The following is a re-edit of a piece posted by MotorMartin on DriveTribe under The Junk Yard banner run by Tony Yates, perhaps better known as @Xinterceptor.
MotorMartin’s thoughts on the 2016 Outlander PHEV can be found by clicking http://motormartin.com/2016/08/10/mitsubishi-outlander-phev-gx5h-electric-boogaloo/ and now Mitsubishi’s designers and engineers have looked at what could be improved over the 2016 edition and gone for it. The cabin is improved by the rather old fashioned handbrake being replaced with a more modern electronic parking brake, a feature that raises the quality of the interior and driving experience including, as it does, an Auto Hold function which makes stop/start driving in heavy traffic easier, as you avoid the need to keep your foot on the brake pedal while stationary. Technology that reinforces the premium feel of the PHEV for the owner.
The 2017 PHEV also sports an EV Priority Switch which, Mitsubishi says, allows you to manually select all-electric driving, meaning the petrol engine will only start automatically if the battery’s charge drops to an excessively low level or very high power output demands are made, a touch that increases economy and with it, customer satisfaction.
Adaptive Cruise Control has been added on both 4hs and 5hs models, which Mitsubishi explain, use radar installed in the front grille to judge distances between itself and the vehicle in front, and automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain the designated distance. When there is no vehicle in front it acts just like a conventional cruise control system and, in MotorMartin’s opinion, easily improves the use of the PHEV out on the road during ‘real life’ motoring.
On the motorway, especially one as crowded as the M62 the adaptive cruise control really comes into it’s own, proving invaluable as the Outlander effortlessly varies it’s speed in deference to the driving in front allowing for a far more relaxing drive and one that allows you to arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and ready to continue the day.
And on the smaller and quieter roads throughout Anglesey, the Mitsubishi proves itself no slouch when the going moves towards the more sporting side of one’s nature. Whether in Electric mode or petrol or a combination of the two, the Outlander is sensational through the bends with little body roll and excellent grip, due no doubt to the clever electronics under the skin.
The Outlander’s S-AWC, Super All Wheel Control, is an integrated system which, Mitsubishi state, delivers incredible traction, solid stability and intuitive linear handling. It does this by combining Active Yaw Control with the twin motor 4WD, Anti-lock Braking System and Active Stability Control (which maintains control by automatically adjusting the engine output and braking forces at each wheel). The Outlander also offers 4WD LOCK where Utilising the 4WD button simulates the locking of a centre differential, equally distributing torque to all four wheels for improved traction and stability on slippery surfaces. The thing is, it all works so well that you don’t really know how hard the systems are all working, so good a job they do at providing a driving experience that is just so controlled and easy.
Short journeys below 30 miles and a fast charging point provided by Mitsubishi and installed at home will allow a potential mpg figure of up to 166 MPG and CO2 emissions at 41G/KM and that figure can increase with careful route planning. Even taking in a longer journey like the one to Anglesey and back will not significantly reduce mpg if judicious use of charging points can be sorted once away making the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 5hs 2.0 4WD Automatic an outstanding ‘real life’ choice.
Where will you go?