Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV used buyer's guide & review / Electrifying

Which was the first plug-in hybrid SUV? The Volvo XC90 Recharge perhaps? What about the BMW X5 xDrive 45e? Nope - it was the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

It arrived in 2014 and is the most popular PHEV in the UK. It mixed everything people love about SUVs with super-low running costs and great tax breaks.

Mitsubishi is pulling out of the UK this year and taking the Outlander PHEV with it. You can still buy a brand new one but buying used makes more sense. So, what should you look out for when buying a used version? Tom Ford explains

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[richardgilyead]

I had two of these and they were great cars - spacious, economical, and (mostly) reliable. Biggest problem I had was when squirrels chewed some rubber suspension bushes! I have now moved on to full EV but don't regret having PHEVs first. They would make a great secondhand buy.

[landl]

Just bought one for my 20 miles a day commute from a rural property to a town. Think mud, steep hills, proper winter weather and flooded roads. I have a family and a couple of large dogs. It's as if the car was designed expressly for me. I've been able to swap out of a big diesel guzzling 4x4 to another car that will do everything, but under electric power. The odd times when I have to drive further, the petrol engine is a backup. The nearest match to this capability in a full electric vehicle is around three times the price and would take at least six months to deliver due to the chip shortage. This is the sweet spot. If you regularly do longer journeys though, avoid, as it won't give you the pure electric range you need to get the benefit. If you have a short daily commute that needs 4x4 traction, it's a no brainer.

[DariuszTech]

My wife has the 2014 older version and it's still great car capable of 25miles on EV. Also has rapid charge and it's good for towing caravan. I'm hoping to make a little video about my experience using this car for over 3 years now 😃
I drove 62miles the other day and did avarage 92mpg. Very impressive results 👍

[alitariq]

I live in BC Canada. I own a 2020 version of this. Just last weekend drove to Whistler(a ski resort) which is almost 391kms from home and return. 39% of that was pure EV and rest was 7.0litres per 100kms. With higher gas prices here, it ended up being CAD $23.00 for the whole trip (only gasoline cost as I don’t pay for the electric charge). This vehicle is amazing!!!

[nicdensley]

We brought a 2015 Outlander a few years ago for my wife's business. Around 85% of our driving is pure electric. We're really chuffed with it. We'll go fully electric next time but this has worked out well for us. It does drink petrol though when you're not on electric so only go for this if you do lots of short journeys from home.

[MarkSouthee]

The only PHEV with fast charging which meant it was feasible to charge on long journeys. I liked mine a lot.

[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.

[Defiantsynthetics]

I have a 2018 GT here in the states and absolutely love it. It's my first hybrid, I did change the front and rear gearbox fluid which is mitsubishi automatic transmission fluid and the generator fluid which is mitsubishi CVT fluid although it is NOT a cvt, just uses that fluid for the generator.

[InitialB]

By far and away the best buyers guide to the outlander. Thankyou so much for the details!

[anydaynow]

I totally agree, seeing the back orders and price gouging on BEVs these and other PHEV can decabonize a vast majority of the daily commutes people have. Over 95% of my driving so far is on electric since I have over 100k km on my PHEV (with an EV hold function for highway driving) and less than 5k of that is on the ICE (which has a timing chain and planetary gearbox) so the overall emissions and maintenance are near nil all things considered. If I had to haul around 200kg of extra batteries I don't need daily or 200kg of ICE I'll take the ICE which I can actually refuel quickly, easily, reliably and conveniently on a road trip outside of a major city.

[btnled]

Ive had my 67 plate (second hand) now for 2 weeks. TOTALLY LOVE IT !!! I jumped in my Honda CRV for the first time since getting the Outlander and already, it seems to old fashioned to have to turn a key to start it - no EV mode...having to change gear myself...NOISE.. Vibration !! NONE of that with my new OUTLANDER. Smooth, almost silent, full Electric for all my local running around. and as long as I dont go mad, petrol engine topping up the battery on longer runs.

[lynnfisher]

Our Phev is the 4h so mid range which we had new in 2019its the 2.4 petrol with the bigger battery. In the summer we get 30-32 miles out of the battery and during the winter 25-28. MPG varies from the absolute worst all petrol trip from Lincolnshire down to East Sussex via motorway and return where we averaged 30 mpg. That isn’t representative of normal use though, more normal trips of A road and urban we average 40-50 mpg. When we do a lot of local trips we have seen seem 75 mpg regularly and during lockdown 90 +. We have solar pv so do charge a lot using that and also through Octopus Go on the 5p overnight tariff. It’s a first step for us and the next car will be a full EV.
The worst thing about the car is that the paint work marks very easily, the best thing it’s reliability and ability to carry big loads in comfort.

[benoone]

Being the owner of the 2020 model fitted with all extras and bought second hand, I´m really satisfied with the performance. Covers most short trips on electric, then just charge it at home. On the occasional long journeys, to entertain yourself, switch between EV mode and charge while driving, and use the slopes to roll for free, and use the charging paddle when it´s the proper opportunity. It works. Try to do better next time, there are a few trix. Keeps you alert. Saving you some money. It´s still a nice and roomy car that can tow, transport a lot and gives you a good view around. Pretty safe, too.

[corradoboy]

The 5 year mechanical and 8 year drive electrics warranty started with post November 2015 cars (MY16). Previous models had 3/5 years. The sweet spot in my opinion is a March 2017 registered 4h or higher to get the best spec and free road tax with the 5/8y warranty.

[peterball]

I have a 2015 version. It was my primary car with a short range EV for local trips. Now I have a long range EV the PHEV is downgraded to my local car. Last time I put petrol in it showed 347mpg.

[neilly]

Works perfectly as a school run car IF you have later models (2.4) that have electric heater. With older 2 litre engine you had to use petrol engine to warm up cabin - defeating the object of fuel saving or use it like an old land rover with no heater!! 2.4s also have heated screen and remote warm up whilst still plugged in which is perfect as well. Get into a de-frosted toasty warm car with clear windows! I've had both and they have been 100% reliable.

[DR]

I have a 2015 model Gx4h with the facelift and zero tax, used to have a 2015 Gx3h model before hand non facelift and was ok. Come back to one from full electric traded in a mg ev due to problems with car, had a BMW i3 for full year and was great.
I could get around 30miles on phev but as we all know depends on the conditions and temp.

[bcates]

Does what it says on the tin... one thing to be mindful of on later models, make sure all areas of the capacitive touch screen are working. Mitsubishi are aware of the issue and should replace under warranty.

[tomscott]

This would be a terrible buy if you are a high mileage motorist. For me, with my daily driving usually under 20 miles, I generally only use the petrol engine at weekends. Driving 350 miles through France recently, 4 up with a roofbox, gave 32 mpg.

Never bother with fast chargers. They are more expensive than running on petrol.

[MarkAtkin]

I'm tempted to buy an old one, throw away the petrol engine, and add a few more batteries.