The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2022 is one of our biggest hopes for sustainable motoring
Dwindling natural resources, global warming, global conflict, a growing population and a hungry demand for power, coupled with ever stringent emissions are making sustainable mobility more and more difficult and crucially, expensive in practical terms.
Local fuel prices at the pumps are slowing creeping dangerously close to the P100 per liter mark. Already, the Metro Manila Development Authority has reported less and less vehicular traffic plying our roads. Many public utility vehicle operators are opting to stay home citing that rising fuel prices makes poor economic sense for them to continue plying their route while making any decent income.
The sad truth is there is no magic bullet solution for this volatile situation. The best that we can hope for is a systemic change, which unfortunately takes time to transpire. And it isn’t the big steps that just matter, but small, conscious everyday decisions that will help make a positive change.
One of these small decisions we can make, is in our choice of vehicle. Ditch that gas guzzling SUV, and consider a hybrid, or even a full electric vehicle. But if range anxiety is a very real concern for you, or like me, your regular drive is very, well, irregular, then a hybrid, preferably a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is perhaps the way forward.
Mitsubishi claims that their Outlander PHEV is the world’s first plug-in hybrid electrical cross-over SUV.
Two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors provide additional grunt alongside the 2.4 later 4-cylinder twin-cam 16-valve MIVEC equipped B12 engine. The front provides 60 kilowatts and 137 Newton-Meters of torque, while the rears deliver 70 kilowatts and 195 Newton-Meters of torque, supplanting the gasoline engine’s 128 horsepower and 199 Newton-Meters of torque. Total peak output isn’t disclosed since the electric motors and internal combustion engine peak at different RPM’s, but suffice to say, you never feel a lack of power during any driving condition before you. A 300-volt / 13.8 kilowatt/hour lithium-ion battery provides juice to the electric motors, which can be charged by the gasoline engine while running. Conveniently, the Outlander’s plug-in capability means it can charge off a regular wall-socket at home. In full EV mode, Mitsubishi claims that you can expect typical range of 55 kilometers, which is enough for most peoples’ daily commute to and from their homes and workplaces. Of course, all this goodness comes with two penalties, a curb weight of 2,390kg, roughly 400-450 kilograms more than a comparable conventional cross-over, and a hefty P2,998,000 price tag.
You’re not just getting all this hybrid tech of course; the Outlander PHEV is a very safe car. Features like forward collision mitigation warns and then in certain conditions can even stop your vehicle automatically when it detects stationary objects ahead of you, adaptive cruise control allows you to flow with traffic, a rear cross-traffic alert to assist you further when backing up in conjunction with a reverse camera, blind-spot monitoring system, traction and stability control and ABS-EBD brakes. Lastly, six airbags come as standard. You can see it is a very well-equipped cross-over, fit for the modern techie family. It’s 190mm ground clearance is also an indication of its versatility in most road conditions, and allow you to do some light trailing / overloading to reach your camping spot, with the added sure-footedness of Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control all-wheel drive system. You have 330 litres of cargo space in the trunk, expandable to a very copious 950 liners with the second row seats down. Apple CarPlay is of course standard in its infotainment system.
Crucially, for car guys worried about a sterile, inert and aloof driving experience, the Outlander PHEV delivers a surprisingly relaxed, smooth yet engaging, and even involving driving experience. Steering is on the soft side, but surprisingly accurate and progressive; the brakes provide an equally decent feel, and the electric motors act as extra brakes and charge the lithium-ion batter in the process, recovering otherwise wasted kinetic energy. Suspension is firm, but offers excellent compliance from the stylish 18X7 alloy wheels and Dunlop SP Sport 5000 all-season touring tires. And of course, the ever-important fuel efficiency question: filled with two persons, a dog and a weekend worth of gear for an out-of-town getaway, the Outlander averaged at 17.8km/liter for my entire 160 kilometers worth of traffic-free driving. On purely highway drives, the instant read-out would show as high as 25 kilometers per liter, which is impressive given the Outlander’s heft and size, cruising at 90-100km/h. A slightly slower 80km/h would yield a marginal improvement but it felt like watching grass grow. Steep uphill ascents don’t seem to bother it much thanks to the instant torque of the electric motors, while the steering allowed the Outlander to flow seamlessly form corner to corner. Few cars would make for an excellent cross-country vehicle as well the Outlander with its blend of comfort, refinement and a decent amount of driving involvement.
The future is indeed difficult, but there is hope. Small steps, small changes, small decisions all contribute to a positive systemic change for good. The Outlander is one such small but truly positive step in the right direction.
This is the way.
