Outlander PHEV
Discussion
There are lots of threads on here discussing this.
I have had mine for 2.5 years. I went for the GX3 with leather as I found the sunroof in the higher spec models took away too much headroom and I heard bad reports about the built in satnav. What I did not realise at the time was only the high spec models got the electric heater so I do need to warm the car up using the petrol motor in the winter. I understand that the newer models all come with electric heaters but my colleagues who have them say they are not very high powered and they still need to use petrol powered heating if it is really cold.
I manage my daily commute on battery which is great. It is impressively quiet and smooth around town on battery.
When I first got the car it did 30mpg on a motorway run at higher speeds and 35mpg at more normal speeds. As the miles have gone up so has mpg, it now does 40 mpg on the motorway.
My only real criticism is the seats. They are short, flat and uncomfortable.
I hand mine back in 6 months and feel it has been a good car me (averaging 65mpg in the time I have had it) but I will not get another as the company car tax is increasing. It was 5% bik when I first got it, but it will be 13% bik in a couple of years so not as attractive financially.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
I have had mine for 2.5 years. I went for the GX3 with leather as I found the sunroof in the higher spec models took away too much headroom and I heard bad reports about the built in satnav. What I did not realise at the time was only the high spec models got the electric heater so I do need to warm the car up using the petrol motor in the winter. I understand that the newer models all come with electric heaters but my colleagues who have them say they are not very high powered and they still need to use petrol powered heating if it is really cold.
I manage my daily commute on battery which is great. It is impressively quiet and smooth around town on battery.
When I first got the car it did 30mpg on a motorway run at higher speeds and 35mpg at more normal speeds. As the miles have gone up so has mpg, it now does 40 mpg on the motorway.
My only real criticism is the seats. They are short, flat and uncomfortable.
I hand mine back in 6 months and feel it has been a good car me (averaging 65mpg in the time I have had it) but I will not get another as the company car tax is increasing. It was 5% bik when I first got it, but it will be 13% bik in a couple of years so not as attractive financially.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 9th October 11:10
I've had a GX4hs for 2 years now. I like it.
Just coming up for its second service, have nearly 25k miles on it.
Have averaged just under 60mpg in it over the 2 years which is good for a 2 litre 4x4 doing a mix of local stuff and a long run or two a month. After initially being obsessed with efficiency and trying to not use petrol where possible, I now just get in and drive it without a care for economy. Longest between fill-ups (34-37 litres) was nearly 1000 miles, shortest distance just over 200 miles.
Now that Ecotricity charge £6 for you to charge at motorway services it is not really worth charging anywhere apart from home, unless you have free charging at your destination. A full charge saves you about £2.50 of petrol, so if someone wants more than that to charge your car it is not worth it. Most of the charging networks are now starting to charge or will soon.
I don't have a commute, as I only go to my office 4-5 times a month, but when I do the journey there and back is almost all battery as it is 24 miles away and I have charging at the office. I get between 15 and 25 miles on battery depending on weather and how hard I drive.
The rest of the time I charge at home and pootle around locally. Have a second home in Devon which is 220 miles away, drive down there we get about 30mpg and then while there everything is on electric again until we come home as most things are little local trips.
I occasionally drive into London and the lack of congestion charge (you must register) and free parking in Westminster is a great bonus!
Went from a Range Rover to it and I wanted to try electric motoring, so it was a change, but it is comfortable and reasonably quiet.
The lack of a gearbox is fantastic and makes for a great driving experience, off the line up to about 20mph it really is nippy, though when you floor it at any point the delay waiting for the engine to kick in to give you the real power is like the world's slowest kickdown. This is because the battery can only supply half the full electric power, and needs the engine running in order to deliver the full power to the electric motors. This is a bit annoying but you get used to it.
The pre-heating in the winter is fantastic, and a real bonus. The Adaptive Cruise Control is a really nice feature on the GX4hs and really does work well, right down to a stop, and even in slow traffic jams is brilliant. Sat Nav and the central computer/screen are not great TBH, feel a little slow and quirky - functional is the best description. Sounds system is OK.
It is so nice to drive that I am now a total EV convert. The wife now has a Leaf and I am waiting on the Tesla I have ordered to be delivered in the new year, can't wait to no longer have to visit petrol stations.
Happy to answer any Q's you may have, it's a great car.
Just coming up for its second service, have nearly 25k miles on it.
Have averaged just under 60mpg in it over the 2 years which is good for a 2 litre 4x4 doing a mix of local stuff and a long run or two a month. After initially being obsessed with efficiency and trying to not use petrol where possible, I now just get in and drive it without a care for economy. Longest between fill-ups (34-37 litres) was nearly 1000 miles, shortest distance just over 200 miles.
Now that Ecotricity charge £6 for you to charge at motorway services it is not really worth charging anywhere apart from home, unless you have free charging at your destination. A full charge saves you about £2.50 of petrol, so if someone wants more than that to charge your car it is not worth it. Most of the charging networks are now starting to charge or will soon.
I don't have a commute, as I only go to my office 4-5 times a month, but when I do the journey there and back is almost all battery as it is 24 miles away and I have charging at the office. I get between 15 and 25 miles on battery depending on weather and how hard I drive.
The rest of the time I charge at home and pootle around locally. Have a second home in Devon which is 220 miles away, drive down there we get about 30mpg and then while there everything is on electric again until we come home as most things are little local trips.
I occasionally drive into London and the lack of congestion charge (you must register) and free parking in Westminster is a great bonus!
Went from a Range Rover to it and I wanted to try electric motoring, so it was a change, but it is comfortable and reasonably quiet.
The lack of a gearbox is fantastic and makes for a great driving experience, off the line up to about 20mph it really is nippy, though when you floor it at any point the delay waiting for the engine to kick in to give you the real power is like the world's slowest kickdown. This is because the battery can only supply half the full electric power, and needs the engine running in order to deliver the full power to the electric motors. This is a bit annoying but you get used to it.
The pre-heating in the winter is fantastic, and a real bonus. The Adaptive Cruise Control is a really nice feature on the GX4hs and really does work well, right down to a stop, and even in slow traffic jams is brilliant. Sat Nav and the central computer/screen are not great TBH, feel a little slow and quirky - functional is the best description. Sounds system is OK.
It is so nice to drive that I am now a total EV convert. The wife now has a Leaf and I am waiting on the Tesla I have ordered to be delivered in the new year, can't wait to no longer have to visit petrol stations.
Happy to answer any Q's you may have, it's a great car.
I've had mine for almost 2 years, GH4X. I have to back up the mpg figures, which unless you can get to charging stations at 27mile intervals isnt very good.
On the motorway we get 37mpg, maybe 40 driving @ 60-65mph, but then its a 1.8Tonne 4x4.
Between fuel stops, and I dont often get to charge up, 300miles really is the limit.
Service intevals 12,500 miles.
Overall its an easy car to drive, wallows around but is quiet. despite needing many button presses to get the Sat Nav going, once running I prefer the quidance to the wifes BMW 320 (64 plate). The boots great and can bung the kids bikes in.
Yes, the BIK is now 7% and will rise, I've an option to change and would think of the Merc C 350E Est, but for what... yes it looks nicer, prob drives more 'sporty (or car like)' for the same tax, but I cant get the kids bikes in so easily, to get a Tow Bar means having the AMG bumbers fitted and thats £££, so all in all, for the BIK, ignoring MPG, for our family situation I'd be getting another one :0)
On the motorway we get 37mpg, maybe 40 driving @ 60-65mph, but then its a 1.8Tonne 4x4.
Between fuel stops, and I dont often get to charge up, 300miles really is the limit.
Service intevals 12,500 miles.
Overall its an easy car to drive, wallows around but is quiet. despite needing many button presses to get the Sat Nav going, once running I prefer the quidance to the wifes BMW 320 (64 plate). The boots great and can bung the kids bikes in.
Yes, the BIK is now 7% and will rise, I've an option to change and would think of the Merc C 350E Est, but for what... yes it looks nicer, prob drives more 'sporty (or car like)' for the same tax, but I cant get the kids bikes in so easily, to get a Tow Bar means having the AMG bumbers fitted and thats £££, so all in all, for the BIK, ignoring MPG, for our family situation I'd be getting another one :0)
I went for Amethyst Black and had it in 3 weeks I think.
Was going to write a longer response as I originally placed an order for the Volvo but cancelled it and subsequently had all of the PHEV's for demo, but as you have decided there seems little point.
All I will say is had mine just under a week, 600 miles and it is much better than I expected, even after a 48 hour demo car.
Was going to write a longer response as I originally placed an order for the Volvo but cancelled it and subsequently had all of the PHEV's for demo, but as you have decided there seems little point.
All I will say is had mine just under a week, 600 miles and it is much better than I expected, even after a 48 hour demo car.
I'm on my third one now, currently a Ruby Black GX4HS. Not much more to add that hasn't already been said - but there is a noticeable difference in economy between 65-70mph and 75mph.
It is a nice place to sit on longer journeys, and the 360 camera is useful in congested areas. My commute is about 25 miles, but half of that is dual carriageway which saps the battery. Realistically I get all the way to work, and about half way back on a full charge in Eco mode.
I don't do a huge amount of mileage, and although the low BIK is a great incentive, the fuel tank is only 35 litres. A trip to London and back is usually a double fill.
Again, I used Ecoctricty a lot, but not since they've started charging. As most of them are on or next not motorway, the effective range is minimal, and I find that petrol is more financially efficient.
The other thing that still amazes/amuses me is the silent running in car parks. People will look staright at you, see the car moving towards them, but still step out. I assume that they think - no sound = no movement, even with the audible warning switched on.
I've got this one for a year, the previous ones for 6 months, so I'll see what is available for me when it is time to go back, but I would have no objection to another.
It is a nice place to sit on longer journeys, and the 360 camera is useful in congested areas. My commute is about 25 miles, but half of that is dual carriageway which saps the battery. Realistically I get all the way to work, and about half way back on a full charge in Eco mode.
I don't do a huge amount of mileage, and although the low BIK is a great incentive, the fuel tank is only 35 litres. A trip to London and back is usually a double fill.
Again, I used Ecoctricty a lot, but not since they've started charging. As most of them are on or next not motorway, the effective range is minimal, and I find that petrol is more financially efficient.
The other thing that still amazes/amuses me is the silent running in car parks. People will look staright at you, see the car moving towards them, but still step out. I assume that they think - no sound = no movement, even with the audible warning switched on.
I've got this one for a year, the previous ones for 6 months, so I'll see what is available for me when it is time to go back, but I would have no objection to another.
Just putting this here, as I think it is interesting but don't know where to put it- and is kind of an add-on to my post above...
Brake pads are lasting very well on my PHEV. Just had my 25,000 mile 2-year service.
Front pads are 55% worn, rears are only 40% worn !!!
Interestingly it has sailed through both services with no comments at all, and I have had NO problems at all.
Brake pads are lasting very well on my PHEV. Just had my 25,000 mile 2-year service.
Front pads are 55% worn, rears are only 40% worn !!!
Interestingly it has sailed through both services with no comments at all, and I have had NO problems at all.
JumboBeef said:
I liked the Ruby Black but was told I'd have to wait until the New Year. Black I can have now (ish).
I'm looking at the GX4hs.
If you wait until the new year you will suffer the £1500 price rise coming up next month with the 17MY, if you want Ruby Black ask your dealer to look a bit harder they are out there in dealer stock!I'm looking at the GX4hs.
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