Geneva 2012: Mitsubishi Outlander Gets Plug-In Variant, 31 Mile EV Range

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The Mitsubishi Outlander, a vehicle nobody cared about, is now sort of interesting, thanks to the addition of a Plug-in Hybrid system that is also compatible with the vehicle’s 4WD system.

With an EV range of 31 miles, the Outlander can run in Pure EV mode (only the front and rear electric motors), Series EV mode (where the gasoline engine assists the twin electric motors, which play a primary role in powering the car) and Parallel EV mode (where both systems work in tandem – this mode is used for higher speeds like freeway driving). There’s also a Battery Charge Mode, which, obviously, allows the battery to charge via the gasoline motors.

An on-sale date and pricing haven’t been announced, but the Outlander’s all-electric 4WD system and plug-in hybrid drivetrain look interesting. Mitsubishi’s precarious history and financial situation means that we’ll have to see it on dealer lots to believe it.





Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Replica Replica on Mar 07, 2012

    The last thing Mitsubishi did that anyone noticed was bombing Pearl Harbor. Oh. And the 1st generation Eclipse GSX/GST. Those were sweet.

  • 360joules 360joules on Mar 08, 2012

    "well engineered planes" Very fast, very light, no self-sealing gas tanks nor armor for the pilot. One of my patients was a US Navy fighter ace in WW2. 10 minutes at his bedside was worth 3 hours of the History Channel. He told me once about lining up a Zero in his sights and pulling the trigger...all 4 of his .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns jammed after the first round had cycled due to an armorer's error. He thought one of his rounds must have been a golden BB because the Zero pilot slumped over and his Zero slowly drifted into the sea. Even living in the NW US, Mitsubishi vehicles have become rare birds on my car radar since the early 2000's. Even at the music store that I take my kid for lessons, which has a parking lot filled with "curbside classics."

  • Formula m For the gas versions I like the Honda CRV. Haven’t driven the hybrids yet.
  • SCE to AUX All that lift makes for an easy rollover of your $70k truck.
  • SCE to AUX My son cross-shopped the RAV4 and Model Y, then bought the Y. To their surprise, they hated the RAV4.
  • SCE to AUX I'm already driving the cheap EV (19 Ioniq EV).$30k MSRP in late 2018, $23k after subsidy at lease (no tax hassle)$549/year insurance$40 in electricity to drive 1000 miles/month66k miles, no range lossAffordable 16" tiresVirtually no maintenance expensesHyundai (for example) has dramatically cut prices on their EVs, so you can get a 361-mile Ioniq 6 in the high 30s right now.But ask me if I'd go to the Subaru brand if one was affordable, and the answer is no.
  • David Murilee Martin, These Toyota Vans were absolute garbage. As the labor even basic service cost 400% as much as servicing a VW Vanagon or American minivan. A skilled Toyota tech would take about 2.5 hours just to change the air cleaner. Also they also broke often, as they overheated and warped the engine and boiled the automatic transmission...
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