Introduced into the Philippine market in September of last year, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug-in electric vehicle) was the Japanese carmaker’s response to the growing interest shown by Filipinos toward electrified vehicles.
The Outlander PHEV was designed and engineered using Mitsubishi’s EV technology and brings to the local automotive landscape impressive credentials as Europe's best-selling plug-in hybrid car.
In addition, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV scored a five-star NCAP rating which should appeal to prospective buyers concerned with safety.
In the market for a plug-in SUV? Today, we look at the pros and cons of Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV to help you decide if it’s worth your time and money.
1. Fuel efficient
The Outlander PHEV uses two motors: a highly efficient 2.4-liter gasoline engine and twin technologically advanced electric drive motors, one at the front and one at the rear. This setup allows the Outlander PHEV to clock in at 20kpl in both city and highway driving.
2. Aggressive exterior styling
Following the same design cues as the Xpander and the Montero Sport, the Outlander PHEV features similar sharp and angular accents.
Like its stablemates, Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid SUV dons the same dynamic shield design. The front grille is flanked by LED headlamps with daytime running lamps (DRLs) on each side with LED foglamps at the bottom.
This theme continues all the way to the back with similarly designed LED rear combination lamps and a stop lamp integrated with the SUV’s rear spoiler.
The Outlander PHEV rides on 18-inch alloy wheels.
3. Best-in-class 4x4 system
Perfecting its four-wheel-drive (4WD) system since the ‘80s, Mitsubishi used its expertise in 4WD technology in designing the Outlander PHEV.
Engineers have honed the science that made the Pajero the king of the Darak Rally to develop the S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) which is now used in the plug-in hybrid SUV. This means you get greater stability and control regardless of terrain.
4. Top-tier safety
And as we’ve briefly covered above, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV brings to the Philippine automotive scene top-shelf safety.
The Outlander PHEV comes with three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioner and force limiter, emergency stop lamp system, anti-lock brake assist (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), driver and front passenger airbags, driver’s knee airbag, first and second-row curtain airbags, active stability control (ASC) with traction control (TCL), misacceleration prevention system corner sensors, blind-spot warning (BSW), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), and adaptive cruise control (ACC) among others.
1. Plain cabin
It does offer a fair amount of toys, like the eight-inch touchscreen panel with smartphone mirror link, an ample amount of power supply sockets, a second-row armrest with cupholders, and a sunroof that we wish extended a little more to the back.
What makes the cabin quite monotonous is the abundance of black. By which, we mean everything except the faux carbon-fiber trim on the center console.
2. Lack of options
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is only offered in a single variant. It does come in eight color options, but in terms of vehicle specifications, you’re pretty much stuck with what’s on offer.
As a fuel-efficient and greener alternative to purely combustible engines, the Mitsubishi Outlander does deserve merit for what it brings to the table. The engine setup prioritizes the use of the electric motor to conserve fuel and lower the Outlander PHEV’s CO2 emissions.
This alone makes Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid (priced at P2.998 million) a worthy candidate for those looking for a cleaner means of mobility.
However, its interior design isn’t exactly going to be everybody’s cup of tea. Let’s just hope that the Outlander PHEV gets some RalliArt treatment as Mitsubishi announced its plans to revive its motorsports division recently.
Photos from Mitsubishi
Also read:
Mitsubishi PH rolls out Outlander PHEV
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