Used Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV long-term test review
Does buying a used Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV make more sense than getting a new one and can its exceptional on-paper economy be matched in real-world conditions? We've got six months to find out...
- The car 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 5hs
- Run by Mark Pearson, used cars deputy editor
- Why it’s here To find out if a used petrol-electric hybrid SUV makes any sort of financial sense and to see if it can live up to its impressive claimed fuel consumption figures
- Needs to Cope with a variety of uses, including daily commuting, motorway journeys, school runs and family life, as well as proving itself a sound alternative to its large SUV rivals
Price when new £43,555 (including Government grant) Value on arrival £28,068 Value now £28,068 Miles on arrival 7810 Mileage now 10,425 Official economy 166.1mpg Test economy na Emissions, yearly tax 41g/km CO2, 0% tax 0-62mph 11sec Top speed 106mph Power 198bhp Insurance group 27E
22 February 2018 – big journey, small fuel tank
Another month, and another member of the What Car? team’s been out and about in the Outlander, making full use of its practicality. This time road tester Neil Winn’s been in the driving seat, and here are his thoughts:
"Having friends and family dotted all around the North of England can be both a blessing and a curse. A curse when you’re sat for mile after mile on the perennially jammed M1, but a blessing once the traffic clears and you’re treated to some of the best country roads anywhere in the world. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was not designed to excel in either environment.
"With a thimble-sized fuel tank (45-litres to be precise) and an average fuel economy of around 27mpg on our journey up to Beverley from What Car? headquarters in Twickenham, we were getting around 200 miles before the fuel light flickered. And despite recuperating 11 miles of electrical range by using the ‘Charge’ mode on our journey north, the car appeared to lose all of its stored power overnight, showing an electric range of zero on start up. Perhaps the sub-zero temperatures had something to do with it?
"So really, this is an SUV designed for cities and the school run. If your commute is less than 20 miles and you can charge the Outlander both at home and at work, you essentially have cheap motoring for five days of the week. But if you want to venture further afield, a diesel would be a far better bet.
