SUV SPECIAL
Outlander trio
It’s almost with envy that we peer into the past and marvel at how simple the car-buying process used to be. Forget having long lists of near indiscernible acronyms clogging up your options; it used to be a case of picking a gearbox, picking a colour and signing on the dotted line.
Forgoing all the tat, like selecting headrest contrast stitching hues or wheel patterns, the most pressing question these days is engine choice. We’re in a time of transition, where hybrid and fully electric powertrains are gaining prominence for their environmental and financial benefits as traditional petrol and diesel units appear to be falling
out of favour. But, is that swing in attitudes reflected by reality?
Across two weeks, Driven sampled three different Mitsubishi Outlanders — a petrol (silver), a diesel (white), and plug-in hybrid (red) back to back. Each became part of the furniture, journeying to and from work, with a few weekend and evening excursions for good measure.
The Outlander may not be the freshest SUV on the block, but it is one of New Zealand’s most popular. Away from the bravado of its fresher, more enthusiastic competitors, the Outlander has quietly become a bit of a sales hero for the Mitsubishi brand.
Much of this is thanks to its approachability and pricing. A conventional bodyshape gives it exceptional visibility and space and a family focus makes for an instantly comfortable, no-frills experience behind the wheel.
Our petrol model was a foundation-spec $33,990 2WD LS featuring a four-cylinder 2.4-litre engine making 126kW/224Nm. The diesel was a range-topping $56,990 4WD VRX, with a 2.3-litre 112kW/366Nm turbodiesel.
And then, of course, there was the $55,990 Outlander VRX Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle; or PHEV. This technology is still relatively ahead of the curve, making the plug-in Outlander a feather in Mitsubishi's cap.
As its elongated name suggests, the electrified 88kW/189Nm PHEV is no conventional hybrid. Instead, it's a plug-in hybrid, which means you can plug it into a wall socket at home or a public fast charger.
“But, doesn't that negate the point of a hybrid?” I hear you say. “Isn't it meant to charge itself on the run?”
It may be true that other hybrids will simply charge as you go. But the benefit you get from a plugin is that less of the energy created by the conventional engine inside (in this case, a 2-litre four-cylinder) is used to charge the batteries for the electric motor. In essence, this means plug-ins such as the PHEV will get better economy than garden-variety hybrids.
And, that economy is reflected in the claimed numbers. Mitsubishi