2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The CarCody take

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a small 4WD SUV that combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with plug-in capability. Its EPA electric range is 22 miles, while combined efficiency is 74 MPGe in electric operation terms and 25 MPG on gasoline. A 240-volt charge takes 3.5 hours, and EPA annual fuel cost is $2,700.

Who it suits. Drivers with short daily trips and regular charging access SUV buyers who want all-wheel drive with plug-in capability

What it is

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a small sport utility vehicle with all-wheel drive. It uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an automatic transmission, gasoline and plug-in hybrid power.

Its defining EPA figure is a 22-mile electric range. That is the distance the battery is rated to cover before the gasoline system becomes important.

The numbers

EPA rates the Outlander PHEV at 74 combined MPGe and 25 combined MPG. City and highway gasoline ratings are 25 MPG and 26 MPG, respectively.

The vehicle uses 45 kWh per 100 miles and emits 174 grams of tailpipe CO2 per mile.

What it costs to run

EPA lists annual fuel cost at $2,700. The 25 MPG combined rating tells you how far it travels on gasoline; the 74 MPGe figure expresses its combined plug-in energy use in a gasoline-equivalent measure.

At a 240-volt connection, a full charge is rated at 3.5 hours. The 22-mile electric range makes charging most useful when your regular trips fit within that distance.

How it compares

When you compare it with other SUVs, start with the figures that match your routine: 22 electric miles, 25 combined MPG, and 74 combined MPGe.

Its city and highway ratings are close at 25 and 26 MPG, so the EPA figures show little gasoline-efficiency difference between those driving settings.

Who it suits

This Outlander suits a driver who wants all-wheel drive and can charge at 240 volts, especially when daily travel is within 22 miles.

It also fits someone who wants a gasoline engine available after the electric range is used, rather than relying on electric power for every trip.

Trade-offs

The plug-in system adds an electric option, but the EPA electric range is limited to 22 miles. Longer journeys depend more on gasoline and the 25 MPG combined rating.

Charging takes 3.5 hours at 240 volts. Its 45 kWh per 100 miles energy-use figure and $2,700 annual fuel-cost estimate give you the running-cost side of the choice.

Verdict

Choose the 2020 Outlander PHEV if all-wheel drive matters and your normal driving can use most of its 22-mile electric allowance. The 3.5-hour 240-volt charge time makes planned charging part of ownership. For trips beyond that range, the car operates as a 25-MPG gasoline SUV, with EPA annual fuel cost listed at $2,700. Its 74 MPGe combined rating captures the plug-in benefit, while the nearly matching city and highway MPG figures keep the gasoline side straightforward.