Your questions answered: Should I buy a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid?

EVs and hybrids are all the rage these days as sales of both types of electrified vehicle continue to boom.

And while there’s plenty of EV love from carsales readers this week, it’s hybrids that are generating just as much interest.

It seems plenty of people are keen to lower their running costs, but not everyone is ready to make the EV leap.

Some readers are ready, of course, with one in particular wondering what to do with home charging.

Someone else is looking for an affordable – and sensible – wagon, while another wants to know about buying a privately imported Toyota Prius with the plug-in hybrid powertrain that was never sold in Australia.

Question:

Answer: The regular Mitsubishi Outlander is a decent car but its 2.5-litre engine (it’s a Nissan engine as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance) is one of its less impressive attributes. It gets the job done but doesn’t have the enthusiasm of some rivals.

As for the bonnet vibration on some early examples of the current model, our understanding is that it’s been fixed.

Now, onto the plug-in hybrid…

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV really only makes sense if you plug it in regularly and utilise its longer petrol-fuelled range with decent road trips.

If you’re not doing regular long trips then an EV would do a better job. And if you’re unlikely to charge it every day – one of the negatives with a PHEV – then a regular hybrid would be a better bet. Check out our comparison test on the Outlander PHEV versus the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER, where the Mitsubishi gets the nod – on the proviso that you’re committed to plugging in.

Of those regular hybrids, the Toyota RAV4 is solid buying, although there are decent wait lists these days. The X-TRAIL e-POWER is easier to get hold of and a better car to drive than the RAV4 – and with a more modern cabin – but is marginally less efficient. Also see our recent economy review between all three models, the Mitsubishi PHEV included.

Don’t rule out the new Honda CR-V hybrid either, even if it’s only available as a top-of-the-range model for about $60K.

Question:

Answer: Consider not bothering with three-phase power, although if you’ve already got the wiring there it possibly makes sense to utilise it.

A single-phase wallbox can provide up to 7.4kW, which is what about 20 solar panels can supply. The three-phase would require about 60 solar panels to provide the maximum 22kW – and that’s before you’re powering everything else in your house.

Also remember that most EVs can only charge at 11kW or less, so even if the charger can supply 22kW the car won’t take that much. You can also get chargers that will only utilise the excess solar to avoid drawing from the electricity grid.

The reality is you’re unlikely to need more than the 7.4kW supplied by a single-phase charger. For an EV with a 60kWh battery it would take around 9.5 hours for a full charge on that 7.4kW charger. Most of the time you’ll only need an hour or two on charge for a top-up. Three-phase would reduce that full charge time to a little over three hours.

There are loads of different wallboxes and we haven’t tested each one, so it’s tricky to make a definitive recommendation. But make sure you get one that’s connected to the network to allow you to monitor it remotely.

Question: Could you please give me your thoughts on spending $30K on a second-hand station wagon car in Melbourne. I was thinking of a Subaru Outback? – Berni

Answer: The Subaru Outback is a terrific place to start, although with a budget of $30K you’ll unfortunately miss out on the latest-generation car that’s a big step up on the previous iteration.

Also pop the Mazda6 wagon on your shortlist. While new versions are feeling tired these days, used examples are relatively plentiful and still present well.

The Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb are two others that also deserve attention. They have excellent driving dynamics and practical cabins, the Skoda getting some interesting storage options.

Question:

Should I sell/trade now before it turns over the 100,000km? I want a smaller vehicle as I don’t do as much driving; I am a competent driver and aged 73. I would consider a small EV but I think they are still a bit costly. What sort of price would I get if I sold or traded? What would you recommend for a small petrol vehicle? I was thinking along the lines of a VW Polo – demo model. If EV…? – Ann

Answer: Whether you sell the car at 99,000km or 100,000km will make no difference. Anyone buying it will mentally round up anyway. So don’t go rushing to offload it now, especially as it’s unlikely you’re sitting on a goldmine.

As for how much it’s worth, a RedBook valuation is your best bet, and while there’s a price range in the search results for the B 200, the condition of your car should place it towards the top of that range.

As for replacements, the Volkswagen Polo is a good place to start to get that European driving experience, including sharp and agile cornering dynamics. Its twin-clutch transmission is less endearing, occasionally hesitating on take-offs. Also look at a Skoda Fabia.

The advantage of those Euro alternatives is that even though they’re small, they drive more like a big car. That’s not always the case with some of the Japanese and Korean small cars around that size.

Stepping up a fraction in size, a Toyota Corolla Hybrid is a great way to lower your fuel bills. You could also consider some small SUVs: the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross are all worth looking at.

As for electric alternatives, the MG4 – carsales’ Car of the Year for 2023 – is the best bet in the entry-level EV space. While the base car is light-on for equipment, it’s a terrific car to drive.

If the budget permits, the BMW iX1 is also a great entry to a luxury EV. And don’t ignore the latest Tesla Model 3, which is bigger than many of the other cars you’re looking at, but great value.

Question: I am seeking some advice about moving from my 2019 Subaru Forester to a mid-size AWD SUV, either a PHEV or hybrid. I am not ready to convert to a fully electric car. I am retired and most of my daily driving would be less than 40-50km/day, but I will have two or three country trips (up to 500km round trip) a month and a few interstate trips per year as far as Mackay in Queensland. My budget is max of $80,000 drive-away, preferably a bit less.

So far, the only vehicle I have found is the Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire PHEV (I do not need the sunroof or fancier seats of the higher-spec models) which seems a fairly good vehicle, my estimate of the payback time with the petrol savings is around five to six years based on an average petrol price of $1.80 per litre. The Mazda CX-60 is a bit too expensive and not as fuel efficient. I have solar panels at home which can be used to charge a PHEV plus night-time off-peak mains power.

Unfortunately, the current Subaru Forester hybrid is not very efficient according to the various reviews and the upgraded version with the RAV4 system may not be available till sometime in 2025.

Can you suggest any other mid-size, AWD PHEV or HEV vehicles currently available in Australia or due in the next four-to-six months. I have not looked at the RAV4 HEV as apparently it still has a long delivery time. I am looking for a vehicle with the safety features of the Forester plus other nice-to-haves such as speed sign recognition, head-up display etc. The Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe may suit even though they are a bit larger. I would also like, if at all possible, to have a spare tyre (full-size or space-saver) rather than just the “goo pack”. – Don

Answer: It’ll be a short list of options, particularly once you throw the full-size spare into the mix. There aren’t many that will tick that box.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes with a space-saver spare, something also expected on the upcoming Kia Sportage Hybrid.

The Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER is also an excellent hybrid choice, albeit without a spare (only a repair kit). Ditto for the Honda CR-V e:HEV hybrid.

As you’ve established, the Forester Hybrid doesn’t achieve much in the way of fuel savings. And you’re right crossing the CX-60 off your shopping list. It’s an expensive way to be underwhelmed.

And… we reckon you could also make an EV work, although the lack of a spare wheel could create issues for you.

Still, Subaru is about to offer a full-size spare wheel option for its new Solterra EV and you could easily fit a spare in the sizeable boot of a Tesla Model Y.

Question: Just wondering if you have heard of the possibility of new legislation banning the charging of EVs in garages (of unit blocks?) with standard plugs? Or possibly without DLM technology? I’ve been charging my Tesla Model 3 for three years by 8A charging overnight, ie off-peak, with a power point attached to my A/C compressor. It has all appropriate safety and cut-off switches.

At the moment I’m not sure whether it is at federal, state, local or strata level. I will do some more research, but I can’t find anything at the moment. – Tony

Answer: We haven’t heard anything about that, even with the dynamic load management (DLM) software you mention.

In some parts of the country, legislation is forcing new developments to have at least the wiring for EV charging included in the build.

The first thing people think of when charging EVs is spectacular online videos of batteries flaring up and exploding. The reality is electric car battery fires are extremely rare.

EV FireSafe, which researches battery fires and provides advice to emergency services, says there have been just six EV battery fires in Australia since 2010.

E-scooter and e-bike fires are a different story, as are so-called personal mobility devices.

Here’s hoping a government department doesn’t have a knee-jerk reaction about charging EVs in garages.

Question: I have offered a seller $17,500 for a 2014 Prius PHV type auto 72,500km and was wondering whether you would suggest I do a pre-purchase inspection? The seller has imported the vehicle himself from Japan. If you recommend I do a PPI are you able to suggest a mechanic? – Frank

Answer: If you don’t have a trusted mechanic or someone who knows what they’re looking for then an inspection is invaluable when buying a used car. They’ll always find something, and while you’re not worried about the little things, it’s the big things that are handy to learn about before you hand over cash.

RedBook is one of the largest suppliers of inspections, so would be a good place to start.

As for the Prius plug-in hybrid, obviously Toyota never imported those to Australia for private sales (we only got the regular hybrids). So things like recalls will not be handled by a local Toyota dealer.

If there’s something major – such as airbags and brakes – you’d either need to go back to the importer or fork out for repairs/upgrades yourself to ensure the car remains roadworthy.

And some spare parts will not be available through a Toyota dealer, either. That said, with the internet and online shopping it’s increasingly easier to source parts these days.

Also give an insurance company a call, because some may not be keen to insure a grey import car.

That’s why prices on grey imports tend to be cheaper. It’s not to say don’t do it, but be aware of the potential issues.

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