Review: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX5h
Despite decent uptake from private buyers, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has always had one eye on fleet customers, promising the capability of a 4x4, the taxation levels of an electric car and much lower fuel costs than pretty much any other SUV out there.
In a bid to extend the company car appeal of the plug-in SUV, the Japanese manufacturer has come up with the new, range-topping GX5h trim level, aimed squarely at management types looking for all the mod cons of a Range Rover without the eye-watering purchase price or running costs. The question is, is it worth the extra outlay?
What do I get with a GX5h?
The now-deposed range topper, the GX4h, could never be accused of being poorly equipped, boasting 18in alloys, leather seats, dual-zone climate control, satellite navigation and a reversing camera to name but a few, but the GX5h has had to up the ante.
As if the GX4h’s leather upholstery wasn’t enough, Mitsubishi has given the GX5h ‘hand-crafted’ leather seats, which are offered in red, beige or grey.
The new, classier hide is softer to the touch and replaces the GX4h’s slightly cheap-looking plastic dash inserts, but with plenty of black trim still dominating the cabin, the resulting colour combinations are likely to split opinion.
Less divisive will be the 420W Alpine Hi-Fi, which Mitsubishi claims has been specially tuned for the Outlander’s interior. It’s not the most impressive or the most powerful in-car stereo we’ve ever seen, but it’s an improvement over the standard audio system, producing a deeper and slightly better balanced sound.
Other than that, the GX5h’s interior improvements are small, like the addition of heated seats in the rear, extra USB ports and low-level mood lighting.
Similarly minor adjustments have been made on the outside, with the GX5h getting a Land Rover-style bonnet badge, a more pronounced rear spoiler, integrated side steps and LED daylight running lights.
Read our full review of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV here…
How much will it cost me?
Of course, as the new flagship, the GX5h Outlander was always going to cost a bit more more than the GX4h, but a £5,000 premium will surely raise a few eyebrows.
The big selling point of the Outlander PHEV has always been price, with the basic GX3h costing much the same as a mid-spec, diesel-powered Outlander once the £5,000 government grant has been applied. The GX5h though, costs £37,899, and it’ll get even pricier if you want some more safety kit.
Like the GX4h, the GX5h is available in ‘s’ guise, which adds lane departure warning and a forward collision mitigation system for £2,100.
You might counter that the extra cost will even out over the course of a lease, but the GX5h is unlikely to hold its value as well as the GX4h and that’s going to hit monthly prices.
Opting for the GX5h would hit company car drivers’ pockets too, because its P11D value is over £42,000, as opposed to around £37,000 for the GX4h.
Some might say that isn’t a great issue, because the 44g/km CO2 emissions mean BIK tax is just 5%, but if Tesco is right and every little really does help, the GX4h has the edge.
Apart from that though, there isn’t much difference between the two trims in terms of running costs because they’re mechanically identical.
Yes, the extra USB ports and heated rear seats might shorten the battery life slightly, but you’ll still get about 25-30 miles from a single charge and it’ll guzzle a similar amount of petrol when that 2.0-litre petrol engine comes to life.
The verdict
The Outlander PHEV is a strong plug-in hybrid, and it’s certainly the best of the Outlanders, but this GX5h model is not the pick of the bunch. Why spend such a substantial amount more when all you’re getting is some marginally improved leather and a new stereo?
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX5h vital stats
Length: 4,655mm
Width: 1,800mm
Height: 1,680mm
Wheelbase: 2,670mm
Kerb weight: 1,810kg
Boot space: 436 litres
Powertrain: 2.0-litre petrol engine (119bhp), 2 electric motors (161bhp)
Official fuel economy (combined): 148mpg (weighted average)
Official CO2 emissions: 44g/km
BIK tax: 5%
0-62mph: 11.0 seconds
Top speed: 106mph
Electric-only range: 32.5 miles
Price: £37,899 (after government grant)
P11D: £42,899
