The new Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV will arrive in Australian dealers from August 15 – offering more range, more technology, an available third row of seating, but a higher price.
Compared with last year’s Outlander PHEV, the base price has been increased by $6660. Pricing of the Exceed is up by $9500, though there’s more equipment.
On the one hand this car will compete with the simpler yet still fuel-sipping Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and on the other it’ll line up against conceptually similarly fare such as the Kia Sorento PHEV. There’s also the likes of the five-seat-only Ford Escape ST-Line PHEV and MG HS Plus EV in the Medium SUV size segment the Outlander competes in.
As before, there’s a significant jump in price from conventional petrol to PHEV Outlander models.
The base five-seater ES costs $17,600 more than the all-wheel drive petrol ES, the Aspire costs $17,000 more than the comparable petrol model, the Exceed costs $18,000 more, and the Exceed Tourer is $18,500 more.
Mitsubishi is calling its first three-row Outlander PHEV a 5+2 seat model, perhaps to manage expectations. The third row is standard in Exceed and Exceed Tourer models, while the lower-spec ES and Aspire seat only five.
The new PHEV features a larger 20kWh battery, up from the old car’s 13.8kWh battery, and a new battery cooling system and more powerful electric motors.
Pure electric range is up from 54km to 84km, both measurements being on the more lenient NEDC cycle.
All models feature a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with PHEV-specific displays such as an energy flow metre.
The PHEV range also includes Mitsubishi’s Dendo Drive House, a bi-directional charging system that allows you to recharge and discharge energy from the car’s 20kWh battery.
This allows you to send power back into the grid (Vehicle-to-Grid) or power a home or other property not connected to the grid (Vehicle-to-Home).
All bar the base ES also include Vehicle to Load capability, with a pair of 1500W, 240V three-pin outlets that will provide an AC power supply to run, for example, small appliances while you’re out camping.
As with the recently introduced electrified Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi is calling its new electrified mid-sized SUV the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV instead of the PHEV.
The company has said that even after it created this segment in Australia back in 2015, it’s struggled with the general lack of customer knowledge about plug-in hybrids.
Australian buyers’ apathy towards PHEVs has led to Kia opting not to bring the plug-in hybrid version of its second-generation Niro.
While a PHEV can run on pure electric power at more than just car park speeds, unlike a hybrid, it commands a significant premium.
PHEVs also find themselves at the mercy of Victoria’s recently increased road user charge, with owners charged 2.1 cents per kilometre which is also on top of any fuel excise paid when they’re refuelled.
Pricing
- 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV ES 5 seat: $54,590
- 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV Aspire 5 seat: $60,990
- 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV Exceed 5+2 seat: $65,990
- 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV Exceed Tourer 5+2 seat: $68,490
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Powertrains
The Outlander PHEV combines an Atkinson cycle 98kW 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a 20.0kWh lithium-ion battery pack and twin electric motors, providing all-wheel drive.
The two electric motors produce 85kW and 100kW (up from 60kW and 70kW in the old car). Total system outputs are 185kW of power and 450Nm of torque.
Efficiency
The Outlander PHEV has a claimed 84km of pure electric driving range and fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km, both on the more lenient NEDC cycle. DC charging is supported via the car’s CHAdeMO port.
It has a 56L fuel tank, up from 45L in the old car.
Mitsubishi says it’ll take 38 minutes to charge from 0 to 80 per cent on a DC charger.
Dimensions
While Mitsubishi hasn’t released Outlander PHEV dimensions, the regular petrol model measures 4710mm long, 1862mm wide, and 1740mm tall with a 2706mm wheelbase.
Servicing and Warranty
The Outlander PHEV is covered by a five-year or 100,000km warranty, though this is increased to 10 years or 200,000km if you serve within the Mitsubishi dealership network. Mitsubishi offers 10 years of capped-price servicing.
The battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.
Safety
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, like the petrol-powered model, has a five-star rating from ANCAP. It received scores of 83 per cent for adult occupant protection, 92 per cent for child occupant protection, 81 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 83 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver attention monitoring
- Emergency Lane Keeping with oncoming and overtaking traffic recognition
- Predictive Forward Collision Mitigation
- Haptic vibration alert for steering wheel
- Adaptive cruise control
- Reversing camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
Aspire and up include:
- Reverse AEB
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Surround-view camera
All models feature the following airbag coverage:
- First-row driver and passenger front airbags
- First-row driver and passenger centre airbag
- First-row driver and passenger side airbags (torso)
- Driver’s knee airbag
- First- and second-row curtain airbags
Standard Equipment
The ES comes standard with the following equipment:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights and daytime running lights
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Six-speaker sound system
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Keyless start
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- Cloth upholstery
- Urethane steering wheel
- 40:20:40 split fold and reclining second-row seat
- Hill descent control
- Terrain control
- Trailer stability assist
- Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables
The Aspire adds:
- 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels
- Privacy glass
- ‘High-grade’ LED headlights with auto-levelling
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Automatic headlights
- Adaptive high-beam
- LED fog lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Silver roof rails
- Silver skid plate garnishes front and rear
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- ‘Combination’ seat trim
- Power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- 10.8-inch head-up display
- Wireless phone charging
- Keyless entry
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Roll-type tonneau cover
- 2 x USB outlets in rear console
- Electro-chromatic rear-view mirror
- Tyre repair kit
The Aspire also gains an AC power supply for the Vehicle to Load function, with two 1500W, 240V three-pin outlets.
The Exceed adds:
- Colour-coded lower body accents
- Gloss black B- and C-pillars
- Panoramic sunroof
- Bose nine-speaker sound system
- Third row of seating
- Quilted leather upholstery (Black or Light Grey)
- Power passenger seat
- Two-position driver and passenger memory
- Pull-up second-row sunshades
- Tri-zone climate control with rear A/C panel
- Front door trim illumination
- Aluminium gearshift trim panel
- Power-folding mirrors with memory and reverse auto-tilt
The Exceed Tourer adds:
- Two-tone body colour
- Two-tone leather upholstery (black and saddle tan)
- Massaging front seats
Colours
The Outlander PHEV is available in the following colours:
- White (solid)
- Cosmic Blue pearlescent
- Sterling Silver metallic
- Titanium metallic
- White Diamond prestige
- Red Diamond prestige
- Black Diamond prestige
The Exceed Tourer is offered with:
- Black Diamond/Deep Bronze two-tone
- White Diamond/Black Mica two-tone
