel economic car these days, you are no longer confined to the realms of smaller engines with fewer cylinders and diesel alone. Today, efficiency means the incorporation of electric motors in your powertrain. And thankfully, unlike the early days, this technology is not limited to small cars like the Toyota Prius or Nissan Leaf.

You can also go green in an SUV.

And one of the best examples of a green SUV is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

What’s so great about the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV? I’ll tell you in a moment, but first, let’s get a clearer understanding of the 2 main types of electric powertrains you will find as you look for a green car.

Electric Vehicle (EV) VS Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

When it comes to electric vehicles, you will find them in 2 major flavors – EVs and PHEVs. But what exactly is the difference between the 2? And which, if any, is better than the other.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles are cars that utilize both an electric motor and petrol (or diesel engine) working together in harmony to increase the efficiency of your vehicle. You can plug-in the vehicle to charge its electric motor that, when used exclusively, can give you a limited range depending on the battery and the motor. Once the battery is depleted, the gasoline powertrain kicks in.

Electric vehicles, on the other hand, run solely on an electric powertrain. They usually have bigger batteries than their PHEV counterparts so as to increase their range as they have no backup fuel source.

The advantage of both is that they save you money at the pump and also in tax rebates.

The one big advantage with EVs over PHEVs is that because they completely run on an electric powertrain, they don’t leave any footprint on the environment.

However, PHEVs have one up over EVs in that they eliminate range anxiety. Because they use both electricity and gasoline, you can never be stranded. Besides, for commutes around town, you’ll find that you rarely get to use the gasoline powertrain if you don’t commute too far from home. With that being said, let’s get back to our car of the moment – the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – 7 Key Facts

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a great car that has been receiving rave reviews. When Mitsubishi announced that they were released a plug-in hybrid model, SUV enthusiasts couldn’t wait to see how it would perform.

This was another welcome relief as it afforded drivers the opportunity to drive a big car without feeling guilty about the effect on the environment. So what do you need to know about the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV? Well, everything.

But I’ll only share a few important features and functions with you.

Design and Build Quality

What can I say? It’s a Mitsubishi after all.

Mitsubishi has built a reputation for designing building beautiful, robust, and reliable cars since 1917 with their first car, the Mitsubishi Model A. this was also Japan’s first series production car. Fast forward exactly 100 years later and there’s the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Like most modern SUVs, the Outlander PHEV features a monstrous and aggressive front end that sports a front grille with generous chrome works.

This is one SUV that doesn’t just look pretty but is definitely capable of going off-road without skipping a beat.

Cutting Edge Technology

Mitsubishi Motors has always been a major player in the car industry (and has sold some of its technology to help other carmakers). With the mechanical and electrical experience under their belt, you can’t expect anything less than the best from them – and that’s exactly what you get with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

This noteworthy SUV is powered by an electrical generator that is coupled to a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine located in the front part of the car. This powers a 12-kWh battery and also sends power to the front wheels.

The rest of the power comes is directed to the rear wheels by means of an electric motor situated under the rear cargo floor. According to Mitsubishi Motors, the total system power is 197hp. Pretty powerful for a 2-liter PHEV.

The instant-on torque (thanks to the electric motor) from a standstill makes the Outlander feel like it has more horses under the hood than it does, making it great for around town jaunts while affording you enough punch for freeway driving too. And that while saving you fuel costs.

It doesn’t get better than this does it?

Well, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV it does. Let’s continue so that we see more of the great stuff you can expect.

Fast Charging Times

One big advantage that comes with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is that charging times are pretty quick, meaning you don’t have to wait much for your electric powertrain to get back online.

For instance, when you use your domestic socket to charge, it will only take 5 hours to bring the battery to full capacity, while a dedicated charger will cut that time down to 3 hours and 30 minutes. As for the public fast-charging outlets, you’ll only have to spend 25 minutes of your time to bring your battery up to 80 percent capacity, enough time to finish your cup of coffee.

You can also turn the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s motors into generators that can replenish your batteries while on the move, thus helping to extend your electric range.

Going Off-Grid, Go with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

One nifty and handy feature you will appreciate when you go camping with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the electrical outlet found in the rear cargo area. This can power almost any kind of appliance and will even continue operating even as the vehicle’s hybrid system is depleted. In such a case, the engine will turn on and supply power to both the car’s systems and any of your accessories attached to it.

This is a very handy feature that off-roaders and campers will definitely find useful.

Amazing Performance

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one plug-in hybrid SUV that definitely packs a punch – on and off-road. The conventional 2 electric motor and gasoline engine setup on the Outlander PHEV is a piece of art that will give you a seamless and smooth drive, whether around town or on the motorway.

There is no tactile gear shifting with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, just a seamless transmission of power. You can drive without doing anything special, reducing distractions and allowing you to focus completely on the road ahead. The vehicle’s system does the rest, even determining when to employ the electric motors or convert them into generators to juice up the battery when its charge is nearly depleted.

Talk about sweet effortless driving. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can go up to 84mph in full electric mode, pretty good for an SUV. This means it is possible to do a bit of motorway driving without needing to switch to the gasoline engine. But the downer is that the electric range is only 33 miles, meaning the electric motors are more useful for trips around town.

No Compromise on Space

Most hybrid vehicles compromise on space when it comes to packaging so as to be able to accommodate the electric motor. But the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV breaks the norm here as the design keeps all the space others encroach on – mainly the rear seats or cargo area.

The rear seats in this hybrid are comfortable and offer ample legroom, even for taller passengers while the cargo area is also spacious, even with the subwoofer nestled into the back.

Unbelievable Pricing

As with all things in life, the final and most crucial deciding factor concerning any purchase is the price. This is where the biggest surprise is s pertaining to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

The 2018 version of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV starts at just $35,535.00 while the fully-loaded, GT S-AWC narrowly crosses the $40k mark to rest at $41,225.00.

And with federal tax rebates of up to $5,836.00, the final prices come down significantly, making the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV more affordable than most of its competitors.

With such a sweet deal, it’s very difficult to pass over this fabulous vehicle, especially since it will save you more in terms of fuel down the road.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – One of a Kind

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is truly a one of a kind PHEV SUV. If you are in the market for a hybrid SUV, this is probably the best option you have. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and take this baby for a test drive. Be warned though, you may be tempted to sign the dotted line and keep it.

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