The Curious Case of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
[Dec. 10, 2019]
In 2018, Mitsubishi expanded its Outlander offering in the U.S. with the introduction of the Outlander PHEV. Mitsubishi’s PHEV crossover joined the manufacturer’s existing lineup of gasoline-powered models that featured a 166hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and a 224hp 3.0L V6, and the PHEV did so as one of the most expensive versions of the Outlander, ringing in at $35,795.
For 2020, the Outlander PHEV is moderately more expensive with a sticker price of $36,095, and it maintains the same 5-year/60,000 mile limited warranty, 10-year/100,000 mile warranty on the PHEV components and Main Drive Li-ion battery, and offers fuel economy that averages out to 74 MPGe (that’s a 25 MPG average while powered by the crossover’s 2.0L motor, plus 22 miles of pure electric range, affording the Outlander PHEV a 310 mile range).
For reference, the 2.4L I4 Outlander achieves an average of 27 MPG with the 3.0L V6 averaging 22 MPG. Starting price for the base model ES with the 2.4L is $24,895, with the 3.0L GT costing $33,745.
It’s difficult to offer the Outlander PHEV a glowing review. Our 2019 test model offered passable interior accommodations in the front, middle, and third rows, and it doubled that with an amazingly numb driving experience. Time behind the wheel left us with the opinion that while its fuel economy was on target, this was a form of transportation and nothing more.
The interior of the 2019 Outlander PHEV was passable. Luckily, 2020 brings an upgrade.
Granted, Mitsubishi is updating much of the vehicle’s interior for 2020, including new dashboard and trim packages, which will possibly solve some of our misgivings, but unfortunately, our uninspiring time behind the wheel is not what bothered us most. Rather, the most curious aspect of the Outlander PHEV was the number of selectable drive modes and regenerative braking settings. It was, to say the least, confusing.
The Outlander’s PHEV drive system features three distinct modes. EV Drive Mode utilizes the Outlander PHEV’s twin electric motors powered by the crossover’s Li-ion battery. This method achieves 22 miles of electric range.
For Series Hybrid Mode, the twin electric motors use the 2.0L I4 gasoline engine to charge the 80 cell, 300 volt, 12 kWh Li-ion battery, as well as to provide power to the front and rear 60 kW electric motors.
The final mode is Parallel Hybrid Mode, which uses the 2.0L engine to power the front wheels, with the twin electric motors kicking in to assist when necessary. In Parallel Hybrid Mode, the 2.0L can also charge the Li-ion battery while the vehicle is in motion. This mode, Mitsubishi states, is the predominant mode for long haul or freeway driving.
Mitsubishi claims its 12 kWh Li-ion battery will charge to 80% within 25 minutes using DC fast charging.
Another way to charge the battery is via plugging in. There, DC fast charging will recharge the Li-ion battery to 80% capacity in a claimed 25 minutes.
That’s the nuts and bolts of the Outlander PHEV, but where it gets confusing is that drivers are encouraged to manually select the driving mode. Per Mitsubishi’s description of its driver selectable modes:
ECO Mode: The Outlander PHEV features a driver-activated "ECO Mode" switch that reduces both fuel and electricity usage for increased efficiency simply with the touch of the button in the center of the dash.
Battery Save Mode: In this driver-activated mode, the Outlander PHEV automatically conserves the energy within the lithium-ion drive battery pack by operating the vehicle in hybrid mode (note: Battery Save Mode will only operate once the lithium-ion drive battery pack's energy level falls below 90% full). For example, engaging the Battery Save Mode would allow the vehicle to be driven in urban traffic with the engine/generator on to maintain a higher level of battery charge; it could then be deactivated, allowing the vehicle to be driven through a neighborhood silently at an appropriate speed in EV Drive Mode.
Battery Charge Mode: When activating the Battery Charge Mode – whether the vehicle is in motion or at a standstill – the engine will generate electricity to be fed into the lithium-ion battery pack (essentially forcing the vehicle to operate in Series Hybrid Mode). For example, if the engine is idling and the vehicle is not moving, selecting the Battery Charge Mode will replenish a low energy level within the lithium-ion drive battery pack back up to 80% fully charged in approximately 40 minutes.
The Outlander offers easy driving mode access via the center console.
The Li-ion battery also receives power via regenerative braking, which adds to the complexity when you realize that multiple levels of this can be selected via paddle-shifter style controls located behind the steering wheel.
All of these controls have prominent placement within the cabin.
Ultimately, the Outlander PHEV is a fundamentally decent vehicle that has overcomplicated the hybrid driving experience in a crossover category that desperately cries for simplicity. It seems Mitsubishi mistook its energy efficient, competitively priced, three-row plug-in hybrid crossover for an enthusiast vehicle.
(This vehicle was loaned to us by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Images come courtesy of the manufacturer.)
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