The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Isn't For Everyone, But THIS Is Why It May Be Right For You!

[@mafarmerga]

I have a 2019 model. Love it! Averaging 27 miles all electric and 90 mpg combined. My utility offers reduced rates between 11 PM and 7 AM so my cost per mile is $0.01. You read that correctly. A penny a mile traveled.

[@opheosmedia7809]

Can it fully charge the battery when in the charge mode while driving?

[@mafarmerga]

@@opheosmedia7809 It can but it does not seem to be that efficient. There is a battery save mode, so if I need electric at my destination that is what I use instead of using gas to charge the battery. The regen braking system is quite good though.

[@stepheneyles2198]

Penny per mile PLUS the cost of the car divided by the mileage travelled! obviously that will go down over time but it's something to think about!

[@mafarmerga]

@@stepheneyles2198 I could have bought a ICE car for the same price and driven the same miles. This would eliminate those two variables. Then it does indeed come down to cost per mile. PHEV wins!

[@unitedwestand56]

@@mafarmerga I bought a 2019 Outlander PHEV a few months ago and I have to agree with you, though in my situation it costs me 0.05/kWh to charge it, or around $.50 which lasts me about 25 miles on a good day. My gasoline mpg's hover around 250 mpg over the last 2 weeks since most of my travel was local, and the ICE fired up only twice for a few minutes. Plus $8,500 off by the dealer and the tax credit of almost $7,000 (around $5,850 from the federals and $1,100 from the state) brought the price of my PHEV GT down to less than $28,000. Overall I am happy with it so far and it is a perfect car for my needs, if not taking into consideration all those little rattles in the cabin popping here and there.

[@martinwarriner7570]

A decent review of the Mitsi' PHEV and that's rare. It's one of the few truly integrated plug-ins rather than the usual, add a battery and an electric motor to the existing models which is still where most manufactures are right now. I've owned one for four years and it suits my lifestyle, I'm now retired and live in a remote country location so most of my journeys are EV only. I do miss my Land Rovers but don't miss the hours I spent sorting out the faults. Mitsubishi in comparison seem to be bulletproof but I know they're going to struggle in areas where they've had no real presence as a car manufacturer.

[@kylemas2005]

They're big here in Atlanta, with 3 dealerships in the metro area. We got 2 Mirages in our family. A 2014 green hatchback CVT and a 2017 white G4 sedan version CVT. Both fantastic, simple, reliable cars. Mitsubishi is really filling the niche that KIA and Hyundai is abandoning and having a nice quiet slow comeback.

[@FrankODB86]

Try a Toyota rav-4 or lexus plug- in for even more peace of mind!

[@mondotv4216]

I’ve had one since 2014. Exactly as Nathan described - very practical vehicle. I use it for work taking gear to locations. Initially my EV only range was around 52Kms - we have very mild winters in Sydney so pretty much all year round, a little less with aircon. And my commute was around 25kms each way. I used to regularly get 3000 plus kms out of a tank of fuel - so on the minus side, small tank. On the plus side you rarely need more so you’re not carrying around that extra weight and it’s cheap to refuel. I love the way the rear seats fold completely flat for larger loads. Once again this is a practical, comfortable vehicle. Also it drives way above it’s pay grade - sure no lightning acceleration but in EV mode it’s super it’s super smooth and quiet. The cabin has extra sound proofing that helps this. It can also tow quite well and pretty heavy loads. My only caveat - being a plug in hybrid the battery is quite small and you cycle it a lot (or at least I did). So the range is now way down from new - under 30kms. We don’t know if this is the fault of Mitsubishi’s ultra conservative BMS (which guestimates battery capacity based on throughput and time, rather than actual capacity measurement) or whether the battery is indeed down below 60%. About 18 months ago I took it in for a service and we think they reset the BMS and it popped right back up to 50kms. Since then it has steadily declined to below what it was even 18 months ago. So bottom line, don’t do what I did and cycle the battery fully, often. Try and work between 95% and 20%. I’d normally not recommend 95% but you have to be practical with a small battery and full charge is only 4.15V per cell anyway so Mitsubishi is already giving you some headroom. Also anybody buying this vehicle with an android phone or tablet needs to get an OBDII adapter and PHEV Watchdog - gives you a ton of info about the battery and everything else in the vehicle.

[@danielangelov91]

Considering the degradation of the battery it should be covered by a waranty, isn't it?

[@bartstevens4035]

Something important that every reviewer forgets to mention: you can put a roof box, ski box or other stuff on your roof. Almost all electric and hybrid vehicles will not allow you to do this because it messes up the aerodynamics and will reduce the range of the vehicle drastically. And you can pull 1.5 tons with this vehicle, which is another big no-no for other (PH)EVs. And as mentioned in the video you get a decent trunk. In all the EVs I saw so far the trunk is tiny because of a) batteries and b) aerodynamics (the roof drops down quickly). So if you've got kids or have to drive to the DIY store often to load construction materials for the house or want to go on a family vacation, you better not buy an EV. For us this was a major selling point for the (2019 European model with 2.4 ltr engine) Outlander. Also I think European drivers have a distinct advantage because we have 220 V wall sockets, which means we can 'fill up the electric tank' in 4 to 5 hours instead of 12 to 13 hours. And don't get fooled by that 'small' range in electric mode: we can drive about 40 kilometers in EV but in practice we drive more than 80% of the time electrical. Even on long distance the car will use the rolling/breaking energy generated by the petrol engine to replenish the batteries, giving you incredibly low gasoline consumption (2.8 to 4 ltr/100 km). So it may have a relatively small gas tank, but it's so rare that we have to drive to the gas pump that for the first eight months we kept forgetting how to open the fuel cap cover and on which side of the vehicle it is.

[@e1auctions345]

What are they like to use when its -40 C we had -32 today are there block heaters to warm the oil?

[@bartstevens4035]

@@e1auctions345 Sorry, I live in Belgium. This winter the lowest temperature we had so far was a balmy -6 C i think :-) I know the Outlander has systems to deal with the cold. For instance it uses a little bit of energy to prevent that the batteries get too cold, so that you don't loose too much power in winter. We didn't notice any difference in range between summer and winter. Also when you start it will automatically switch to the petrol engine so that you don't use too much battery power to warm up the car. Once it's nice and warm it switches to battery again. So there are some measures implemented, but I don't know about really cold weather, you'd have to check with Mitsubishi themselves.

[@erikkpritchard]

Very good comment about the roof rack and cargo problems faced by most PHEV cars. I have a Ford Fusion PHEV (Mondeo for those of you in the old country) and it scarcely has a trunk (boot) at all...it's more of a large glove box. Towing is not possible with my Ford PHEV. I'm looking at the Outlander to fix those three problems. Oh make that four problems...my Ford doesn't have AWD and I live in Montana.

[@yongers]

Bart Stevens thanks for the great comments! Great to hear from someone who owns one. I’m thinking of getting one for the family. We live about 15km out of town so a 30-40km round trip would hopefully suit this vehicle perfectly.

[@keithbricknell9738]

I've had mine for 15 months now, mine is the UK spec 5H with 2.4ltr engine, I love it, with the blower off, I can achieve a good 24 or 25 miles. Put the A/C or fan on and that will drop by 8 miles or so. I only fuel mine once a month now as I charge every night. At 230v it takes 5 hours for a full charge, but that is dependant on how you've driven the day before, if you've driven like a maniac then the charge will be a lot less. (I hate cars that think they know better than me)! I love the car though and with the dark red leather it's very POSH!

[@danielangelov91]

So I have the following question - I have to travel 250km (150 miles). 95% of it is not urban driving. How will the car behave in terms of using the battery? Will the car use it only in low speeds when it can run fully electric and when I have to overtake? This will result in me finishing the trip with a battery on 50%. Will it be used from the get go? I'm asking, because I would rely on the electring engine to overtake but if my battery is drained it would be awful ... Thank you in advance!

[@acarguycandreamright634]

We are on our second Mitsubishi. Went from outlander sport to outlander. Zero issues so far. I’d be happy if they brought back a real suv with this same quality.

[@ahbushnell1]

I have a 2020 PHEV GT. I really like it. In town I almost never use the ICE motor. I took it on a long trip and it worked great on the ICE.

[@danielangelov91]

So I have the following question - I have to travel 250km (150 miles). 95% of it is not urban driving. How will the car behave in terms of using the battery? Will the car use it only in low speeds when it can run fully electric and when I have to overtake? This will result in me finishing the trip with a battery on 50%. Will it be used from the get go? I'm asking, because I would rely on the electring engine to overtake but if my battery is drained it would be awful ... Thank you in advance!

[@syedjawadkarim5005]

V6 GT is the way to go with Outlander. I owned a 2016 GT version in UAE and it was awesome to drive on highways and off roads.

[@Defiantsynthetics]

If you buy used: 1.Change the generator fluid (it's cvt j4 fluid but this vehicle does not have a cvt) 2. Change the front and rear differential fluid (SP-3 transmission fluid) 3.Change the oil every 3k (I don't care what the book says, do it every 3k with full synthetic) 4.Have a qualified mechanic check your ground wires for corrosion. I'm a ASE master tech that has 2 outlanders, these are my suggestions.

[@zero716]

I follow everything but the engine oil change internal… Why on earth would anyone need to change the oil that frequently? An engine with a closed crankcase that runs very infrequently shouldn’t need changed very often. A standard ICE vehicle doesn’t even need serviced that frequently.

[@shorewood2057]

Thanks for this - very useful. I have a very low mileage 2019 I bought used and love everything about it, but it's my first EV and having done most of the maintenance on my vehicles, I have wondered what routine maintenance looks like on an EV. I plan to take it to the dealership regardless because with all the tech nowadays, my wrench will only take me so far... For anyone wondering about purchasing one of these, I did my homework and am very pleased with it. Did my first long excursion and the combined range is something on the order of 350 miles.

[@akilghosh]

This would be a great camping car. Imagine the endless possibilities with that 1500 watts socket !!

[@predpalina]

That's exactly what the haters missed about this powerhouse!😘

[@fenflyer]

Yep , the Mitsi PHEV is a great bonus when working on a site (building work) I'm running all sorts of bench saws etc . etc and when stationery in charge mode charging the vehicle batteries it returns a real 140 + mpg , that's better than the 5 hp Honda geny I no longer need to carry around 👍kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYWodoGol96Yd8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3S8lKahaZV5gtU

[@goranmekota7540]

Yep, if it just had a bigger tank and a bit better off road capability it would be perfect.

[@fenflyer]

@@goranmekota7540 I carry a Jerry can , when traveling more than the 300 + mile range . my 2014 Mitsi PHEV is on air suspension together with 245 70 16 BFG AT K2 tyres, it goes most places my Jeep wrangler V6 can go 😎

[@user-qw4jy1oy9r]

@@goranmekota7540 the off-road capabilities are actually very good. I have 1.2inch lift in my 2020 2.4L PHEV here in Europe. I installed bigger Bridgestone Dueler 001 225/75r16C A/T's and I have created a very decent mild off-roader while keeping a very decent mpg's. It is almost two tonne car.

[@ET_Videos]

Looks like Mitsubishi has finally woken up. They have(had) some cool cars in Japan and around the world that we rarely got. Now lets get an EVO with some of this tech :-)

[@kylemas2005]

Lancer Evo is coming back in a year.

[@greenboi6640]

Hey that does sound like a nice idea, an electrified Lancer...

[@DeadAir21]

@@kylemas2005 yeah the lancer is never coming back. Neither is the Eclipse. Mitsubishi isn’t focused on sports cars anymore.

[@jamesm7642]

I've had my 2020 Outlander GT PHEV for couple weeks. This is my 3rd (PH)EV. I've also owned (leased) Fiat 500e and Chevrolet Bolt. Initial impressions: decent car, lots of safety features (blind spot, lane departure, etc), and drives good enough. After 1 commute to and from work (405 Fwy in L.A.), the battery is just about depleted. I think once I get my carpool lane sticker, I can charge the car while I'm driving a bit faster in the carpool lane so maybe the battery will last longer. I have level 2 charger at home and work so topping off daily isn't an issue. This is my daily driver, but I also have a 4R TRD Pro. In the past, I found myself using the 4R on weekends, but the Outlander has enough size so I haven't driven the 4R much in the last 2 weeks. Car isn't perfect and I wish there was an SUV EV with 300+ range in the $45k range, but they don't exist yet. However there might be some in the next couple years so my Outlander lease is only 2 years. This car is good enough to be a fill in for 2 years.

[@TheSukiebapswent]

Just bought the 2.4l 2020 model. Its fantastic, love it. A bit of a learning curve in terms of driving it as efficiently as possible but it is a beautiful car to drive

[@jaegermah]

Thanks for the clear / relatable details, with no cheesy jokes or long stories. Great video.

[@jeremyborkowski8706]

I just bought a 2022 and I love that it brings the best of all worlds together.

[@renemolina7235]

Missed you Nathan, glad to see you back!

[@robbilton9006]

I was into getting one until I saw the euro version with a bigger gas engine, bigger electric front motor and bigger battery. The Mitsubishi rep at this year's Vancouver auto show reckons it may arrive in 21 if at all as they said the battery size qualified it as a full in EV with the federal rules. Ended up getting the Niro PHEV. Don't regret that choice. As roomy in the cabin (trunk space is smaller), almost 1000km (621miles) total range and 38-42 (23-26.5 miles) electric range dependant on if the climate control is on. I bought it in July and have filled it up once.

[@unitedwestand56]

Niro PHEV also was a vehicle I was considering since I had a Sportage at that time and 2 Optima hybrids before that. A smaller size, no AWD and it's appearance as a hatchback more than an SUV killed the deal for me. Went with a PHEV GT- no regrets so far.

[@barebarekun161]

So that's the new Outlander they're testing and assemble in Thailand due to unveil at Motor Show 2020 in Bangkok this December.

[@robbilton9006]

@@barebarekun161 North America doesn't have the one the rest of the world has. We still have the 2.0 engine and smaller electric motors. I read the current one for the rest of the world will come here in Q2 21 and then the all new model will arrive at the end of the year, but only as the gas one.

[@PRL1290]

2019-2022 has the 2.4 engine and larger battery.

[@mushroomcloud1]

Mitsu engineers deserve a pile of credit for making a vehicle this good for a reasonable price.

[@brassboy77]

Did not know there was anything out there like this. Don’t need the third seat. Perfect for me. Live in the mountains. Retired. Single.

[@vadimus2007]

3rd row on Outlander is a joke anyway, for kids or for adults you hate! :)

[@greenlightning79]

Bob, I bought a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander two months ago, and I’m very happy. It looks like this one, but with the four cylinder. I find it very comfortable and easy to drive, and I’d highly recommend it

[@yosam5184]

Almost bought the earlier version of this model. I did a test drive and really liked the ride comfort and the power transition was good. The older I get the more it makes sense...LOL!

[@andrewjkasten]

Fantastic car review. Hands down best reviewer I've come across. Well done.

[@andrzejp8782]

I have the 2018 PHEV model and it's fantastic. It holds super nice - the best car/SUV I ever had . Much better than Subaru or Toyota, and the fuel economy is insane.

[@kromahj]

Nobody want this junk

[@kylemas2005]

@@kromahj Mitsubishi is huge overseas, your crazy.

[@michaelcook3143]

Had a Dynamic since March fabulous car quiet and comfortable works great in London and on the motorways getting 33 miles from a charge now.

[@bradwillems4070]

I researched the Outlander after I bought the Ford CMAX Energi. The Outlander wasn't available at that time. Had it been available I may have been driving a Mitsubishi. Anyway, there are some things that distinguish it from the other PHEV's that may be more value than realized. If I remember correctly the rear wheels are electric driven only. That is closer to 4WD than AWD which I think is better for rough terrain. The electric motors also have low speed torque. Another feature that stands out is the 1.5 kW outlet. So instead of the 150 W outlet (which I believe uses the standard 12V car battery) the 1,500 W outlet uses the big battery. If your load is less than 1,500 W or 12.5 A you can power lights for your camp site, a blow dryer, microwave oven, or emergency lighting during a power outage (limit 1.5kW of course). I also think the engine turns on automatically to charge the battery. I don't know if it charges automatically when unattended though. Another benefit over my CMAX Energi - I believe I can set the Outlander to charge the battery while driving. Once my CMAX battery discharges it switches to hybrid mode which doesn't have as much climbing power. I wish my CMAX could charge while driving prior to a big climb - like the Grapevine for example - to provide more torque/horse power during my climb.

[@fredrikmagnussen9442]

In europe we actually have a 2.4L engine and way nicer interior. We had that interior in the 2017 version

[@guidodelille2774]

Yes in Belgium a 2.4 L engine. I have order one, delivery 03/2020 (business model). I hope i will enjoy it.

[@glitterkittensreid5079]

Rub it in why don’t you. Ha ha ha. We have to work with what we got! I know I would be happy with a lot of the diesel options in the RAV4’s and CRV’s in Europa. Oh well Canada has a couple diesels hanging on and a few PHEV’s and EV’s to choose from. Skol!

[@Purecarbo]

Mitsubishi doesn’t sell in the US anymore

[@RichardButlerUK]

I had one from 2015 to 2017. I had it for 33 months and did 33,000 miles, including a couple of long camping weekends across Europe to watch the Le Mans 24 hour race. My average fuel consumption for that was nearly 70 mpg (UK Imperial gallon) each month we did a 330 mile day trip with the family to take or collect or visit one of my children at University. it only does 30 miles in EV mode if you drive it gently, but on long trips, if you RTFM to find out how to use the "Save" button, on a 300 mile trip, it will do about half of it on electric and the other half burning dead dinosaurs Various tax and other incentives, and expensive fuel costs, make it a very popular choice of car across Europe. Especially for people (like me) who are given a choice of which model of company car they want to drive every 2 or 3 years.

[@pallsigursson3351]

I have had 2019 model in Iceland for one eyar in it´s amazing car. It got uppgrated motor Atkinson 2,4 ltr and bigger battery 13,8 kwh. My range in cold winther weather with the heater in full is around 23-25 miles and 30-32 in the summer. (Most amazing 38,5 miles). I also have uppgrated home charging station witch charge 3,4 kw/hour an it only takes about 3 hours to charge in full. The 4x4 drive is verry good and it´s never stuck in snow. But what suprise my most is the quality of the car. I´m a Toyota fan and have had many Toyotas for many eyars and the luxury feeling and quality upliving, specaly the interior, is mutch higier in the Outlander. Toyota also do not suprisingly have any suw plug in hybrid with 4x4.

[@n_stevens_015]

the B mode "Battery Mode as you called it" is regenerative braking mode it allows you to adjust the amount of regeneration the motors will offer when you are off the throttle "GAS"

[@pryme2013]

With rebates and government rebate this vehicle can be had for like 28-29k

[@crimson49er]

as someone who's owned a few Mitsubishi cars, i recommend all buyers stay away from this brand. Worst warranty support ever. Might as well have been written in disappearing ink. Special shout out Rick, thef trash service manager at Mitsubishi in Concord, CA. Mitsubishi WILL NOT provide warranty support of any kind, buyers beware.

[@afcgeo882]

Maui Chris Dealerships aren’t the company. They are mire than happy to do ALL warranty work because the manufacturer cute them a check for it. It’s the company that doesn’t want to pay fir anything.

[@crimson49er]

@@afcgeo882 i get what you're saying but i had to file a small claims lawsuit to get someone beyond the service manager to even get involved. Having to write letters and make phone calls up the chain is a massive pain, especially when your paying monthly payments on a broken car. Having since moved to BMW for my last 2 cars & seeing how amazing they are with warranty support, it makes my experience with Mitsubishi even more shocking.

[@afcgeo882]

Maui Chris Your words are very important for people to hear. 99% of people simply assume that if there’s a warranty, the manufacturer will always respect it and simply fix/replace whatever’s broken. In reality, warranties are mostly marketing tools and lower end manufacturers do everything in their power to not honor them. Mitsubishi is not alone in this. Hyundai/Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen are also notorious for dismissing warranty claims.

[@afcgeo882]

Josh S That’s great. I’ve heard other stories.

[@jamessutton8558]

WOW! I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm with Primeaux Mitsubishi in Bixby Oklahoma, and we get warranty work done ASAP. Initial build quality has been excellent, but things happen, and you need to be assured you will be taken care of. It's a really good warranty, but it's meaningless if it isn't honored. I hope you won your lawsuit, and had any cost out of pocket awarded to you plus damages. Your're right to be upset, and even though I had nothing to do with the situation, you have my sincerest apologies. I'm glad you're enjoying your BMW's, I know I love my 03 e46 330i. It was my dream car as a child, and she doesn't disappoint. Best of luck man.

[@kurtpenner2362]

Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV will be out next summer and should get 39 all electric mile range. Mitsubishi really needs to step up its game.

[@sheeiiittt2012]

should be out this coming summer

[@alraguc]

The Outlander is much bigger. Also, I would be wary of buying the first year of the RAV4. I would wait until they get the kinks out. The Outlander has been out for at least three years and has been the best selling PHEV in Europe for a few years.

[@sheeiiittt2012]

@@alraguc I'll take a first year Toyota over any Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi does very poorly here in the states, Toyota is known for being extremely reliable and conservative. The RAV4 phev will also have over 300 HP and a superior sensor suite (TSS2).

[@alanbowling]

Sadly the RAV4 is an ICE with electric assist whilst the Mitsubishi is an Electric with ICE assist.....very different.

[@sheeiiittt2012]

@@alanbowling an electric, with half the range. Seems legit

[@lepfloripa]

Thinking about getting a 2020 now in 2022. Your review helped a lot. Great work here, both by Mitsubishi and you. =)

[@Daumex]

So since the gearbox has one speed only i assume that when running on engine power it's only to generate electric energy and have the electric motors drive the wheels?

[@bintarosector9]

I love that 1500 watts power outlet. As an asian we sure can cook rice while on a long road trip and even cook food. No car does that these days only Mitsubishi, except you install inverter in your car.

[@judithgould4363]

I own one and I absolutely love it! It drives beautifully and it’s nice and comfy for me and my passengers. The 2023 models has everything you said was missing from the 2020 model, but I am still holding on to my my car for now.

[@sonictech1000]

Do the plug-in hybrids like this typically have thermal management for the batteries sike the better EVs?

[@fenflyer]

Yes the Mitsi PHEV has comprehensive full thermal battery management 👍

[@sendtobarry]

Yes they do but the BMU battery degradation debacle far outweighs that positive. Buy one of these and when the BMU degradation issue hits mainstream media, good luck selling it.

[@fenflyer]

@@sendtobarry 2014 mitsi phev 160K miles ,still original battery always 24-33 real EV miles (depends on driving style) never had to touch the battery, it's unbelievable bomb proof reliable car. (That twat in Oz who made an issue out of BMU degredation , using a dodgy BMU app , has lots to answer for, all EVs have vareation in EV range, depends how you drive them)

[@sendtobarry]

@@fenflyer you can't ignore the data at phevwatchdog.net , ignore a petition with 2000 signatures to Mitsubishi Japan, ignore 1000s of Facebook posts. Glad you are happy. 1000s aren't. It really is a case of buyer beware though.

[@fenflyer]

@@sendtobarry this BMU degradation issue was all started with dodgy BMU app . ALL EVs suffer variations in real EV driving range, including £100K Tesla's. Evaluation of lithium ion batteries will hopefully make this scenario history. For today's everyday driving my Mitsi PHEV is years ahead of my other 4x4s 😎

[@nathankestin1922]

We wanna see TFLev!!

[@terryk6789]

Drive for a living (200+miles a day) LOVE my phev best thing ever in snow

[@htmonaro1969]

I know I'm late to this video, but I'm just about to buy one of these vehicles. One is new old stock, with 15km on it and the other is a demonstrator, with around 645km. They are both the top of range model, what we call the Exceed in Australia. The demonstrator is from the local Mitsubishi dealer, with 4 years to run on the warrantee, while the other is from a big dealership in the capital about 1.5 hours away, but only has a little over 3 years on the warrantee. The demonstrator is $5000 more than the new old stock vehicle, but it does have about 9 or 10 month more warrantee. I have driven the mid-range 2020 model, with the 2.4l engine and the larger electric motor, but neither the 2019 vehicles yet. Compared to the RAV 4 hybrid, the 2020 model is far superior as an ev, but not as comfortable (at 62 that makes a diffrrence). I am a bit conflicted, but will use the 3 vehicles to try to get the best deal I can on one of them. If we could get the RAV 4 phev in Austrslia, there would be no confusion, but that's not an option here, because Toyota doesn't make those for the right-hand drive market yet.

[@FarrellMcGovern]

I was a big fan, and looking toward maybe getting one of these Outlander PHEVs, but the Battery Management Unit, and Mitsubishi putting their heads in the sand about it has really turned me off it. It's too bad, since the Outlander is a decent vehicle.

[@sendtobarry]

You are spot on. It is a disgrace the way Mitsubishi have handled this BMU and battery degradation fiasco.

[@chunhaylee]

What battery problems are they having?

[@sendtobarry]

@@chunhaylee huge battery degradation . Loss caused by dodgy BMU firmware and possibly poor batteries. Mitsubishi will do nothing about it. This debacle had been going on for 6 years. Main stream media have not picked it up. When they do the PHEV should be dead in the water and rightly so.

[@FarrellMcGovern]

​@@chunhaylee They are losing indicated battery capacity on the order of 1% a month. It seems to be a problem with the Battery Management System, because when it is reset by the dealership, you get most if not all of the capacity back...but it still continues to lose the indicated capacity.

[@wcjeep]

50 miles on electric seems useful.

[@stepheneyles2198]

I thought he said 22 miles electric only?

[@unitedwestand56]

@@stepheneyles2198 you can push it to 25-27 if driving it on the slower side

[@jansmigielski5004]

I think all (or most) plug-in hybrids are AWD, since gas motor is powering front wheels and back are powered by electric motors. For example Volvo V60, which is sort of in the same price range. Second thing, charge is not the usual mode for this car. Save is the default and on this mode cars behaves like normal hybrid (charging while breaking or going downhill). Charge is actually shutting down electric motors and increasing MPG of petrol engine to charge the battery (if for example your battery is dead and you will be entering EV only zone in the city).

[@dimitriwaardenburg4631]

Super informatif review! Great job Nathan 🙏🤘

[@vcsradio2805]

Where will you go to charge your battery. Is it home electric

[@martinder3199]

did they fix the battery degradation issue or are they still even refusing that there is an issue?

[@bjejoh]

They are putting their hands in front of their eyes and their fingers in their ears.

[@jasonk19xx17]

For August 2020, Mitsubishi is putting $5k on the dash of remaining 2019 models, so you can get a new one for way less than the $41k mentioned in this video. They're being advertised at around $33k at some dealers, and if you're a current Mitsubishi, Saturn or Suzuki owner, you can get another $3,000 in loyalty and trade assistance, so the price comes down quite a bit. And then factor in the $5600 federal EV tax credit not mentioned and your price comes way under the MSRP.

[@sonictech1000]

I'm sure these plug-in hybrids make sense for some but having to plug in every day and still be unable to get to the nearest town and back on electric makes it pretty useless.

[@stberry]

Makes sense for most. Most people only travel short distances on a daily basis. Longer trips are more rare and why it still has a gas engine. If your daily commute requires long drives, this is not for you. But it is you that is the exception, not the other way around.

[@sonictech1000]

@@stberry The average commute in America is 32mi round trip and this has a range of 20mi on battery. Do the math.

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

my question is if you don't plug it in can the battery get bricked? As far as I know the battery needs to be balanced and if it is not plugged in for many months it is possible to get it bricked

[@sonictech1000]

@@joeyscleaninglady2877 Presumably the battery would be cut off before it got low enough to be a problem but only time will tell how good of a job they did.

[@fenflyer]

@@sonictech1000 2014 mitsi phev 160K miles still original battery still 24-33 real ev miles, but the best thing of all , it's absolutely bomb proof reliablity never need to touch it (other than routine maintenance oils etc. never need touch the battery) kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3S8lKahaZV5gtU

[@azerimanmtr2433]

For me this car better than bmw x3 x5 (price,economi,design,quality)

[@jdmderick]

I'm trading in my Q7 2012 V6 diesel for one of these!

[@USUG0]

it was (maybe) a tour the force in 2012 when it came out. Now, just underwhelming and pretty much unchanged. If it had two 100+kW electric motors (with real AWD), a 20-25kWh battery (now, it has an energy density half or less than tesla, bolt, etc.), and the engine would function just as generator, then it would be a GREAT PHEV.

[@fenflyer]

it does run as a stationary geny , if using charge mode to just charge the battery when stationary, my 2014 can return a real 140 mpg when running as stationary geny👍

[@andreic3019]

The funny thing, you still would not buy it! Because it would cost close to $60K. What? $60K for Mitshubishi?! And you know, Mitsu wants to SELL vehicles, not just to show what they can do (like Lexus LFA). And how exactly 2 electric motors would work with the REAL AWD?

[@Trades46]

For a family sized city commuter this is a perfect car...provided you can charge it. Otherwise the Rav4 hybrid make more sense. Source: own a 2018 Outlander PHEV

[@goranmekota7540]

AFAIK when at high speeds the ICE does not kick in just to charge, but directly propel the vehicle along with electric motors.

[@frugaldiyhandyguy9295]

Great review. Best part was the microwave usage. I see using it as a work vehicle and plugging in a saw , grinder or other power tool. No need for generator.

[@valdius85]

2.4l gasoline in Japan and Europe. Mitsubishi is offering an old version in USA. Now that there will be RAV4 plug-in, CR-V hybrid AWD, and Mazda Skyactive-X, Mitsubishi needs to up their game. Most of their vehicles are design flaws for my usage case - uncomfortable for short drivers and so on. I do not understand it. It is as if the interior team does not care about their needs. Mitsubishi cares more about selling their tech to Mercedes than designing their own cars. The sales numbers in Japan are really low and so is the brand name.

[@chunhaylee]

Mitsu improved the rear seat contours for 2020. That leaves only two glaring problems: 1. The gas tank could use another 2-3 gallons to make this a usable road tripping car, and 2. This is likely the only vehicle above $40k with no GPS navigation. Not even as an option .

[@rmh6668]

you better have nathan as the main host for TFLev

[@safetyman1016]

You need to do more videos on tfl truck! Love the content!

[@ledsalesoz]

Amazing how many people don't realise the primary problem with PHEVs. Apart from the obvious of having to lug an ICE drivetrain around everywhere when running electric, the biggest problem with them is that the tiny battery gets cycled far more often than a pure BEV battery, which is much larger. This results in the PHEV batt wearing out much faster, which many people have discovered, especially with the outlander. Some of the older Outlander's problems have been faulty reporting and management of the battery by the BMU (which Mitsubishi may or may not fix, depending on how they feel at the time, judging by all the talk in various forums), but rapid battery degradation is always going to be a problem for PHEVs with small batts, it's just the physics of batteries that they only last for a certain number of cycles. For example, if you try and maximise running on battery, and manage to get 80% of km travelled on batts, then with a 45km batt-only range, you would cycle the batts at least 267 times in 15,000km of driving (the typical average in Australia). That's a shitload of cycles, a BEV with 400km range would be fewer than 50 cycles if you were careful.

[@StefanBacon]

I've never owned an automatic, but I'm starting to consider one of these 1st gen Outlander PHEVs instead of a 6 speed gen 2 Crosstrek for my next vehicle. We'll see.

[@stephenshepherd5068]

I was recently looking at cars and this was on my list. The reason I ruled it out was, there is an updated (2019) version in Europe with a larger 2.4l motor, larger battery and larger rear electric motor. Most of the issues with the car were addressed in a European refresh, which was never brought to the US.

[@henjoh69]

You know he is testing the 2020 model?

[@stephenshepherd5068]

Henjoh yes. The 2019 European model is different than the 2019 North American model. Same goes for the 2020 model. European model is the updated version, North American model is still the old one (2018 European model).

[@henjoh69]

Stephen Shepherd No it isn't. You can see that it actually is the 2020 version thanks to the new climate control layout and new infortanement. And it also has the LED foglights and the "nearly" all LED headlights wich *IS ON THE NEW MODELS*

[@jasonportwood9826]

@@henjoh69 but its still the 2.0 engine on the american model. The EU has a 2.4....

[@henjoh69]

Jason Portwood Yes, that’s the only difference

[@davemckewan4450]

So I have a 2018 GT PHEV and there's a few things that I'd like to correct/comment on from your video; 1. There's no 3rd seat because of the electric motor as the back axle and not the battery. The battery is underneath the car. 2. There''s a big, dirty, secret that no one talks about with these things. The BMU/BMS system. Firstly, it doesn't give you the top 2 Ahs of the battery. Mits lame excuse is that those melted away in transport/storage... Then it starts out fine but, over time, it falsely 'degrades' the battery. By this I mean that it reports a lesser battery capacity than there actually is, meaning you get less EV range than you actually should have. Owner's have been fighting with Mits for years to get them to admit these faults. Mits have basically washed their hands of the whole v1 BMS thing and hung out owners to dry. Avoid at all costs and wait for the Toyota Rav 4 PHEV. This YT guy has done a lot of research about these issues (although he finally gave up and bought a Tesla Model 3): kzbin.info/door/Cwvk634ZX1R1_qhfRyczOgvideos

[@jasonportwood9826]

I still enjoy mine.. it's perfect for urban/ suburban driving. I got my MY 18 GT for 31k and that is the cheapest phev/ev/suv with adaptive cruise on the market.

[@namenotfound8747]

Tesla? I can't take you serious. If a Tesla breaks down, tell me. Who can even work on them? Tesla only, because they outright refuse to sell any parts to anyone. So you have to enslave yourself to Tesla forever how long you own their car. And yes it never feels like you own their car, because they have more of a say over the car then you. Stay away Tesla unless you like waiting months for repairs and are okay with being dependent on a car maker, oh wait Tesla doesn't think they are a car company.

[@davemckewan4450]

@@namenotfound8747 I wasn't talking about me. I dumped EV as the waste of time it is and went back to petrol.

[@KonstantinSemenchenko]

Wow! That's the best engineering solution that we have so far for incredible price! Thank you very much for your reviews :)

[@musicodeon]

Hi Nathan, nice review. I was wondering what you thought about overall mileage, and gasoline only at 25 mpg. Do you consider this a "mild PHEV" with a little power assist? Maybe along the lines of the Subaru Crosstrek PHEV? And how do you compare the two vehicles?

[@paulbouchard6737]

Good honest review. Bigger tank yep, but as a hillbilly Id add a 5 gal tank on the back. $36k would be great. The 2005 Endeaver was my favorite.

[@brandt85able]

How does this fit a 6.4 (193cm) tall guy?

[@greenboi6640]

I don't really understand why Mitsubishi decided to add a fast-charging feature on a plug-in hybrid. The main reason full BEVs have one is for traveling purposes and to otherwise get somewhere quicker by juicing up quicker (because they don't have an engine on them). PHEVs have an engine on them. The only reason I suspect for the presence of such a feature on a PHEV is for the case that the owner might want to juice up quickly without having to use the engine. Other than that, I believe it would just be an unnecessary expenditure that would increase the overall price of the car. Nevertheless, I still like the Outlander PHEV.

[@hagaki]

What happened to Via Trucks Plugin hybird?

[@jamaalme6961]

How much does it cost to charge it

[@jamaalme6961]

Thinking about getting one for my daughter was a college student she lives a few miles from campus but I'm afraid never going to charge it

[@louisfernandes3486]

Nathan thank you for a a clear and concise review. The best I've seen on any media outlet till date. Keep it up!

[@RyRyWags]

For only 20 miles EV only range seems a bit pricey for what is offered. And all those buttons what to push for what mode you want.

[@vadimus2007]

60kWh motors? It's kW actually! :)

[@fenflyer]

It actually has a 80 kWh generator as standard 😜 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3S8lKahaZV5gtU

[@Salesmanwithasleeve]

Great Video! a couple misunderstandings but to the get point across of how great this unit is, well is short, sweet and to the point. Thank you for repping the value!

[@gordonfreeman6305]

Great review - PHEV has no CVT though, it's a hybrid specific gearbox.

[@ketimo]

yes it got. Used for using the petrol engine!

[@doxydoxdelamanca9902]

I really like the look of this wagon/suv thingy. It's also J-vinned.

[@aguadulce8]

You are missing in your review the fact that this car loses the acceleration when is going up hills for more than 10 miles since the cell battery gets depleted and at that point, the fan stop working and gets overheated. Did you try to go up hills in this car for more than 10 miles?

[@johnmartin7158]

A previous channel already answered your question. NZ is a mountainous country and even we don’t have a continuous 10 mile climb. Regards.

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

When is TFL going to do an off roading vehicle with the PHEV? Bigger tires a slight lift lets see what it can do.

[@fenflyer]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5PVqWWIhKZ4Z9E

[@TheProDucky..]

I have one Outlander My outlander has a 2.4liter 4cyl 200hp the EV moters combined with the gas moter.

[@dynamix-vocal-ensemble5289]

Thanks for this review! I am looking at PHEV options at the moment and I really just can't imagine spending up to 80,000 Euros for a new car. The Outlander looks like a good option. Test driving one tomorrow.

[@ciprianslatineanu440]

Hi, what EV did you get?

[@WW-wf8tu]

TFL-EV lol Nice. Great review Nathan. You never disappoint.

[@macbookpro57]

Is Mitsubishi still making any profit in America? I see barely anyone driving them anymore and most the dealerships are gone

[@afcgeo882]

Philip Alani Profit? Yes. They only sell models that are sold elsewhere and they were overextended before. If anything, they make more of a profit now. Their sales aren’t as bad as one might think either. They just lack modern vehicles right now as the whole Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi thing relegated Mitsu to mostly 3rd world-specific models and old school 4x4s for the Asia-Pacific region. That’s their bread and butter.

[@yoshioramirez6487]

Great review, I'm dissapointed in the 330 gas tank range.

[@richardhemsing6767]

Own a 2019 and the only time this ever comes up is a long distance road trip. Typically my wife drives for 1,000 km / 621 miles on one tank of fuel. You start every day off with a full battery and most days commuting she uses no gasoline at all. Even on the road trip you will likely stop after the 300 miles for food and to fuel up.

[@jtomtl]

Not an issue, I like to fuel up every time I am in a break station/gas station

[@RichardJoashTan]

Glad that I will buy a fully loaded 2023 Outlander PHEV anyway.

[@dontelindsey5846]

The interior doesn't look bad minus that cheap gear selector. Doesn't seem like much money for a decent sized hybrid. I'm sure since its a Mitsubishi it'll have tons of rebates.

[@jghall00]

Great deal used in 3 to 4 years if the battery capacity holds up.

[@dontelindsey5846]

@@jghall00 good idea

[@afcgeo882]

This car isn’t right for anyone. It’s a temporary stop-gap measure. It’s inefficient in both driving modes. It has a tiny range. It’s not cheap. It’s OLD and gat’s the worst is that Europe has an improved version, but North America isn’t getting it.

[@valdi9234]

2020 Model in Europe has 2.4 litre engine for example

[@afcgeo882]

Valdimar Tryggvason Yes, and a larger battery. Mitsubishi loses money on each PHEV sold in North America, but they need to sell them to meet government standards. In Europe they actually make money on the PHEV as it is priced much higher.

[@jazzychriss]

Outlander is way over due for major upgrade and finally we are going to get it next year with total redesign hopefully they can do the 2.4L with better battery for 100 miles of just ev

[@jamaltaylor2315]

I see Mitsu out here trying, and the Outlander Sport is a sales success here. But almost 50k for one is a hard sell. The tech is nice, but people shopping for ~50k SUVs aren't buying Mitsubishi. They just don't have that presence in that segment yet.

[@shaungilmartin1505]

Had a 2016 model year uk. long distance average 39 mpg. round town on ev mode can average hundreds of mpg equiv during summer. ie no heater lights etc. Bought with moving to Ireland in mind as they have very high car tax on big ice engine mpvs but not on this type. however I found paint thin and chips easy and interior trim a bit flimsy and did not think it would stand up to the test of time. Feels very quick off the line with the electric motor and is comfortable on long distance driving. The wife felt it a bit too space shipish and was unconfident with it. most end up buying them as a tax dodging vehicle I suspect.I ended up exchanging it for a more robust traditional Mitsubishi 4x4 and am happy with that.

[@BoungHoung]

That microwave example was golden

[@applepie8772]

I am concerned that the EV community is becoming increasingly hostile to the BEV owner, particularly over the use of the public charging points. Any reduction in emissions must be encouraged at this stage and do not just belong to the pure EV owner. Until there is a price equivalent EV particularly in the second hand market with the towing capacity then this vehicle is a viable option.

[@garrett1144]

I thought they were remodeling the Outlander?

[@woodyyu3945]

My2021 will be the all new version based on the Nissan rogue platform

[@Salesmanwithasleeve]

@@woodyyu3945 my2021 is not going to be the rogue platform :) - it is going to be larger. the Rogue is smaller :)

[@woodyyu3945]

@@Salesmanwithasleeve wrong: www.motor1.com/news/241921/2021-mitsubishi-outlander-nissan-rogue

[@redgeminipa]

@@woodyyu3945 Correct. As we all know, it ended up being a slightly longer Rogue platform.

[@Molifer26]

Why is Mitsubishi so much cheaper than Volvo? I have a Volvo XC90 that's older. Convince me why I should get a Mitsubishi please :) Doesn't have to be electric. Sorry if this is a repeat comment. Also, great video and review. Was better for understanding what the car can do and faster and easier than reading Wikipedia and trying to piece the info together. Now I'm just trying to figure out why Mitsubishi is so much cheaper than my Volvo XC90 and if it's worth changing cars since yes mine is a little bit older, but I like the older style despite the mpg, lack of tech etc etc.

[@stegomon]

Great video!!! I would drive that car

[@skunkhollow1]

What is it with the car industry, they keep coming out with more and more phallic transmission levers.

[@btnled357]

UK power - slow charge time from flat is around 4.5 hours .. so easily done... Mine will do 20 miles in full EV and Im not the best driver at keeping the speed down etc. It suits the trips I make a lot of the time and is much cheaper to run than full petrol. Very happy with it but I know it wont suit everyone. Still have a Honda CRV. Outlander is much smoother and quieter to drive. Not so many trips to the gas station .. Running cost is around 3miles per KWH (19p) so a fair bit cheaper than petrol or diesel per mile.. I intended to buy a 2nd SUV in this price range (£19000) for a second hand one but if ur budget was around £10000, you may find that unless u r really careful, it may be a while before you enough savings from fuel (cheaper electric charging) to justify the higher purchase price. Love the car but I hope the next generation of EV SUV will have at least 3x the range in full EV...

[@rudfil]

I've been looking into this Outlander and reviews from a lot of owners is very positive but then I read articles from the Automotive pages and they just give Mitsubishi not so positive reviews, very confusing.

[@zero716]

I’ve noticed the same thing. Did you end up buying an Outlander?

[@MDC2020]

Wanna know how to make this Outlander PHEV better....put a good engine in it

[@ssk3204]

They should should've made it an overkill and added the bigger gas tank (18-20 gal) and turbo the thing. 600 miles per tank combined would of turn heads. I would of bought one. There's still new 2018 models in dealers lot today and its 2020. It's listed at $34k.

[@regsparkes6507]

I agree with you Nathan, I too would like ( need ) a larger fuel tank that makes longer driving range possible. I drive a lot,..I live about 90 km (55 miles) outside of a main city, where i go regularly for business etc.times 2 for round trip and you'll see that I drive around 200 km each time. I wouldn't have a lot of reserve in this PHEV would I? I wish they had about 650 km (400 miles ) range,..like my current daily driver, '17 2.0 Escape, does. I'd love to be able to have an EV, but for the above driving need's I have,...I'm limited. Thanks for this video Nathan, I always watch your vid's. with interest.

[@bjejoh]

The range dropps fast. After 26000 km (16000 miles) the battery capacity is only 81% in my car.

[@samx2836]

Try reset MBU to get correct battery measure.

[@ismet_sxv]

Mitsubishi is doing soo great!🔥🔥Amazing work

[@vadimus2007]

Too many parts from 2nd gen Outlander. 2020 is no place for 2006 parts!

[@ismet_sxv]

@@vadimus2007 but it doesn't mean that the car and the brand is not good.

[@vadimus2007]

I still own top of the line 2010 Outlander. It was quite decent for 2010, bleeding edge technology for 2006 when 2nd gen flooded JDM market, and it still drives fine, tows 16' bowrider like it's weightless. But when I was considering a 2018 PHEV I was seriously disappointed by it's outdated interior design, performance, L2 charging speed, EV range, I can go on. Warranty sucked big time but that's individual thing, there are few good dealerships and there are the majority of really bad ones, though my Outlander never let me down or required anything major to be covered under the warranty. There are places where Mitsubishi is considered a decent brand, I admired those old movies with Jackie Chan but here in Canada or US their reputation is quite meh. So I honestly gave a chance to Outlander PHEV back in 2018, I drove for 2 hours each way to get an early test drive but was underimpressed and ended up getting Pacifica Hybrid, that 2 years later I still consider much better PHEV than Outlander. Hopefully Nissan will help MItsu to regain at least some shine they had a while back, in the times of Evo's and VR4's

[@fenflyer]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3S8lKahaZV5gtU

[@vintageringsGarry]

$60k with shipping and taxes . Got absolutely 0 $ rebate from Manitoba government. I ran my 95 ford 7.3l diesel for 6 yrs on vegitable waste oil. I think was a better deal. ..my 2018 PHEV is great in summer. ..winter you have no control. No block heater allowed or void warranty. So idle your PHEV below -2c or you will be driving for 10 min on highway before it gets warm in the car. Then it will switch to EV mode and you can drive on all battery for the 10 min ride home. That is as long as your not more than 10 min shopping. The engine will start again and pushing the EV button might as well not be there even though you have 3/4 battery energy left. What's with that. Were a -5 to -40c here in winter. We need carbon anything battery Which would bump energy level range to 100- 200 mi range not 30 mi range. Wated years to buy this car and they gave our rebate money as a grant to big corporations who got the first electric bus delivered lost and stuck on a mud road here in friendly Manitoba. Am I a happy camper,?