Beating the system

The UK’s best selling plug-in hybrid last year was the Mitsubishi Outlander, but now there’s an improved version. Matt Joy finds out more

It’sagoodtimefor all types of electric cars as diesel is goingthroughsomedarkdays, plus the crucial infrastructure is getting better all the time. No wonderthen that theMitsubishi Outlander is so popular, being one of the more affordable PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) as well as one of the most practical.

Now there’s a revised version ready for market with changes to the powertrain operation and the suspension as well as interior and exterior design.

Equipment levels have been given a boost too and crucially the Outlander PHEV remains eligible for the government’s £5,000 grant.

The previous Outlander had all the typical SUV design cues you’d expect but there was something about its proportions that made it look unusually tall for its length.

Clearly that was something taken on by Mitsubishi HQ because the new Outlander is

longer than before thanks to redesigned front and rear bumpers. The new design is sharper too, giving the Outlander a more distinctive face and boosting the feeling of quality with revised lights and alloy wheel designs too.

The Outlander is also doing great things forMitsubishi’s image in the UK as it dominates the PHEV segment and helps to bring new buyers into the brand.

The Outlander sits comfortably in the mid-sized SUV segment and is well equipped to offer useful space for passengers and luggage.

The high driving position is appealing with a low-set dashboard offering a good view out, and more than sufficient head and legroom.

It’s also spacious in the back, if not class-leading, while boot space is 463 litres – a little less than some rivals but this is the flip side of carrying the extra electrical hardware.

The underlying hardware of the Outlander PHEV are as before, with electric motors front and rear combining with a 2.0litre petrol engine to give a variety of hybrid modes.

You can use the petrol engine as a range extender or as direct drive to the wheels, and run the batteries to give a power boost or save their output for pure electric mode. One change is the sharpening of the system response at low speeds, cutting the 0-25mph time by 50%.

Mitsubishi has alsoworkedat improving the overall driving experience. Re-tuned suspension with stiffer underpinnings are ahelp, creating amorecomposed ride while the handling is safe and secure for a car of this size and shape.

But the Outlander PHEV’s biggest appeal is the flexibility of its powertrain, offering sufficiently brisk performance when required alongside frugal economy in the right conditions. It’s hard not to feel like you’re beating the system when you are behind the wheel.

All things considered it’shard not to see the Outlander PHEV as something of a bargain. It’s priced the same as the equivalent diesel version with the government grant included which means you can sneak into the GX3h model for a measly £29,249 and get 18in alloys, keyless entry and start, Bluetooth and a decent audio system, with a few extra toys thrown in for this latest model.

Go the whole hog for £35,999 and there’s the satnav with reversing camera, powered tailgate, radar cruise control and even a heated steering wheel.

If there’s a car for themoment then the Outlander PHEV is pretty much it. It’s practical, comfortable and usable, making it perfect for family car duties, yet the higher-specification versions feel reasonably luxurious too.

But it’s the potential for zeroemissions running and spectacular fuel consumption over short journeys that makes it such an appealing prospect.

ON TEST