Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Discussion
Carfield said:
I have one - delivered in November last year.
Financially, here in the Netherlands it's a complete no-brainer. As a company car, BIK is 0%, for 60 months for cars registered in 2013. As company cars here include fuel by default, this means that the Outlander is going to cost me the sum total of exactly nothing for 5 years. There were also some quite considerable grants for my employer as well, so everyone (with the possible exception of the Dutch government) was happy.
Unsurprisingly, the country is now crawling with Outlanders and our local Mitsubishi dealer must think it's Christmas! I believe about 8000 or so made it here before 31st Dec last year, although more had been ordered. This year the BIK is 7%, so it's still a steal compared to anything else.
Ignoring the money part, it's still a nice car. Previous family bus was a 2.0 petrol Qashqai +2. The Outlander is certainly bigger, and drives pretty much as well. I think the 11 second 0-60 is a but pessimistic - certainly around town it is brisk. To drive it's rather reminiscent of one of those surprisingly big American V6s that you used to get in hire cars (think 4.0 Mustang, 3.8 GM things) that give a good old thump away from the lights but run out of ideas at 4000 rpm. Mitsubishi said that they were aiming for the PHEV to feel like the 3.0 V6 Outlander (which also has about 200 hp) and I suspect that they've achieved that.
The rest of the drive is pretty much as you'd expect - not something you'd try to drive hard, but a pleasant wafter.
Does high 30s mpg if the battery is not charged externally. You can charge in 3 - 5 hours (depending on what you've plugged it into) and that gives you about 30 - 40 km electric range. So if you're not going on a long motorway journey, then the petrol consumption is mainly determined by how often you charge it. I can see that it would be perfectly possible to use no petrol at all to commute if you lived maybe 15-20 miles from work and could charge at home and during the day.
The whole transmission / engine / battery / motors arrangement is very effective, in the sense that you rarely notice it at all. The engine will switch in and out as needed and at low speeds is barely audible. You do get a bit of a CVT high revs thing going if you put your foot down.
I am rather taken with the adjustable regenerative brakes - you can pretty much drive using just the throttle pedal, as the top level of regen is really quite strong.
As they are going to be about the same price in the UK, I can't really imagine why anyone would buy the diesel version. The PHEV is definitely a 'likeable' thing - a friendly sort of car, if you get my drift.
Great little review!
Financially, here in the Netherlands it's a complete no-brainer. As a company car, BIK is 0%, for 60 months for cars registered in 2013. As company cars here include fuel by default, this means that the Outlander is going to cost me the sum total of exactly nothing for 5 years. There were also some quite considerable grants for my employer as well, so everyone (with the possible exception of the Dutch government) was happy.
Unsurprisingly, the country is now crawling with Outlanders and our local Mitsubishi dealer must think it's Christmas! I believe about 8000 or so made it here before 31st Dec last year, although more had been ordered. This year the BIK is 7%, so it's still a steal compared to anything else.
Ignoring the money part, it's still a nice car. Previous family bus was a 2.0 petrol Qashqai +2. The Outlander is certainly bigger, and drives pretty much as well. I think the 11 second 0-60 is a but pessimistic - certainly around town it is brisk. To drive it's rather reminiscent of one of those surprisingly big American V6s that you used to get in hire cars (think 4.0 Mustang, 3.8 GM things) that give a good old thump away from the lights but run out of ideas at 4000 rpm. Mitsubishi said that they were aiming for the PHEV to feel like the 3.0 V6 Outlander (which also has about 200 hp) and I suspect that they've achieved that.
The rest of the drive is pretty much as you'd expect - not something you'd try to drive hard, but a pleasant wafter.
Does high 30s mpg if the battery is not charged externally. You can charge in 3 - 5 hours (depending on what you've plugged it into) and that gives you about 30 - 40 km electric range. So if you're not going on a long motorway journey, then the petrol consumption is mainly determined by how often you charge it. I can see that it would be perfectly possible to use no petrol at all to commute if you lived maybe 15-20 miles from work and could charge at home and during the day.
The whole transmission / engine / battery / motors arrangement is very effective, in the sense that you rarely notice it at all. The engine will switch in and out as needed and at low speeds is barely audible. You do get a bit of a CVT high revs thing going if you put your foot down.
I am rather taken with the adjustable regenerative brakes - you can pretty much drive using just the throttle pedal, as the top level of regen is really quite strong.
As they are going to be about the same price in the UK, I can't really imagine why anyone would buy the diesel version. The PHEV is definitely a 'likeable' thing - a friendly sort of car, if you get my drift.
Great little review!
Edited by Carfield on Thursday 10th April 09:54
Well, managed to blag an extended test drive. the phev arrived today and first thoughts are that it quiet and relaxed to drive, decent shaped seats and loads of room inside. over the next day or so the challenge is to use no petrol - we'll see... The wife does about 30 miles a day, so might just about manage
I placed an order for one today. My daily commute should be manageable within the battery range and a bit of man maths has shown that the cost of the outlander (as a company car) will be the same as the petrol saved by not using the 911 every day. This way I get a comfortable family car and keep the Porsche for weekends and longer solo journeys.
jkh112 said:
I placed an order for one today. My daily commute should be manageable within the battery range and a bit of man maths has shown that the cost of the outlander (as a company car) will be the same as the petrol saved by not using the 911 every day. This way I get a comfortable family car and keep the Porsche for weekends and longer solo journeys.
Out of interest what is the delivery time?jkh112 said:
I placed an order for one today. My daily commute should be manageable within the battery range and a bit of man maths has shown that the cost of the outlander (as a company car) will be the same as the petrol saved by not using the 911 every day. This way I get a comfortable family car and keep the Porsche for weekends and longer solo journeys.
nice maths, fella. I have calculated that assuming the wife uses the battery power most of the time, the savings in fuel alone on her 3.7 jeep will cover the lease cost. So basically free!jkh112 said:
I have ordered a gx3h with leather and been given a delivery date of 1st week in July. I was told that there is a longer wait for the gx4h.
Did they they tell you what the wait for the gx4h would be? I have been rolling around in a gx3h all week and have been quite impressed, done nearly 200miles and used very little petrol, unfortunately I neglected to brim it before using it, so cant really tell exactly how much I have used. but the overall range of the car has only changed by about 40miles
at the lease deals I am looking at there is about £40 a month difference between the gx3h and gx4h, but I think I would prefer the higher spec, mainly for the electric heater, as during the cooler months it would be annoying that the motor is running just to warm up the car
sawman said:
Did they they tell you what the wait for the gx4h would be?
I have been rolling around in a gx3h all week and have been quite impressed, done nearly 200miles and used very little petrol, unfortunately I neglected to brim it before using it, so cant really tell exactly how much I have used. but the overall range of the car has only changed by about 40miles
at the lease deals I am looking at there is about £40 a month difference between the gx3h and gx4h, but I think I would prefer the higher spec, mainly for the electric heater, as during the cooler months it would be annoying that the motor is running just to warm up the car
I was led to believe it would be September for a gx4h. As mine is a company car, I would be liable not only for the extra lease costs bit also the extra tax if I went for a Gx4h, so I stuck with the gx3h.I have been rolling around in a gx3h all week and have been quite impressed, done nearly 200miles and used very little petrol, unfortunately I neglected to brim it before using it, so cant really tell exactly how much I have used. but the overall range of the car has only changed by about 40miles
at the lease deals I am looking at there is about £40 a month difference between the gx3h and gx4h, but I think I would prefer the higher spec, mainly for the electric heater, as during the cooler months it would be annoying that the motor is running just to warm up the car
I have read a few reviews online and it seems that the electric heater is not great at heating the car and also the petrol motor starts regularly in cold temps so that the engine is prewarmed.
jkh112 said:
I was led to believe it would be September for a gx4h. As mine is a company car, I would be liable not only for the extra lease costs bit also the extra tax if I went for a Gx4h, so I stuck with the gx3h.
I have read a few reviews online and it seems that the electric heater is not great at heating the car and also the petrol motor starts regularly in cold temps so that the engine is prewarmed.
Thats interesting I did see some issues with the pre warming process in that it only does 10 minute bursts. I guess it makes sense that the engine needs some warming. the additional lease cost includes my extra BIK taxI have read a few reviews online and it seems that the electric heater is not great at heating the car and also the petrol motor starts regularly in cold temps so that the engine is prewarmed.
sawman said:
Thats interesting I did see some issues with the pre warming process in that it only does 10 minute bursts. I guess it makes sense that the engine needs some warming. the additional lease cost includes my extra BIK tax
Your lease cost difference between the 2 models is a lot less than my lease company prices. I had my charging point installed yesterday, so just waiting for the car now.
Have a look at:
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2013/09/2014-mi...
They have tried a variety of child seats in a 2014 outlander.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2013/09/2014-mi...
They have tried a variety of child seats in a 2014 outlander.
A colleague at work is getting one of these for his company car, he reckons that for his commute of 70 miles which is predominantly on motorway he can expect 80mpg - is this likely?
I think he will be using the electric combined with petrol at all times rather than using the electric only?
I think he will be using the electric combined with petrol at all times rather than using the electric only?
TallTony said:
A colleague at work is getting one of these for his company car, he reckons that for his commute of 70 miles which is predominantly on motorway he can expect 80mpg - is this likely?
I think he will be using the electric combined with petrol at all times rather than using the electric only?
70 miles each way or 35 miles each way?I think he will be using the electric combined with petrol at all times rather than using the electric only?
If it is 35 miles each way then most of that could be done on battery power and if he can recharge at work then the same for the return trip, so 80mpg seems feasible. If it is 70 miles each way then most of that would be on pure petrol power and if he cannot recharge at work then I doubt he would achieve 80mpg over the 140 mile trip.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff