The benefits of electric cars are numerous. Aside from their positive environmental traits over combustion, things such as low running costs should tweak the interests of most people. So if electric cars are fantastic then why don’t we all have one? Put simply, the number one reason for most people sticking with petrol power is range anxiety with their second reservation being initial cost. The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV quashes those quibbles as it offers the best of both electric and conventional motoring.

For 2016 the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has undergone quite an extensive facelift. Whilst the car it replaces was all about form following function, this design has a more premium flare. Glossy black nose elements and chrome detailing for the brands new “dynamic shield” family face. New headlights, skirting, and black alloy wheels further update this SUV. Our test car finished in grey looked great and seeing as part of the appeal for cars such as this is aesthetic, that is important.

Just like its diesel counterpart, the interior has been reworked to match a more modern exterior. Black trim now encompasses the front occupants and new materials add to a perception of higher quality. Thicker glass has been incorporated into this Outlander to further reduce unwanted wind noise. The piano black centre console houses a touchscreen infotainment display with DAB radio. This system can be a bit fiddly at times but once you get know the menus it is clearly a step up from Mitsubishi of old. Leather headed seats and a heated steering wheel comfort you in your newfound high driving position. In the second row you will find seating for three adults with good head and leg room. Even the middle seat can be utilised for full sized passengers thanks to a low transmission tunnel. The PHEV has a spacious 463 litre boot, but does not possess the two deployable seats of the diesel car.

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is powered by a 2.0 litre petrol engine along with two electric motors. It has two fuel doors; one for petroleum and the other houses a charging socket. Use the latter to charge the batteries hidden in its boot floor via a fast charge station (40 minutes) or a standard electrical socket at home. So this is how it works… This PHEV can drive in pure electric mode for 32.5 miles before it needs charging. Regenerative braking aids in filling up the battery as you go, but if you begin to run out of juice, the petrol engine kicks in as a generator. At higher speeds or when more power is required both the engine and electric motors power the car. Push a button marked save and the Mitsubishi will ensure that the current battery level is retained for later use, or press the charge button to manually tell the engine to charge the battery. Instead of silently coming to a halt when the electric range hits 0% you simply carry on like a normal petrol car meaning you can have your cake and eat it. In electric mode it feels brisk with instant torque on tap and 0-25MPH in this new model actually being 2 seconds faster. The silence of driving without the usual engine noise is strange at first, but becomes very relaxing as you tranquilly go about your business. Even when the combustion engine activates its noise is minimal. Visibility is good all around, but the specification we have here has a great 360 degree parking camera in a addition. A system that warns you of a potential collision and can brake autonomously boosts safety. It might not be the most dynamic car in its class to drive, and the ride is a bit on the firm side, day-to-day driving in the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is easy. The CVT transmission means no manual changing of gears and its light steering makes it effortless to change the direction of this 4×4. Speaking of all wheel drive, a button marked 4WD sends power to each corner meaning that whilst the PHEV is kind to the environment, it can also conquer it when required. On motorways there is some wind noise, but nothing really to write home about. If you are likely to spend hours trawling the M25 then the diesel Outlander would be a better choice for you, however, if your commute is 30 miles or so then the PHEV makes a lot of sense. Mitsubishi claims that it can do 156 MPG and just 42 g/km CO2. London’s dreaded congestion charge is no obstacle for this car.

But the real draw of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is that in the same specification it costs exactly the same as its diesel equivalent. No longer do you have to pay the price for adopting new technology. It is now a simple choice to be made based upon how you use your car. In this respect Mitsubishi leads the way and their bold initiative deserves to be rewarded.

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For 2016 the Mitsubishi Outlander has received an extensive facelift and has certainly become more stylish as a result. The seven seat SUV wears Mitsubishi’s “dynamic shield” front grill which cascades down to the bumper. Gloss black finishes and more intricate lights add a sophisticated modern glaze to the car. It is a machine that also looks proportionally correct with its short overhangs. Our top specification GX4 test car featured some great looking alloy wheels.

Move inside, the interior has also gone through some changes and now sports more premium materials. A dark wood effect strip runs along the dashboard and onto the doors creating more fluidity in the design than its predecessor. A gloss black centre console matches that of the exterior and houses a touchscreen infotainment system. Access to DAB radio, phone connectivity, and navigation are all gain through this interface. Whilst the screen is responsive, the software isn’t the most straight forward to use with many different menus. It is something you become used to, but some competitors do this better. Comfortable leather heated seats provide a high riding perch for front occupants whilst the second row is treated to plentiful head and leg room. A low transmission tunnel in the floor means that all three seating positions can be used by adults. Two more seats can be deployed allowing for a total of seven occupants to be seated. Leg room is limited in the rearmost row, but those seats are fine for children. Open the electric tailgate of this 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander GX4 with five seats in place and you have a generous 591 litres of boot space. For larger cargo all of the rear seats can be folded flat.

Power is sourced from a 2.2 litre diesel engine which produces 148 BHP and 380Nm of torque. It isn’t the fastest SUV out of the box, but its performance is more than adequate. A nice precise six speed manual transmission possesses a set of good ratios for both around town and on the motorway. Increased sound insulation over the outgoing model means that the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander is much more refined. Within an urban environment this SUV is easy to operate with light steering, good all round visibility, and an excellent turning circle. This car had a reversing camera which made parking even easier. Road imperfections do intrude into the cabin more than expected and through faster bends there is notable body roll. However, head onto a motorway and the Outlander is comfortable and very happy to soldier on all day long. Road noise is suppressed with wind noise only making itself known when you are cracking the whip. 53.3 MPG combined is claimed. Above the heated seat switch is a “4WD” button than enables the Mitsubishi to venture off of the beaten path. The brand has a proven record of being able to handle the rough stuff and this Outlander will happily tackle most things owners are likely to throw at it. Obviously if you need to do some serious mud-plugging then its bigger Mitsubishi Shogun brother is the car for you. Good ground clearance and reassuring levels of traction keeps you in control when Mother Nature decides to callously flood your village.

Whilst this cars PHEV sibling is grabbing all of the headlines and becoming hugely popular for Mitsubishi, this diesel option is for those who regularly trawl the motorways as opposed to sit in city traffic. It still very much has a place in the lineup. The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander with this practicality, increased visual appeal, and added refinement further strengthens its case. It really does feel like a dependable family car. Hmmm, dependable… That’s a word my fridge-freezer should learn.

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Pickup trucks are an incredibly valuable tool, especially to those who run their own business. Few other vehicles allow you to sling bricks and a cement mixer into the back only to then drive across the rough terrain of a building site. However, when the working day is done this workhorse then has to transform into a family car that seats five and is happy to spend time on the motorway. It is this balance that makes the pickup unique, that said, not all of them get it right… Many are orientated around one task more than another and thus make compromises in the process. This new 2015 Mitsubishi L200 aims be the jack of all trades and defend its position at the top of the pickup pyramid.

Though your stereotypical truck often resembles a swamp monster due to all of the mud that coats it, the L200 when clean actually looks rather smart in top specification Barbarian trim. Bold alloy wheels, a tasteful dose of chrome, and the new bodywork creates a more upmarket appearance. The car still retains its strong masculine stance, but this generation adds a dose of style which is rarely seen in this segment.

Climb up and into the double cab of our test car and you can’t help but be impressed at the progress over the outgoing model. The heated leather seats are supportive in the right places and the driving position is much improved. Interior quality is good and feels durable, but more than that, it is now more pleasing to the eye. Aesthetically it has become more car-like with complex shapes replacing flat surfaces. Whilst it doesn’t have the best user interface, a touchscreen infotainment system does offer access to DAB radio, navigation, and BlueTooth. The second row seats three with loads of head and leg room for even the tallest passengers. Visibility is good and is further boosted by this cars reversing camera. It is a big vehicle and so we would recommend this to make life a bit easier. Heading further rearwards, the bed is 1,470mm square and is available with various covers to keep things secure and dry. You can load it up with 1,050KG of “stuff” but on top of that the car can tow 3,100KG.

Under the bonnet of the Mitsubishi L200 is a 2.4 litre diesel engine that produces 178BHP. That is then sent to all four wheels via a six speed manual transmission in this instance. The drivetrain also offers the choice to send the power to just the rear wheels for improved economy, speaking of which, 42.8MPG is pretty good for this size of car. Emissions are at 173g/km. Whilst there is no getting away from its size, the L200 manages to mask just how big it is by being easy to drive.  The steering is light, the gearbox has a positive shift, and the pedal weights are well judged. Obviously into faster corners there is going to be a bit of body roll, but there is now much less than you would expect. It’s road manners are good and handling is very competent. This Mitsubishi’s suspension is not as bouncy either, even without a payload in the back. All-in-all things are much more civilised behind the wheel. The biggest asset that this all-new incarnation brings to the party is its highly refined nature. I was totally surprised as to how quiet this pickup truck was in motion. Put it in sixth gear on a motorway and you can hardly hear the engine thanks to great gear ratios. Plenty of sound insulation keeps unwanted road and wind noise at bay. The overall result of this more grownup environment is that this machine goes from being primarily a work tool, to something the family can happily spend a few hours in. Don’t go thinking the the 2015 Mitsubishi L200 has gone all soft. Hitting the rough stuff is no problem with all wheel drive, a locking differential, and low range gearing. It went up and over every obstacle we pointed the nose at as well as making its way through a river. It is still a rugged machine which is important to this products core customer.

Starting at a very reasonable £23,698 the 2015 Mitsubishi L200 is not only a improvement over its more agricultural forefathers, but it can conclusively claim to be the class leader. A true representation of next-generation pickup trucks.

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The current trend for owning an SUV surges on as everyone from Mums on the school run to those trawling the motorways seems to have one. Truth be told, the majority fall into the “ soft-roader” category meaning that when the road runs out, they need more than a bit of ground clearance to forge their own path. The Mitsubishi Shogun, just like the Land Rover Defender, has become a staple amongst the 4X4 community. Tough as old boots, this 2015 Mitsubishi Shogun LWB arrives with some new features.

In white the Shogun presents itself as a blank canvas to paint muddy patterns, more on said dirty fun coming up, of which its chiselled outline begs for. Everything from the scale, utilitarian attitude to design and blunt nose immediately suggests that this vehicle means business. This 2015 face-lift model now possesses daytime running lights, xenon headlights and a restyled front bumper. Roof rails and side steps provoke a sense of purpose. Continuing the old school off-roader theme is a large spare wheel that is bolted to the boot. This Mitsubishi looks rugged and has clear links back to the original Shogun.

The interior continues with the form over function theme though our test car did feature rather comfortable heated leather seats. Whilst hard plastics are not aesthetically pleasing, they are durable and it feels like the inside of this Shogun is just about as tough as the outside. You sit up high and gain a truly commanding view of the road ahead. Chunky grab handles are mounted in the A-pillars and a large gear selector protrudes. New for 2015 is a touchscreen infotainment system which gives you access to Bluetooth, satellite navigation and radio. However, the interface isn’t the easiest to use with its ergonomics not being as good as competitors. Visibility is great all around and this example even came with a reversing camera. Plenty of natural light floods the cabin through a big sunroof making an already vast cabin seem larger still. The middle row is treated to their own air-conditioning unit and reclining seats. There is also no transmission hump in the floor to increase legroom. This car seats seven and in the floor of its large boot are two deployable seats. The mechanism to deploy them is a bit heavy and so will require two hands to operate. These occupants have access to a socket making it ideal for charging the countless electronic kids tend to have. Kids will likely be the only occupants of the rearmost seats as limited legroom rules out anything other than short journeys for adults. Despite these seats being in place there is still enough space for a few small bags in the boot. The boot door itself may hark back to off-roaders of old but it is very heavy and requires space to swing it open.

I devised a plan to thoroughly test this 2015 Mitsubishi Shogun LWB, but I needed some children. Instead of becoming the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I filled the car with adults which often display the mental capabilities of children. AKA a select group of friends. The task involved taking this lot on a “school trip” to Salisbury plains where the Shogun would be put to the test on the very same terrain as the British Army’s Challenger II tank. Everyone bar the last row of passengers had plenty of space and were quite comfortable in their new school bus. This car is powered by a 3.2 litre diesel engine which is noisy under load. At speed there is also a notable amount of wind noise, but that is the price for short overhangs on a tall vehicle which will ultimately help it off-road. That is pretty much the story throughout the Shogun… It leans through corners, has slights jiggle to its ride and the 5 speed automatic gearbox could be better. However, in return for these flaws you receive a 4X4 that can do battle with Mother Nature all day long. Hitting the tough terrain, the suspension absorbed the craters well and the cars ground clearance meant that clambering over obstacles was a piece of cake. Select all wheel drive mode and there is very little that can stand in its way. Through muddy bogs and up steep inclines using low range, “the kids” were loving every adventurous second. Good approach and departure angles will be very welcome to the enthusiast. Completely caked in mud and now ready to join the road once more, the 2015 Mitsubishi Shogun LWB acquitted itself very well. We achieved 25MPG combined, including our day in the dirt, whilst running this model.

With the “children” back home safely it is clear that the Shogun has its flaws. It sacrifices on road capabilities for some serious off-roading credentials. For those who are looking for something a tad more civilised than a Defender but still a mud-plugger, here you go. But if you are a Mum on the school run it will come across as far too agricultural. The Shogun is a character and will undoubtably be a strong and reliable workhorse, just make sure that it is the car for you. Hardcore off-road vehicles are now a niche product.

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In a world where we are making a conscious attempted reduce our environmental impact, don’t you find it a bit funny how one of the most popular automotive segments is the SUV? Whilst we recycle and use energy saving lightbulbs, the same small families are choosing a larger more polluting car over a traditional hatchback. This paradox is a growing trend and whilst SUVs are becoming ever cleaner, it always strikes me as being a bit odd when “Mr Green” turns up in a crossover. SUVs are the current market trend and that is what makes the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV such a clever move. Whilst plug-in hybrids aren’t anything new, Mitsubishi has recognised not only that electric cars have their appeals, but flaws also. Introducing a strong compromise into the fastest growing segment has paid off.

To the casual observer the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV looks just like the standard Outlander. A strong stance with traditional 4×4 proportions gives the overall design a dose of authority. But look closer and the differences become apparent. The biggest giveaway is the cars PHEV badging, that and the fact it might glide past you emitting no noise at all. A unique colour as found on our test car might also tipoff someone in the know. There is a fuel door on either side one for conventional petrol, the other for standard and fast charging. Subtle bodywork changes also make this Outlander more aerodynamically efficient. It isn’t a bad looking car, but more importantly, it looks like a car a normal person would buy as opposed to someone with a wind turbine on their head screaming “Mother Earth is dying and the end is nigh.”

Enter its spacious cabin that, for all intents and purposes, is completely recognisable as a cars interior and not some over the top sci-fi greenhouse. You sit high in a commanding driving position with an easy to read instrument cluster before you. The seats are supportive and in this specific car were heated and covered in leather. Aesthetically the interior of the PHEV is inoffensive with gloss black trim surrounding the touchscreen infotainment display. Some plastics do come across as a bit low-rent, but overall it doesn’t feel as if anything is going to fall off in your hand. Rear occupants are treated to vast amounts of room with enough head and leg space for even the tallest specimens. What is also impressive is that the floor is almost completely flat, despite being all wheel drive, meaning that all three seats can be used to their maximum potential. The boot is also large completing what is a very practical package indeed. The only downside of choosing the PHEV over the standard diesel is that you can’t have seven seats as the boot floor where they would be stored is full of batteries.

Push the starter button on this 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, select drive and whisper into motion. Now here comes the science… The PHEV is powered by an electric motor and a 2.0 litre petrol engine. Both of these sit side by side in the engine bay. When the car is driving at up to 70MPH, dependant on throttle usage, it is completely electric with no combustion. At above that speed the petrol engine kicks in to help aid the electric power. When the battery is starting to run low the engine will again start and act solely as a generator to charge it to a sufficient level. The transition between this two states is seamless and the near silence of electric mode is only turned up to a quiet hum when the engine turns on. There is no noticeable change in performance which is a great achievement. Acceleration is good and that instant torque is nice to have in a urban environment. Demand more power than the battery can provide? Watch the dashboard dial flit from eco to power and the engine will again boost the output. However, running around town you can easily run this car on electricity alone. Just on the battery Mitsubishi say you can do up to 32.5 miles, we achieved around 28/29 making their claim believable. Visibility is good and the steering is light at low speeds. At a faster pace the extra weight of the batteries is noticeable and promotes some body roll and understeer, but that is when you are really pushing on. There is notable road and wind noise but that can be attributed to the lack of engine commotion, these sounds would usually be masked by engine noise. This car also features regenerative breaking, the motion of witch can be adjusted via two paddles on the wheel. On the motorway the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is perfectly pleasant, but with the petrol engine doing most of the leg work it is here where your fuel consumption suffers. Over a week of both town and motorway driving we achieved 37MPG which is still respectable. The fuel gauge only really started moving when at speed on the motorway, meaning that if your commute to work is 30 miles or less it is completely conceivable that you could run this car on electricity alone. A fast charge can get you to 80% battery in  less than half an hour, but you can charge via a standard wall socket also. I live near a fast charger that is also free and so if I were to just bumble around town I could actually run this car for a grand total of £0 thanks to it also being road tax exempt. London Congestion Charge? What charge? This 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV also has two other nice features. A button marked charge which allows you to bring the engine into play at any point to charge the battery, but also one called save which ensures the car retains that battery level ready for you to go all-electric when you choose.

I have seen other people achieve up to 90MPG when really making an effort to spend most of their time in EV mode and Eco. I drove this Outlander as I would any other car I use be using and was still impressed with all of the befits that this plug-in Hybrid can offer. My only real niggle with this Outlander is that the satellite navigation is not the most ergonomic system I have come across and can be a bit frustrating at times.  For the majority of people who buy SUVs this 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a watershed moment. It is reasonably priced starting at £28,249 including your £5,000 government grant, it is well engineered, as practical as any other family car, relaxing to drive and can be run for very little. I am indeed very impressed with the Outlander PHEV and judging by strong sales, so are Mitsubishi.

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Far too many things these days do not last as well as they did in years gone by. I remember as a child my Mothers washing machine spanning a decade, whereas now it is replaced every few years. Children’s toys break in the changing wind, so it would seem, with components made of plastic and not enduring metal. You name it; televisions, mobile phones, furniture, all things that were a rare purchase now have a much shortened lifecycle. I’m not going to venture into the sales driven reasons behind all of that or else this article would never end. Instead I am going to juxtapose these things that apparently break too often to one of the most rugged machines you can have on your driveway. The 2014 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian.

As pick-up trucks go, this isn’t quite so brutish in its appearance, instead offering passersby curved lines and neat grills. Don’t get me wrong, it is very far from effeminate as its vast scale will testify, but its more modern approach to a being a machine of function is pleasing to the eye. Our test car was fitted with the removable roof for the flatbed, squaring off the back and adding to the cars domineering size. Daytime running lights are worn low on the front bumper whilst sturdy sidesteps run down the profile allowing access to a commanding driving position. Personally the double cab profile of this car not only adds more practicality, but looks better proportionally than the single.

Opening the door of this 2014 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian reveals red glowing “Barbarian” kick plates which is a nice detail on this model. Once aloft and inside the cabin you are greeted by an interior that feels as hardy as the exterior. A sturdy sculpted dashboard houses a touchscreen infotainment system with BlueTooth and a DAB radio. Said screen is also used for the reversing camera, something I would highly recommend on a car this big. In terms of ergonomics the L200 is a bit of a mixed bag. Whilst instruments are easy to read and controls live in logical places, the comfortable leather heated heats offer very little lateral support when this 4×4 leans in the corners. The seating position is also usual as the seats themselves are much lower to the floor than expected. Its rear bench allows seating for three with adequate amounts of head and leg room. A nice feature of the 2014 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian is its electric rear window which allow access into the flatbed. The bed itself is capable of carrying a 1,060KG payload making this car a strong candidate of commercial use. Plastic-lined, it is easy to hose down after a day of muddy hauling.

Starting the 2.5 litre turbo diesel engine reminds you that, in the same vain as the Land Rover Defender, this is a machine of function and not luxury. The engine might sound slightly agricultural but it gets the job done as this car is capable of pulling 2,700KG thanks to 258lb ft of torque. That is a lot of pulling power. On the road, again like other “old-school” 4×4, the L200 makes sacrifices in order to be more functional elsewhere in its day. There is a lot of body roll due to the size and 1,885KG weight and the steering is quite vague. Leaf spring suspension in the rear also means that without something loaded into the bed the ride can be a bit bouncy. The steering is light around town, but the sheer mass of the Barbarian in a high street makes it feel cumbersome. However, take the L200 off of the tarmac and you shall begin to see just what the 2014 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian’s primary objective is. Good ground clearance and chunky tyres enables this car to tackle tough terrain. With selectable all-wheel-drive, a low range gearbox and a locking central as well as rear differential, it will ascend steep gradients, plug its way through mud and climb over just about anything you place in front of it. It is impressive once in its element and feels completely dependable even when Mother Nature would rather see you stuck. Here the engine feels strong and can be forgiven its 25MPG average we achieved because ultimately this is what it was designed for, not the motorway trawl.

The 2014 Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian is much more a battle hardened workhorse than a show pony for the urban environment. If you are the sort of person who wants something that is a no nonsense tool then here you go, but for those looking for something that will cosset them around town, a culture shock awaits. Our test car came to just over £27,000 which is reasonable for its equipment level and undercuts key competitors. I would describe the L200 as being fit for purpose and a product with the ethos from a time when things lasted much longer.

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