Mitsubishi is back with one of the models that helped put plug-in hybrid SUVs on the map, and Howard Ritchie has been finding out whether the new Outlander PHEV deserves to reclaim its place on British roads.
For anyone wondering where Mitsubishi has been, the Outlander provides a timely reminder of the Japanese manufacturer’s electrified credentials. The original Outlander PHEV was the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV and became a significant success in several international markets, while Mitsubishi itself has decades of experience developing electric vehicles.
Now the Outlander PHEV is ready for the UK again, bringing considerably more technology, performance and luxury than many drivers may remember.
Around 50 miles on electric power
At the heart of the latest Outlander is its plug-in hybrid powertrain, offering around 50 miles of electric driving capability alongside twin-motor all-wheel drive.
With approximately 300hp available, this is no token electrified SUV either. Mitsubishi combines its petrol engine and electric motors with an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system designed to provide traction and stability across a variety of conditions.
One-pedal driving adds another EV-style feature, allowing the driver to use regenerative braking to slow the car while recovering energy.
There is also an eight-year warranty, strengthening the Outlander’s proposition for buyers intending to keep their vehicle for the longer term.
A much more luxurious Outlander
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises comes inside.
The new Outlander has moved considerably upmarket, with an interior that feels far removed from the more utilitarian Mitsubishi SUVs of the past. Technology features prominently, but Mitsubishi has resisted the temptation to transfer virtually every vehicle function onto a touchscreen.
There are buttons. Lots of them.
For drivers increasingly frustrated by touchscreen-operated heating, ventilation and other everyday controls, that alone could prove refreshing.
Practicality remains important, too, with seven-seat capability giving the Outlander genuine family appeal. Its towing ability could also make it attractive to caravan and trailer users looking for an electrified SUV without abandoning the versatility traditionally associated with Mitsubishi.
Then there’s the price
There is, however, a significant obstacle to the Outlander’s UK comeback.
The new Outlander PHEV costs almost £50,000, putting it into a very different part of the market from the model many British buyers will remember.
That becomes particularly interesting when the Outlander’s pricing in markets such as the US and Australia is considered. British buyers face a substantially higher entry point for the plug-in hybrid version.
UK taxation is another complication. Changes affecting plug-in hybrids, together with the prospect of pay-per-mile charging for electric mileage from 2028, could alter the financial calculations for motorists considering electrified vehicles.
It raises an uncomfortable question: is Mitsubishi bringing Britain a genuinely good SUV at the wrong price, or has the UK market simply made a compelling plug-in hybrid unnecessarily difficult to justify?
Howard Ritchie puts the Outlander to the test
Howard Ritchie takes the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV onto British roads to find out.
The test looks beyond Mitsubishi’s comeback story to examine what matters to potential owners: real-world practicality, interior quality, technology, electric driving range, towing capability and whether the Outlander’s combination of petrol and electric power still makes sense.
Most importantly, it asks whether this once-familiar Japanese SUV deserves another chance with UK motorists.
Motoring Echo Verdict
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV returns with a strong specification, meaningful electric capability, four-wheel drive, seven-seat practicality and an unexpectedly premium cabin. Mitsubishi hasn’t forgotten how to build an appealing electrified SUV.
The harder question is whether British buyers will be prepared to pay almost £50,000 for it.
The Outlander itself may have moved on considerably. Whether the UK market has made its comeback harder than it needed to be could prove the bigger story.
