Mitsubishi has launched its fuel-efficient Outlander PHEV SUV in Australia.
With its spacious five seat interior, SUV practicality, 1,500kg braked towing capacity and four-wheel drive capability, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is set to go on sale from March 31, priced from $47,490 plus on-road costs.
The Outlander PHEV boasts combined fuel efficiency of just 1.9-litres per 100 kilometres – the lowest official ADR fuel consumption figure of any SUV sold in Australia. PHEV’s CO2 emissions are also super low at 44 gm/km.
Outlander PHEV achieves this high level of efficiency through a sophisticated plug-in hybrid system that combines a 2.0-litre internal combustion petrol engine, generator, power and motor control units, high capacity lithium-ion drive battery and front and rear electric motors.
PHEV’s official electric range is 52km from a fully charged battery. The battery range is further supplemented by the plug-in hybrid system, which automatically operates in Series and Parallel modes to significantly extend the cruising range – depending on driving and road conditions – once the drive battery charge reaches low levels.
PHEV is also inexpensive and simple to recharge. Using a dedicated 15amp power outlet and based on an electricity supply rate of 30 cents per kilowatt hour, it would cost approximately $3.60 and take up to five hours to fully recharge a PHEV drive battery.
The PHEV has three different modes of operation – EV Drive Mode, Series and Parallel modes. EV Mode refers to PHEV’s all-electric operation where the wheels are driven by the front and rear electric motors using only drive battery power.
In PHEV’s two hybrid modes – Series and Parallel – the 2.0-litre petrol engine is activated to increase power to either the drive battery or directly to the wheels, depending on driving conditions.
PHEV’s electric range can also be maximised through the use of regenerative braking. Mitsubishi has designed PHEV with six regenerative braking settings, which the driver can select using the steering wheel paddles. And when the drive battery is depleted, PHEV can be switched to Battery Charge Mode which uses the petrol engine to generate and store battery power when the vehicle is stationary or driving. Alternatively, Battery Save Mode can be activated to maintain battery charge while driving.
Outlander PHEV Model Line-Up
Mitsubishi launches Outlander PHEV with a model line-up that’s designed to place plug-in hybrid technology firmly within the reach of mainstream SUV buyers. It will be available in two variants – the entry-level PHEV and top-of-the-range Aspire.
Available for $47,490 recommended retail, the PHEV is equipped with standard features including 18-inch machine faced alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, satellite navigation with 3D mapping, 7-inch colour touch screen, hands free Bluetooth® with steering wheel controls and voice control, smart key operation, dual zone climate control, dusk sensing HID headlights, reversing camera and rear parking sensors.
At $52,490, the PHEV Aspire gains a full array of luxury and technology appointments such as leather interior trim with heated front seats, 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, electric sliding sunroof, power tailgate with remote operation, chrome detailing, Forward Collision Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control and Wi-Fi based EV remote system via a smart phone App.
The Outlander PHEV’s drive battery can be recharged using a dedicated 240V 15 AMP power outlet from the charging port on the right side of the vehicle. A fully depleted drive battery will take approximately five hours to recharge. The Outlander PHEV is fitted with a 5-metre 230V cable.
Safety
Outlander’s 5-star ANCAP safety rating has been extended to PHEV, thanks to its combination of active and passive safety features.
Outlander PHEV has front driver and passenger airbags, side, curtain and knee protection airbags, rear parking sensors, reverse camera, Active Stability Control, Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body and Hill Start Control. Aspire gains additional active safety features including Forward Collision Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control.
Outlander PHEV also has an inbuilt Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) to warn pedestrians of an approaching vehicle. The system operates when the vehicle speed is operating on EV mode below 35km/h and the brake pedal is not deployed.
Outlander PHEV Key Features
PHEV standard features:
• Five seats with black cloth trim and leather look inserts
• 7 Airbags
• Cruise control
• Hill Start Control (HSC)
• Smart Key with One Touch Start operation
• Audio system with Sat Nav, turn-by-turn function and 3D mapping
• Bluetooth® hands free operation with voice control
• 18-inch machine-faced alloy wheels
• Silver painted roof rails
• Fog lamps with chrome fog lamp bezels
• LED rear tail lamps
• Tilt and telescopic steering adjustment
• MMCS audio with 7-inch colour touch screen
• Auto rain sensing wipers
• Dual-zone climate control air-conditioning
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Dusk sensing HID headlamps with auto levelling
• Chrome inner door handles
• Cargo blind
PHEV Aspire standard features over PHEV:
• Power tailgate with remote operation
• Electric sliding sunroof
• Leather seat trim
• Heated front seats
• 6-way electric adjustable driver’s seat
• Forward Collision Mitigation
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Chrome detailing
• Wi-Fi based EV remote system
Warranty & Servicing
The PHEV benefits from Mitsubishi’s five-year/100,000km new car warranty inclusive of the lithium ion drive battery.
Outlander PHEV also qualifies for Mitsubishi’s four-year Capped Price Servicing, which is $360.00 RRP for the first service and $470.00 RRP for the second, third and fourth services, which are scheduled every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first. Included with Capped Price Servicing as part of the Mitsubishi’s Diamond Advantage, customers get a Roadside Assist package.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be available from selected Mitsubishi dealers when it goes on sale on 31 March, 2014.
