After several years of promises and anticipation, Mitsubishi has finally announced the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid SUV will cross the ocean and be made available to consumers in Canada.
Canadian dealerships would be taking delivery of the first models in December with a starting price tag of $42,998 attached, minus provincial rebate programs for hybrid vehicle purchases.
“The Outlander PHEV is the most anticipated new product in our history. A runaway success all over the world, it’s coming to Canada complete with Mitsubishi Motors’ top technological advances, all the best attributes of our highly successful Outlander model, and a pricing strategy that is sure to win over consumers,” said Tony Laframboise, president and CEO, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada.”
What makes it go?
Equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine as well as two high-performance electric motors and Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, the Outlander PHEV is designed to combine the assets of an SUV (roomy interior, 1,500-lb towing capacity) with the fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle. The company has not yet announced the total power output of the powertrain or its fuel consumption figures.
It can run on fully electric power, in Series Hybrid Mode (the two electric motors are powered by the battery, with the gasoline engine providing supplementary power as needed) or Parallel Hybrid Mode (the gasoline engine powers the front wheels, with the electric motors kicking in when extra power is needed).
Battery and charging
In addition, the driver can choose between different modes governing the battery system: Battery Save Mode, Eco Mode, EV Priority Mode and Battery Charge Mode. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s battery can be recharged via a standard 120V outlet in around seven hours, or a public or residential 240V plug in about four hours. The Outlander PHEV also comes with DC Fast Charging capability, which gets the battery to an 80% charge in under 30 minutes at a public charging station. The status of the battery’s charge is displayed on the dashboard, and a dial shows the driver the energy being used in real time, its arrow pointing to either the Power, Eco or Charge zone.
Another noteworthy fact that will surely be of interest to potential buyers: the 12-kWh battery, mounted under the floor of the cabin, is covered by the same 10-year/160,000 km warranty as the powertrain.
A well-equipped hybrid SUV
Two versions of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be offered in Canada, the SE S-AWC and the GT S-AWC, the latter model the first to offer an optional Touring package. The standard equipment includes an audio system with display screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, backup camera, heated front seats and more.
An app-controlled remote control system allows the owner to use their smartphone to execute a number of tasks, such are programming the charging the schedule, controlling interior temperature, monitoring the state of the vehicle, turning headlamps on and off and more.
Attractive and safe
Depending on which version they choose, buyers of the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV get Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Mitigation, Forward Collision Mitigation, Auto High Beams and Adaptive Cruise Control.
As for its design, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV offers an exclusive new exterior colour (Ruby Black Pearl), as well as a new interior colour choice that includes dark brown premium leather with red accents.