Hybrid SUV shows the way to the future
Mitsubishi is an automaker in transition, but the core values that the company was built on are still in place. Among them are the advanced engineering efforts that have resulted in the Outlander PHEV.
For the uninitiated, PHEV stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, a system that advances the typical gasolineelectric hybrid to the next level in terms of efficiency. They use larger battery packs to provide more electric-only range, but that requires being plugged in to charge up. Plug-in hybrids have been around for some time, but they are only now beginning to catch on in North America.
In Europe, plug-ins are much more popular, says Mitsubishi. There, the Outlander PHEV has sold more than 100,000 units in the past three years. Although it was expected to arrive on our shores some time ago, PHEV production has finally been ramped up to a point where dealers finally have them in stock.
Physically, the compact Outlander PHEV appears unchanged from the gasoline-only version that launched for 2013, a vehicle that was facelifted two years later. The design is attractive enough, but it’s unfortunate that the high-tech hybrid drivetrain wasn’t installed in a more modern platform with equally eyecatching sheetmetal. Perhaps Nissan, which now oversees Mitsubishi, will eventually provide some assistance.
The comfortably cushioned, but narrow, interior mostly carries over from the standard Outlander, except for additional gauges to monitor the PHEV’s systems.
The PHEV gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 117 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque, while front and rear electric motors each produce 80 horsepower, but 101 and 144 pound-feet of torque, respectively. Total system output is 197 horsepower and 186 pound-feet.
The electric motors are fed by a lithium-ion battery pack located behind and below the rear seat (when it’s folded, the load floor is less than flat). There’s no folding third-row seat, which is standard in other Outlanders.
The batteries contribute to the PHEV’s more-than-1,900-kilogram curb weight, which is about 360 kilograms more than a base gasoline four-cylinder Outlander. A single-speed controller directs energy to all four wheels.
Recharging on 120-volt household current takes about eight hours, but that can be trimmed to 3.5 hours using a 240-volt (Level 2) charger. Using a public Level 3 fast-charge outlet will get the vehicle to an 80 per cent charge in about 25 minutes.
Fully charged with the plug, the PHEV can operate on electric power alone (except for sudden acceleration bursts) for up to 35 kilometres. Past that, the gasoline engine acts as an electric generator to keep both electric motors functioning. At cruising speeds, the engine and front motor combine to add power.
Whatever the mode, the drive system operates seamlessly and quietly, but the noise climbs the harder you press the accelerator.
From a dead stop, the PHEV instantly gets up and goes, which feels good until about the 55-65 km/h mark when it seems to run out of steam. The vehicle delivers an astoundingly smooth and comfortable ride, but a soft suspension also means excessive body lean while cornering.
Combined city/highway fuel economy is rated at an equivalent of 3.2 l/100 km, but 9.4 l/100 km city and 9.0 on the highway with the battery depleted. Clearly, it pays to leave the PHEV plugged in when not in use.
At $44,450 in Canada (with destination charges), the base SE comes with dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.
The Touring trim adds a power sunroof, leather seat covers, heated steering wheel and fog lights, while the GT includes automatic high beams plus a range of crash-mitigating safety technologies.
Used as intended, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will deliver significant fuel savings while providing the kind of point-and-shoot acceleration that makes electric propulsion so satisfying.