Mitsubishi’s ability to make the entry-level Outlander PHEV the same price (after the government’s plug-in grant) as the diesel-powered GX3 is remarkable. It gives business customers every reason to opt in.
That’s because just over £28k for the entry-level GX3h buys a car emitting just 44g/km of CO2, qualifying for BIK company car tax at just five percent. Compared with a like-for-like diesel Honda CR-V, that emissions advantage alone could save a fleet driver more than £11,000 over three years. That’s quite an incredible motivator.
The financial benefits go a long way to shielding this Outlander from one of our criticisms of its diesel-powered sibling, whose price is much closer to that of a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 than it should be.
Mediocre motorway economy may still give some fleet drivers cause for concern. Our experience suggests roughly 32mpg in ‘extended’ mode at a 70-80mph cruise. Still, Mitsubishi has presented a level playing field here.
Outlander buyers have the opportunity to make a simple, informed choice – diesel versus hybrid – based solely on tax savings and short-range fuel efficiency balanced against poorer motorway economy.
And as a company driver, your motorway mileage would have to be very high indeed – into the hundreds daily – to swallow up the money saved on benefit-in-kind.
The PHEV's residuals are in line with its diesel counterparts and superior to Volvo's nearest plug-in hybrid. On the spec front – while cruise, Bluetooth and dual-zone climate appear at the entry level – the reversing camera, DAB tuner, sat-nav and powered tailgate on the GX4h make it the one to buy.