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Mitsubishi broke new ground when it launched the Outlander PHEV in 2014 – not so much for the technology it offered, but because it cost the same as an equivalent diesel-powered Outlander.
The brand justified this by asking why people should pay a premium for a petrol hybrid if a diesel SUV doesn’t suit their lifestyle. And it seems to have paid off. Of the 12,000 plug-ins registered in the UK last year, 10,000 were Outlanders.
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So with the car proving a favourite among buyers, any update would be small, right? Well, yes and no. The 2.0-litre petrol engine is unchanged – as are the two electric motors and the 32.5-mile range they generate.
But the new version cuts CO2 emissions from 44g/km to 42g/km and improves economy from 148mpg to 152mpg. That figure may seem preposterous, yet on our test, which involved mainly city driving and some A-roads, the car returned just over 100mpg.
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So if you work in town and have a charging point there and at home, it’s possible you won’t need to go near a petrol station for months. As before, the PHEV has functionality to charge on the move or save the range – although this will, of course, use precious litres of unleaded.
Inside, there’s some neat new ‘Black Ash’ wood trim and soft-touch plastics, a smarter-looking steering wheel and more standard kit. It’s quieter than before, too, thanks to thicker window glass and better soundproofing. However, it’s on the outside where the brunt of the changes lie. There’s a slightly fussy front end with Mitsubishi’s new ‘Dynamic Shield’ look and LED daytime running lights, plus a tweaked rear. In fact, there’s a hint of Jeep Grand Cherokee about it from the back.
Low-down grunt has been improved, too. The car is two seconds quicker from 0-25mph than before, but we still wouldn’t describe the Outlander as fun to drive. The steering is a little vague and the ride is too hard. Hit a bump mid-corner, and the PHEV hops around.
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Elsewhere, it’s business as usual so there’s good visibility and rear space, as well as a 436-litre boot. Prices have risen by £1,000 across the board, which is fair considering all models get a heated steering wheel, 360-degree parking camera and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
- Model: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4h
- Price: £33,899 (inc. £5k grant)
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol, plus electric motors
- Power: 200bhp
- Transmission: Single-speed, CVT
- 0-62mph: 11.0 seconds
- Top speed: 106mph
- Economy/CO2: 152mpg/42g/km
- On sale: Now