Mitsubishi Motors has achieved numerous dishonors within the last few including Japan’s worse automaker in 2016. That same year, Consumer Reports gave the manufacturer an average reliability score but wouldn’t endorse a specific vehicle. In 2017, Mitsubishi was among the lowest car rankings on the JD Power Dependability Survey. 

In 2020, Mitsubishi is making grand strides to regain customer confidence and increase their reliability factor with refreshing vehicles like the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid.

Redemption in the Form of Upgraded Technology  

The Outlander PHEV is a rarity in that it a plug-in hybrid SUV at a fairly competitive price. Plug–hybrid vehicles possess a larger battery than a typical hybrid, which allows it to drive for longer exclusively on battery power for a determined set of miles. The Outlander PHEV is powered by an advanced gasoline/electric drivetrain complete with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine and twin electric motors. Though you’ll only get an unremarkable 22 mpg per city/highway on battery power alone, and 25 mpg combined.

The Mitsubishi site will help you navigate your closest DC Fast charging station get a charge to of about 80% in 25 minutes; a level two public station will give you complete power in under four hours. At your home base, you can opt for a professionally connected 240-volt charging station which will also give you a full charge in about four hours while the standard 120-volt outlet will take around eight hours for a full charge.

Outlander Safety

The Outlander PHEV comes standard with impressive safety features designed for drivers to feel more confident on the road. There’s a multi-camera system with a wide-angle you can use to easily maneuver throughout tricky spaces as well as forward collision mitigation, pedestrian detection and, blind-spot warning and lane assistance. 

These features helped the Outlander PHEV receive a five-star safety grade from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Another awesome standard safety feature is the rain-sensing wipers which are activated by rainfall and automatically adjust to the rain frequency.  

The standard SEL-S AWC model starts at $36,295 while the enhanced GT S-AWC mode begins at $41,695. Right now, the purchase of the Outlander PHEV qualifies for a federal tax credit of $5,836.  The vehicle also comes with a host of warranty packages like a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. While the fuel efficiency of the Outlander PHEV is unremarkable, the roomy car cabin and ample cargo space still makes it a nice option for a family road trip or weekend getaway.

The available tech compatible options are great for Android and Apple users alike. There is a powerful speaker system and an eight-inch infotainment display screen which is nice but the overall functionality is clunky.

The Mitsubishi Remote Control app is a nice bonus and available in the Apple app store and Google Play and allows drivers to create a custom charging schedule, control the vehicle’s temperature, defrosting and more all before stepping inside for a ride. For an added sense of luxury, the GT model has expanded safety features and other frills like a heated steering wheel and a power sunroof.

The Final Verdict 

The Outlander PHEV is a step in the right direction toward sustainability but Mitsubishi has more work to do when it comes to hybrid fuel efficiency and interface savvy.