GREENER ALTERNATIVE

Plug-in hybrid SUV delivers emissions-free motoring in the city and trouble-free touring for longer freeway journeys

THERE’S NO RANGE ANXIETY

Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid combines a 2.4-litre petrol engine making 94kW and 199Nm with a pair of electric motors making 60kW and 70kW, powered by a small 13.8kWh battery.

It can be driven on pure electric power for up to 55km and when the battery is drained, the car switches to petrol power.

That allows owners to complete the average daily commute without burning any fuel, then head for the hills without the range anxiety associated with longer road trips.

You can recharge the battery in about seven hours via a home power socket or you can top it up to 80 per cent with a more powerful DC charger in about 25 minutes. It also has a “Vehicle to Load” ability to power appliances and will ultimately be able to feed power into your house when infrastructure permits.

IT’S NOT VERY EXCITING TO DRIVE

The Eclipse Cross PHEV is no dynamic masterpiece. It weighs almost 2000kg, about 500kg more than the petrol version, so it doesn’t feel as nimble.

Soft suspension means it can pitch under brakes and lean through corners, while it also takes a moment to settle over bigger dips and bumps taken at speed.

Around town, it does a decent job ironing out smaller lumps and imperfections.

Acceleration is a little sluggish and it can battle up steep hills. At highway speeds it feels composed, although there’s a fair bit of road noise.

PROGRESS COMES AT A COST

Plug-in hybrids aren’t strong sellers in Australia and prices are a big part of the problem.

The Eclipse Cross PHEV range starts at about $50,000 drive-away for the base ES variant, while our top-of-the-range Exceed is priced at an eye-opening $60,000.

That’s about $14,000 more than the regular petrol-powered Exceed. It’ll be tough to claw back the difference in fuel savings over the car’s lifetime.

Mitsubishi claims fuel use is just 1.9L/100km, but that doesn’t reflect likely real-world use. You’ll use next to nothing for the first 50km, but once the petrol engine kicks in, consumption is on par with petrol-powered cars. We managed fuel use of about 6L/100km during an extended drive in a mix of conditions.

THERE IS PLENTY OF STANDARD EQUIPMENT

The Exceed’s leather-appointed seats are heated at the front, as well as the rear window seats. A heated leather-wrapped steering wheel is a nice touch.

The eight-inch central touchscreen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while digital radio and satnav are standard.

There are two USB charging points up front, but back seat passengers make do with a single 12-volt charger. The rear seats also miss out on aircon vents.

The lack of a power tailgate or spare tyre are a let down at this price.

Mitsubishi has loaded up on active safety aids. The car will automatically brake if it detects a potential collision with a car or pedestrian and it will stop you wandering out of your lane by gently tugging at the steering wheel. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts help with hard-to-see places.

LOYALTY IS REWARDED

Mitsubishi guarantees its vehicles for a minimum five years and 100,000 km, which is slightly below par. But if you service your vehicle at a Mitsubishi dealership, the brand will extend warranty cover to 10 years and 200,000km

Fixed price services occur every 12 months or 15,000km at an average of $479 per visit.

The services can be expensive later in life, with three of the last five setting you back $799 a pop.