Outlander hybrid purrs with pop
Quiet, with understated good looks, the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a surprising revelation in hybrid SUVs.
With so many SUVs and CUVs to choose from, the need to separate one from the other often comes down to one or two things. The Outlander claws its way into the discussion with its sophomore PHEV edition. Electric motors drive the front and rear wheels, delivering a whisper-quiet ride while the gas engine spends most of its time recharging the battery. A total of 190 horsepower is achieved with the 2.0-liter engine combined with the 12-kilowatt lithium batteries.
I managed to beat the 25 mpg estimates on combined fuel, squeezing it just over 27 mpg, but the PHEV will manage over 70 mpg equivalent on straight electric power, although for only 22 miles. The torquey electric motors get the big rig right off the line, delivering plenty of pop before settling into traffic.
Mitsubishi, which seemed on the brink of pulling out of the U.S. auto marketplace a couple of years ago, has really reshaped itself from small economy SUVs to sublimely classy contender. With simple but pleasing exterior lines, multispoked alloys and a rebooted interior, the Japanese automaker has created a must test drive.
There are several Outlander trim levels, and the PHEV carves a niche in the economy mileage yet practical utility vehicle market with this all-wheel drive contender. Our tester was outfitted with a very pleasant leather-trimmed interior that was well constructed. A muscular leather-wrapped steering wheel frames the deeply seated two-gauge dash cluster. The soft-touch surfaces blended nicely with some of the lacquered surfaces and were offset by patterned insets around the slick German-inspired gear selector.
Large cubbies, cup holders and storage along with excellent legroom in the front and back made for a super comfortable ride. The SUV is a good highwayman, easily cruising the open road and offers the opportunity to quickly recharge the battery on the fly. Despite a longer wheelbase, parking was a snap, with both good sight lines and useful backup camera. I liked the slightly higher headroom and with the rear seats dropped, a large deck makes short work of weekend errands.
Mitsubishi sticks with the booming Rockford-Fosgate sound system, driven through a good-looking infotainment touch screen. Loaded with the latest electronic connectivity — Apple Carplay and Android Auto — and redundant controls on the steering wheel get you into the system seamlessly, and communication on the hands-free talk system is pretty simple.
The PHEV GT prices out at $42,625 — the high end of the carmaker’s lineup — and includes LED headlamps, heated seats, powered tailgate, rain-sensing wipers and a full safety array.