Battery size: 22.7 kWh
BiK tax: 10%
Emissions: 20.3 g/km
Range: 53 miles (Electric only)
Fuel economy: 313 MPG
Introduction
There are more Outlanders on British roads than any other plug-in hybrid, despite the fact it hasn’t been on sale for more than four years. That enormous success is because the last generation of the model had an enormous tax bonus for company car drivers which meant it was cheaper to run one than a boring diesel hatchback.
Mitsubishi then pulled out of the UK in 2021, leaving buyers in the lurch. The gap has been quickly filled by other manufacturers and the tax is now less compelling, but the Outlander is back after a new importer did a deal to bring the latest version to Britain.
Does it still add up?
Range, battery and charging
The new Outlander has a relatively large 22.7kWh battery, giving an official electric only range range of 53 miles. There’s also a petrol engine of course, which can either charge the battery, power the car or a combination of both. It has a 53 litre fuel tank.
When you want to charge, it will take six and a half hours on a home wallbox or 32 minutes on a DC charger to 80%. That rapid charging option is odd though, as it still uses the obsolete CHAdeMO socket which was found on the last generation Nissan Leaf. You can still find the plugs at many charging stations, but the power is likely to be so pricey per kWh that it will be cheaper to use fuel.
Practicality and boot space
The big news for this generation of Outlander PHEV is the availability of seven seats. The rear pair are standard on the Nativa version, but aren’t available on the posher Diamond spec because a subwoofer takes up the space. So you need to choose between thumping bass or taking the mother-in-law on a trip with the family.
If you do take the MIL, she won’t be too comfortable in the third row of seats, as they are really for kids only. The second row is spacious though, only suffering a little from the high floor syndrome which afflicts many cars with batteries.
The seat backs split 40/20/40, and the centre section can act as an armrest and cup holder if there are only two people in the back. That will leave them vulnerable to luggage flying forward under heavy braking though, which could get messy if there’s a McDonald’s milkshake in the holders.
The boot is a good size though, even with the third row in place. Mitsubishi is a bit shy with the figures, only listing the seats down figure of 1,602 litres, but international sites say you get 362 litres with all seven seats up and 872 in five seat mode. We assume this is to the roof rather than the parcel shelf as the space in either mode doesn’t seem huge.
If you want more capacity, you can load up to 80kg on the roof or tow up to 1,600kg.
Interior, design and technology
The inside of the Outlander is where it will pick up big bonus points in the showroom. It really is lovely, especially on the top spec Diamond with its quilted leather and extra kit. When you are heading for a test drive, load up your favourite tracks on your phone too, because the sound system is pretty special. It is made by Yamaha and produces 1,650w. To beat it for power, you’d have to buy a Bentley or pay for expensive options on a Land Rover or Volvo.
There is plenty of other kit too, with proper buttons backing up the 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Even the cheaper Nativa has a head up display, two zone climate control, power tailgate and a handy shortcut button to kill the ADAS warnings.
Spend the extra for a Diamond and you’ll add a panoramic glass roof, digital rear view mirror, memory leather seats with massage and ventilation functions and that 12-speaker audio system.
The quality really does feel top notch, with metal switches and high-class materials.
Motors, performance and handling
The Mitsubishi’s powertrain is clever, and a little different to the normal. Instead of having an electric motor which feeds into the same gearbox as the petrol engine, Mitsubishi’s two electric motors are connected straight to the wheels. If the battery is depleted or you’re in hybrid mode, the petrol engine merely acts as a generator to feed electricity to those motors.
When the car gets up to motorway speeds though, the car senses that is will be more efficient to use a direct link from the engine so engages a clutch which sends power to the wheels from the engine using a single gear.
The new Outlander does this seamlessly and quietly, with none of the droning and odd rise and fall of engine note that makes it sound as though something is broken.
It is also fast. The 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds is not particularly quick by EV standards, but it is plenty for a family car. Unlike some rivals, it grips well too. The steering has plenty of feedback, although its inclination to self centre is a little heavy.
The Outlander’s brakes are strong too, and for the first time there are five regen settings, available using paddle shifters.
There are extra drive modes of course. For road driving these just change the accelerator response, but there are also dynamics settings for Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud which alter the way the car’s systems respond. They work really well too.
The only criticism we have is around the ride. The Outlander has 20-inch wheels as standard and they give it an unsettled ride which never seems to settle, even on smoother surfaces.
Running costs and pricing
The bigger battery in this generation of Outlander is good news for the running costs, as it means you’ll be able to top up from your home charger and potentially get 53 miles before you have to switch to pricey petrol power. Bear in mind though that this means you are only getting 2.3 miles per kWh - that’s about half what you could expect from an all-electric rival like a Tesla Model Y.
Our test drive included an off road section so it wouldn’t be fair to measure the fuel economy once the Outlander has switched to petrol power, but the old model (which used the same 2.4-litre engine) had a reputation for being thirsty. Once we’ve had a chance to try one over a longer period, we will let you know.
Also bear in mind that a PHEV will need more servicing than a pure EV, and the Outlander’s 12,500 mile or annual intervals are shorter than some rivals.
The big one for many Outlander drivers will be the BIK rate for company car drivers. The Mitsubishi’s emissions and figures mean it sits in the 10% band for the 26/27 tax year, which is behind some SUVs such as the Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV but in line with key competitors. But the rates for PHEVs like the Outlander will rise sharply to 18% for the 2028/29 year and 19% the year after. Bear that in mind if you are supplied with a car on a three or four year cycle.
If you are buying privately, it would be worth getting an insurance quote if you are a younger or inexperienced driver. The 47D grouping is a real stinger, placing the Outlander in the same category as a Range Rover P400, Tesla Model Y Performance and Porsche 911.
On the plus side, the Outlander has an unbeatable eight year or 100,000 warranty on the car and battery.
Verdict
There’s no doubt that the Outlander is a big improvement over the old model, and stacks up well against rivals PHEVs too in terms of performance, price and equipment. It drives well too, except for a lumpy ride, and has real off road ability. The seven seat option will also be a big bonus for family motorists, and the interior makes some of the prestige brands look cheap in comparison.
There are a couple of wrinkles though, with a stinger of an insurance group and a question mark over the efficiency. I might forgive those though, just for the audio system.
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