By Nauman Farooq
In the world of automobiles -just as in the world of real estate- a strong foundation is key, so build something good and it’ll last a very long time!
Take the current model of the Mitsubishi Outlander, it is built on a platform that has been around since 2006, but over time its maker has refined it, strengthened it, changed the styling up, give it new features inside, and offered a few different drivetrains with it.
For 2018, Mitsubishi Canada is finally offering the Outlander with a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain – a model that was first introduced at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
So, it has taken a bit of time to get to our shores, but that’s OK, because Mitsubishi has been improving the vehicle over the last six years, and the 2018 model offers not only more power, but more range.
To see how it all works, I spent a week with this PHEV.
It had been a few years since I last spent time with an Outlander, and that vehicle I drove back in 2013 was not one that left me with fond memories! It was the first time Mitsubishi offered a CVT automatic with the Outalnder, and the transmission was not smooth, plus the interior looked as if it was built from recycled tupperware boxes.
Imagine my surprise then, when I opened the door of this 2018 Outlander PHEV, and finding a cabin that is not only much more pleasing to the eyes in terms of design, but also material quality. The 2018 Outlander is leagues ahead of its predecessor, and has evolved into a proper luxury vehicle – so if, like me, you haven’t looked at the Outlander in a few years, you owe it to yourself to check out the 2018 model.
My tester had brown leather seats with red stitching, which not only looked good, but were also fantastic to sit on, too. Couple that with piano black trim finishes on the dashboard and center console, and this new Outlander PHEV feels less like a conventional SUV/CUV, and more like a premium class vehicle.
There is not much conventional about its powertrain either! Under the hood you’ll find a 2.0L four-cylinder motor that produces just 117 hp – that doesn’t sound very exciting, but wait, there’s more! That gasoline engine is paired with two electric motor (one at the front, and one at the rear), which each produce 80 hp. Simple math would lead you to believe that the total output would be 277 hp, but that’s not how horsepower is calculated because the gasoline and electric motors peak at different points. Mitsubishi publishes total output figures of 197 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque – which is plenty.
Thanks to its Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, power is fed to whichever wheel can best use it, and can be locked into four-wheel drive for when you’re off-road. Between the motors and the wheels lies a one-speed direct drive transmission, which cleverly and smoothly delivers power to the ground. Sure, at certain times you’ll hear the engine and transmission whine (usually under hard acceleration), but all is calm when you’re simply cruising.
It sure does cruise well, thanks to its electric motors. Powered by a 12 kWh battery pack -which can be charged via level 1, level 2, or level 3 Fast Charged (80% charge in under 30 minutes)- this vehicle would normally give you an all electric range of about 30 km. However, if you use its selectable six-level regenerative braking system to the maximum, and drive it smartly in the city, you’ll go even further! On a full charge, I managed to cover 37 km of real world driving, and that is plenty of range for most of us, especially if you don’t live in a massive city – which I don’t.
On a more conventional driving cycle, where you’re driving it on a full charge and covering about 100 km of distance – so the gasoline engine will kick in after the battery is depleted – the Outlander PHEV averaged 5.6 L/100 km, which is better than most subcompacts.
The 2018 Outlander is no subcompact, it is a spacious five passengers vehicle, and thanks to the clever design of its battery pack, which runs in the spine of the vehicle, cargo room stays intact – so this is truly a practical family vehicle.
Any complaints? Yes, but only a minor one. While the infotainment is clear and easy to use, it doesn’t have built-in navigation. You can access it through apps, but then it is running on your mobile data, which means that any trips across the border will result in a massive bill. Hopefully, Mitsubishi will start offering a built-in nav system in future models.
On the plus, you do get a wonderful Rockford Fosgate sound system in the GT trim, which is one of the nicest sounding stereos at this end of the market!
Which leads us to the price. The 2018 Outlander in SE trim is yours from $43,198. My GT trim tester is priced from $50,198. What’s the rebate? Well, from September 10, 2018 moving forwards, there will be no rebates applied to plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles in Ontario. If what you’re buying is a 2019 model, you won’t get a rebate even now. But, if you find a 2018 model Outlander PHEV right now and purchase it before September 10, you’ll get $7,000 in government rebates. So, in short, this is the best time to buy a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV might be new to Canada, but it has been the best selling plug-in hybrid SUV in the world since 2014. After my week with it, I can see why so many people are drawn to it – including my good friend, Sandra Longden-Ojha, who just picked hers up a few weeks ago.
Mitsubishi has done a better job than most on building a plug-in hybrid vehicle, let’s hope we’ll be seeing more such models from this Japanese manufacturer in the near future!