Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review - FullyCharged

I'd really like to see the 2nd gen Volt with an 18-20 kwk battery have a DC charge capability. It would be a good way of maximizing electric drivability in regional metropolitan environments.

At the very minimum, it should be able to charge at or near the full 32A range of most public charging stations versus the 15A rate in the first generation cars.

 

Toyota may be conflicted about plug-ins, but Mitsubishi isn't. Check out 2016 Outlander PHEV details announced at NYIAS (there's a pretty good article at InsideEVs, but this forum's "new user" rules keep me from posting a link). Styling's dull as dirt, but otherwise an interesting package, especially if MMNA's as aggressive on pricing as Mitsu's been in the UK.

Still very hard to figure why Mitsu's withheld the most U.S.-oriented plug-in on earth from North America. Judging from Mitsubishi leaders' comments at NYIAS on the launch of the 2016 Outlander, it's possible they feared the Gen1 Outlander PHEV wasn't sufficiently refined for the U.S. market. Seeing as they've been selling all they can make in Europe and Japan, MMC might not have been feeling a lot of pressure to open up the U.S. front until they were "ready", but Mitsu's U.S. dealers have really been taking it in the neck on this one. There's no direct competition on the horizon (the C-Max Energi's far tinier, GM never greenlighted the comparable Volt MPV5, and PHEVs coming from Volvo and Audi are up at an entirely different price point, at least a $10k premium), so the Outlander PHEV may still be able to do okay next year. But it's hard to avoid feeling that Mitsubishi has left a lot of money on the table - and GM could still change their mind on the MPV5.

 

I think that the towing ability of hybrids is a big element holding back Aussie uptake. Hopefully the Outlander PHEV does well and Gen IV prius allows small braked trailers.

 

The government wanted to axe the Volt during GM's bail out, but it is still seen as Obama's car that riles up a certain segment here. Plus the crash testing fire, there was really only one, got a lot of negative press along with the Tesla S.

 

Not sure how it looks from across the pond, but it would be easy to overstate the "wrath" that you think Toyota faced. I don't think "hey they're beating up our national champion" is a thing in this market for anyone but the UAW. The Prius is far more popular than the Volt, and politicians and federal bureaucrats don't waste any breath complaining about it.

 

never heard of u/a?

 

There was some gap between Toyota getting the number one spot and the unintended acceleration issue. Which had a dramatic 911 recording from a passenger about to die to start those flames. Our press will jump on anything that lets them get away from reporting on news actually important to the citizens of this country. The Volt and Tesla fires were also used for that purpose.

The fine was, in part, because Toyota withheld info about complains of UA happening in another country. I think in Europe.

 

perhaps media driven, but a witch hunt, none the less.

 

Actually, it's up to 84 now. In the U.S. media there is some coverage as the approved claim numbers have adjusted upward over time.

Here's an article from 2 days ago:

Approved death claims related to GM ignition switch recall rise to 84 | MLive.com

 

United Artists?

Our hybrid Lexus SUV is towing rated, so although I haven't yet found the spec, I'd bet a $1 the Phev Outlander will be too. I'll see what I can come up with.
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The OL PHEV is sold in Israel but the price here is 29% higher than PiP! How it is compared in the UK? Does it get more incentives than the Pip?

 

about the same as pip in uk.

 

Not sure if this was answered, but is this coming to USA?