CREDIT where it’s due: Mitsubishi has released something pretty ground-breaking with its new Outlander PHEV.

Yes, Australia has seen a plug-in hybrid before in the form of Holden’s Volt, but never in a family-friendly SUV body-style, and certainly never at a price point so friendly.

At $47,490, the Outlander PHEV is pitched squarely at diesel compact soft-roaders out there such as the Mazda CX-5 SkyActiv, and on paper makes a great deal of sense.

The claimed fuel consumption of 1.9L/100km is remarkable — half a Prius — and in urban driving over short-ish distances, entirely reasonable.

Head out for a weekend in the country, though, and that equation may change swiftly.



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