What's the news?
Six months after it went on sale in Europe the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) will arrive in the UK this May. Orders are now being taken for the plug-in off-roader, which qualifies for the Government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant. Including the incentive the Outlander PHEV is available from £28,249 for the GX3h version. Two other specifications are available: the £32,899 GX4h and the GX4hs, which costs £34,999.
Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth. Upgrading to the GX4h brings satellite navigation, heated leather seats and DAB radio among the extra items. The GX4hs adds extra safety equipment in the form of adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation system and lane departure warning.
Both the GX4h and GX4hs also come with a remote control app for Android and iOS devices. It doesn't allow you to drive by remote control, sadly, but it does show battery charge level, set a timer for charging or climate control and give the time left to fully charge the batteries.
On a single charge the Outlander PHEV is claimed to be able to cover 32.5 miles while the official fuel economy figure is 148mpg. Mitsubishi points out that the actual consumption will depend on how the hybrid is driven; short, low speed journeys will use less fuel; longer, faster trips will erode the economy advantage of the hybrid layout.
Anything else?
Company car drivers should appreciate the tax benefits of the Outlander PHEV. The benefit-in-kind (BIK) rate is just five per cent, which means that someone who pays 40% income tax will pay £665 on the plug-in Mitsubishi in this tax year.
John Lambert - 4 Apr 2014