Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV - Alternatives?

[Joeywinkle]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster!

Wondering if the PH hive mind can assist me;

Looking at a replacement for my 2012 Focus 1.6TDCI. It's been reliable and durable throughout my ownership, however with the prospect of our family expanding on the horizon and no longer needing a diesel for the motorway commute I was doing in my previous role, i'm looking at getting into a hybrid/ EV.

Current commute is circa 15 miles per day round trip to my office, 3 days per week through town centre. Office car park has 4No. free to use 7kw chargers. We do however do the odd long journey to visit family or into ULEZ to visit friends.

As mentioned previously, we're looking at something larger as we're looking at having a baby in the next couple of years or so. We have a big dog (dalmatian) and my wife has a horse kept out of town in the sticks, so would like 4 wheel drive capability.

The obvious candidate is the Mitsubishi Outlander; while i'm not too impressed with the interior, it does seem to tick an awful lot of boxes for what we need. Would ideally be looking at the 2015 onwards facelift (preferably the 2017 as that seems to be a nice compromise between affordability and looks) in GX4h/s trim which seems to include a hell of a lot of kit. Charging not an issue at home either as we have a driveway. We'd be looking at keeping this mega long term so would also like to get a home charge point installed at some point.

I do however have a concern about Mitsubishi UK ceasing pretty much everything over here also which may mean maintaining it could be a ballache.

My question is; is there an alternative I haven't considered? Budget would be around £16k but may be able to stretch to a little bit more depending.

Thanks in advance!

[Wheel Turned Out]

If you're okay with a hybrid I would definitely think about a Lexus RX 450h. You'll be looking at slightly older and higher mileage models, admittedly, but they will be a much nicer place to be and will be highly unlikely to throw up much in the way of untoward bills. Comfortable, commodious, dependable - life is a lot better with a Lexus!

[Bannock]

Mercedes C350e.

Passat GTE estate.

EDIT to add: KIA Optima estate.

Edited by Bannock on Tuesday 6th September 16:58

[ZedLeg]

Literally anything, second worst taxi I've ever been in was an Outlander Phev.

[Joeywinkle]

Wheel Turned Out said:

If you're okay with a hybrid I would definitely think about a Lexus RX 450h. You'll be looking at slightly older and higher mileage models, admittedly, but they will be a much nicer place to be and will be highly unlikely to throw up much in the way of untoward bills. Comfortable, commodious, dependable - life is a lot better with a Lexus!

Thanks - I have looked at these, but I think I’m swung by plug-in hybrid over self-charging due to being able to essentially run it for free throughout the week by office charging. If only they did a plug-in version it would be perfect!

[Joeywinkle]

Bannock said:

Mercedes C350e.

Passat GTE estate.

EDIT to add: KIA Optima estate.

Edited by Bannock on Tuesday 6th September 16:58

Mercedes and Passats a great shout however a bit leggy in my budget.

Kia I’ll have a look at, thanks!

[Bannock]

Joeywinkle said:

Bannock said:

Mercedes C350e.

Passat GTE estate.

EDIT to add: KIA Optima estate.

Edited by Bannock on Tuesday 6th September 16:58

Mercedes and Passats a great shout however a bit leggy in my budget.

Kia I’ll have a look at, thanks!

My pleasure, you're welcome. Not many of them around. But they're good.

This is the thing with PHEVs, most of them will be leggy, precisely because the early ones, which is what you're looking at, were mostly bought as company cars and so were used for high mileages.

As you've already identified, the Outlander was really the first proper PHEV on the market (except for the Vauxhall Ampera, which was brilliant and criminally underrated and should have stayed in production), and so is now, as a second hand buy at your budget, the most common (and cheapest) PHEV out there. I test drove one about 5 years back and decided against it, and went full EV instead by getting a Nissan Leaf (I've also kept a petrol engined estate for long journeys and occasional local use when the Mrs is out in the Leaf, seeing as we were always going to be a 2 car household this worked out well for me). I found the Outlander heavy, slow and utterly insipid. But I think you're going to struggle to find anything else better without upping your budget nearer £20k.

The left field one here is the Volvo S60 diesel PHEV. But again, as with Passats and Merc C350e, most of them out there are very high milers.

Good luck in your search.

[ozzuk]

I've got a 65 plate outlander PHEV, my favourite car I've ever owned and I've had a lot! Partly because it's fit for purpose for my time in life now - same as you, close to office, dog walks etc.

Interior to me is excellent, mine has all the toys, sunroof, birds eye camera (which is ace), heated seats/wheel, sat nav unit with lots of cool screens etc. And it's the auto. I'd only change mine for a newer one which could be an issue as they are moving out of UK. I would consider the volvo XC90, but it's massively more expensive and I've heard of issues with them.

Can't recommend enough! The performance is good for a big car, and with 200bhp and free road tax there isn't much to complain about.

I've had it probably 2 years, not cost me anything other than service/MOT but I had an amazing deal, just over 16kGBP with only 40k on it and 2 year warranty, WBAC offered me more for it last year (looking at the volvo) but I can't imagine parting with it.

I took out one of the rear seats so the dogs could get in easier (back is high), took me a whole morning as you have to remove the battery covers etc.

Edited by ozzuk on Tuesday 6th September 18:45

[cerb4.5lee]

ZedLeg said:

Literally anything, second worst taxi I've ever been in was an Outlander Phev.

My FIL has one and he doesn't like it either. I still can't understand why he went for it in the first place to be honest. He always goes on about how much he misses his old 3.0 V6 diesel Vectra Estate in comparison.

[Wheel Turned Out]

cerb4.5lee said:

My FIL has one and he doesn't like it either. I still can't understand why he went for it in the first place to be honest. He always goes on about how much he misses his old 3.0 V6 diesel Vectra Estate in comparison.

Out of curiosity, what are his issues with it?

I've heard all sorts of things, from loathesomely out of date infotainment to a deeply unpleasant ride and a rather meagre plug-in range in the real world. Usually seemingly summed up into "they're just a bit crap". Curious what his experiences have been.

[ozzuk]

Wheel Turned Out said:

Out of curiosity, what are his issues with it?

I've heard all sorts of things, from loathesomely out of date infotainment to a deeply unpleasant ride and a rather meagre plug-in range in the real world. Usually seemingly summed up into "they're just a bit crap". Curious what his experiences have been.

Maybe his was the pre 2015 model, I think the specs greatly improved. Can't fault the infotainment in mine, speakers seem great quality, USB slots aplenty, not sure what else needed.

Range on electric is small, prob 20 miles (but it will charge itself via braking/engine, which is adjustable on the fly), so for the OP the range is perfect, we rarely put petrol in ours, once a month max and the tank is small, and charges via 3 pin plug in 2-3 hours.

[cerb4.5lee]

Wheel Turned Out said:

cerb4.5lee said:

My FIL has one and he doesn't like it either. I still can't understand why he went for it in the first place to be honest. He always goes on about how much he misses his old 3.0 V6 diesel Vectra Estate in comparison.

Out of curiosity, what are his issues with it?

I've heard all sorts of things, from loathesomely out of date infotainment to a deeply unpleasant ride and a rather meagre plug-in range in the real world. Usually seemingly summed up into "they're just a bit crap". Curious what his experiences have been.

He doesn't like the ride or the tyre noise, and he doesn't rate it very much at cruising on the motorway either(he says that it feels gutless). To be fair to it though I do like the interior of it.

They don't review very well either when I've read the reviews, and most of them say that it is crap as you say. His is a 2016 model.

[Joeywinkle]

ozzuk said:

I've got a 65 plate outlander PHEV, my favourite car I've ever owned and I've had a lot! Partly because it's fit for purpose for my time in life now - same as you, close to office, dog walks etc.

Interior to me is excellent, mine has all the toys, sunroof, birds eye camera (which is ace), heated seats/wheel, sat nav unit with lots of cool screens etc. And it's the auto. I'd only change mine for a newer one which could be an issue as they are moving out of UK. I would consider the volvo XC90, but it's massively more expensive and I've heard of issues with them.

Can't recommend enough! The performance is good for a big car, and with 200bhp and free road tax there isn't much to complain about.

I've had it probably 2 years, not cost me anything other than service/MOT but I had an amazing deal, just over 16kGBP with only 40k on it and 2 year warranty, WBAC offered me more for it last year (looking at the volvo) but I can't imagine parting with it.

I took out one of the rear seats so the dogs could get in easier (back is high), took me a whole morning as you have to remove the battery covers etc.

Edited by ozzuk on Tuesday 6th September 18:45

Thanks for the detailed post Ozz! You’ve pretty much touched on all the reasons there as to why I think it’s going to be the one to work the most for us currently.

For clarity, I think the amount of kit they have inside is really good; it’s more the quality of the interior plastics etc I’m a bit less keen on. Willing to make a compromise on this though given we won’t really be doing mega mega miles in it!

[cerb4.5lee]

ozzuk said:

Range on electric is small, prob 20 miles (but it will charge itself via braking/engine, which is adjustable on the fly), so for the OP the range is perfect, we rarely put petrol in ours, once a month max and the tank is small, and charges via 3 pin plug in 2-3 hours.

I think that my FIL was took in with the zero VED with it. In fairness he doesn't do all that very many miles in it, so the small range still fits his usage. Like you he hardly puts any petrol in it either.

[Joeywinkle]

ozzuk said:

I've got a 65 plate outlander PHEV, my favourite car I've ever owned and I've had a lot! Partly because it's fit for purpose for my time in life now - same as you, close to office, dog walks etc.

Interior to me is excellent, mine has all the toys, sunroof, birds eye camera (which is ace), heated seats/wheel, sat nav unit with lots of cool screens etc. And it's the auto. I'd only change mine for a newer one which could be an issue as they are moving out of UK. I would consider the volvo XC90, but it's massively more expensive and I've heard of issues with them.

Can't recommend enough! The performance is good for a big car, and with 200bhp and free road tax there isn't much to complain about.

I've had it probably 2 years, not cost me anything other than service/MOT but I had an amazing deal, just over 16kGBP with only 40k on it and 2 year warranty, WBAC offered me more for it last year (looking at the volvo) but I can't imagine parting with it.

I took out one of the rear seats so the dogs could get in easier (back is high), took me a whole morning as you have to remove the battery covers etc.

Edited by ozzuk on Tuesday 6th September 18:45

Thanks for the detailed post Ozz! You’ve pretty much touched on all the reasons there as to why I think it’s going to be the one to work the most for us currently.

For clarity, I think the amount of kit they have inside is really good; it’s more the quality of the interior plastics etc I’m a bit less keen on. Willing to make a compromise on this though given we won’t really be doing mega mega miles in it!

[georgeyboy12345]

Bannock said:

Mercedes C350e.

Passat GTE estate.

EDIT to add: KIA Optima estate.

Edited by Bannock on Tuesday 6th September 16:58

these are not 4wd though

[ZX10R NIN]

Take a good look at the Vauxhall Ampera they're a very good underrated PHEV:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208319...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208078...

Volvo V60 PHEV:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208219...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208168...

Kia Optima:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209059...

[Phunk]

I recently purchased an Outlander PHEV, wife has a 30KwH leaf and my dad has a Lexus RX450h so have a good idea how they all compare!

Lexus will only really do 30mpg, is well built and a bit quicker than the Outlander.

Nissan Leaf feels nippier and has softer suspension.

Outlander is good, a HUGE boot but the suspension is a bit firm over the bumps. Try to buy one that still has battery warranty, there’s been quite a few cases of them needing replaced.

[Dav72D]

I'd definitely consider an Ampera. I've done 50,000 miles in 4 years in mine, and getting 45 miles from a charge during the summer.

[Bendo]

Have you done the maths? At the upcoming price cap, it will probably be cheaper to run them on Petrol / Diesel rather than charge them.

Not withstanding that plug in hybrids are an awful solution to a problem that doesn't exist, only really useful for low company car tax, frankly why anyone would want to drive something as hideous as an Outlander is beyond me.