Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV v Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2020 Comparison

Have you noticed? Climate change is in the news – in a big way. So it must be about time we ran another comparison to assess the viability of a plug-in hybrid versus a 'conventional' series/parallel hybrid.

This time around we're comparing two medium SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid eFour. The RAV4 supplied for this comparison was trimmed to the Cruiser level, which is one rung below the flagship grade, and the Outlander was the basic ES variant.

Both vehicles are close on price, but the very nature of plug-in hybrids makes them more expensive than a Toyota-style series/parallel hybrid vehicle; so the Outlander is placed at a disadvantage where value is concerned, unless the buyer perceives that what is lost in the dollar value of standard equipment could be recovered over years of ownership in running costs.

That aspect of plug-in hybrid ownership – initial cost versus long-term savings – hasn't worked out well for plug-ins to date, but a vehicle like the updated Outlander PHEV, now with a 2.4-litre petrol engine, comes closest to matching its 'unplugged' rival from Toyota.

There’s been considerable interest in cars that are kinder to the environment in recent times, and SUVs are outselling passenger cars, so the obvious next step is for these two trends to merge in the form of hybrid and plug-in SUVs.

But it’s a challenge for car companies to build machines that are as practical as any conventional SUV, as well as being affordable for family buyers and approaching smaller passenger cars like Nissan LEAF and Hyundai IONIQ for energy efficiency. Challenging perhaps, but not impossible, we think.

What might have broadened the scope of this comparison would have been the inclusion of a full battery-electric SUV, but the Hyundai Kona Electric – a small SUV, not a mid-sizer like these two – is well above the $50,000 asking price that is the point where families on a budget might draw the line.

Therein lies the attraction of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. It has many of the hallmarks of a battery-electric vehicle, but few of the drawbacks, those drawbacks being purchase price and limited range relative to the price. On that basis it could give the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid a run for its money.

On paper, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV promises everything that typical families may want from a medium SUV. It’s roomy and relatively affordable, easy to drive and safe.

The same could also be said of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Both vehicles come with a reputation for reliability as well, so the target buyer for these two can be broken down to someone concerned for the environment, but with kids to cart around as well.

Although it may come as a shock to some reading this, the Toyota goes one step further in being an unexpectedly decent drive. It’s a hybrid, it’s an SUV, and it’s a Toyota. But yes, you read it right, Akio Toyoda’s tsunamic influence has picked up and dumped the RAV4 in the 21st Century.

As to who will buy that sort of vehicle for its driveability, it’s got us beat. Not a demographic that’s easily pigeon-holed...

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in the Cruiser grade is priced at $44,990 and this particular test vehicle came with premium paint (Saturn Blue), costing a further $600. That took the total up to $45,590 before the on-road costs.

In contrast, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES was priced at $51,390, but that amount also included the Starlight pearlescent white paint and the on-road costs. In relative terms the Mitsubishi still lags behind the Toyota for value, however you cut it.

Where the Toyota comes with a sunroof, leather upholstery, navigation, a powered tailgate and fully electrically-adjustable driver seat with two-position memory, to name but a few features, the Mitsubishi holds those in reserve for the more expensive Outlander PHEV Exceed. The Toyota also comes with a fair bit more safety kit, including facilities like rear cross-traffic alert and cameras that look every which way.

Both vehicles are covered for up to five years by their respective warranties, but the Outlander’s is limited to 100,000km, whereas the RAV4’s provides unlimited travel over the five-year period.

Both vehicles offer commendable packaging. Compared with early hybrids, such as the first of the petrol/electric Toyota Camry, there’s plenty of boot space and through-loading freedom in both the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Mitsubishi’s stadium seating in the rear will be welcomed by kids, although the lower hip point of the Toyota makes it easier for kids to climb in.

Naturally the two cars are quite energy efficient as well, and they’re very quiet touring machines.

We didn’t have an opportunity to take either off-road, which is where we suspect the Mitsubishi might have an edge over the Toyota. But the Toyota clearly benefits from newer design – it’s rated at five stars by ANCAP for crash safety, as an example. So too is the Mitsubishi, but it was tested by ANCAP back in 2014, whereas the Toyota was only tested last year.

By virtue of its plug-in nature, the Outlander promises to be cheaper to run than the RAV4 over the longer term, but if the plan is to sell the Outlander within three or four years – and depending how regularly the Mitsubishi’s battery is recharged from an electrical source – the Mitsubishi may not haul back the total cost of ownership points from the Toyota.

The RAV4 generally rides comfortably and offers good driving dynamics (steering feel, handling and on-road grip). Also, the seats are comfortable, the boot is large and the Toyota is very safe. That is of course not only the matter of extra active safety equipment fitted, but also the excellent headlights.

The Outlander provides very good braking all round, in emergency conditions and normal urban driving.

The Toyota RAV4 comes with auto high-beam assist, which is not ultimately as sophisticated as similar systems from other brands. It failed to respond on two occasions when it should have dipped the headlights for vehicles on side roads. The Toyota’s suspension does crash over sharp impacts (potholes at speed, for instance).

In regard to ride comfort and driving dynamics, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV doesn’t achieve the same standard set by the Toyota. Obviously too, there are value considerations that work against the Mitsubishi, if you believe the plug-in gadgetry cannot offset the extra comfort and convenience features of the Toyota.

That said, the Toyota doesn’t have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, which the Mitsubishi does.

Minor ergonomic niggles include the three-point seatbelt mounting for the centre/rear seat in the Outlander, and the side-mounted ‘dome’ light in the luggage compartment of the RAV4.

It comes as no surprise that the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid won this comparison. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is still a good vehicle of its type, and the manufacturer’s upgrades have kept it relevant in the market.

But it is an ageing design, in competition with a brand new rival that benefits from the very latest hybrid-drive technology.

While this essentially started out as a comparison of plug-in hybrid technology and unplugged hybrid tech on merit alone, you can’t isolate the non-hybrid facets of these two cars from the assessment. The Toyota represents better value overall, and it’s a better on-road solution for families as well.

Bear that in mind and then also factor in the prospect that the total cost of ownership may not favour the Mitsubishi in reality and it boils down to a clear win for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

A 70km test drive of each vehicle brought home to me that the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was the rightful winner here.

With some heavy-footed motoring during the early stages – frequently uphill and exiting bends under high load – and with the climate control and headlights operating also, the Outlander was resorting to petrol power early on, and continued to draw on the four-cylinder engine even during the quieter downhill phase of the run, when a car should be at its most economical. That was because the battery was thoroughly depleted by then.

The result? The RAV4 completed the run using 5.8L/100km, and the Outlander finished up using 5.7L/100km – and that was despite starting with a fully charged battery.

It has to be said, Toyota’s hybrid technology probably shouldn’t work as well as it does, on paper at least. It’s still a petrol engine charging an electric battery – with all the wasteful use of energy that implies. But it does work...

The case for the plug-in hybrid is heavily dependent on owners charging the battery frequently, and rarely if ever exceeding the electric-only range. Without that commitment, the plug-in SUV is no more eco-friendly than a series/parallel hybrid SUV at a lower price. It may even be worse. 

So it boils down to this: Outlander PHEV owners might buy the car with every intention of recharging the Mitsubishi every single night, but the road to climate-change hell is paved with good intentions.

If you quickly tire of charging the Outlander every night, you might as well save money, get a vehicle delivering better value, better packaging, better driveability and you’ll still be doing your personal best for the environment.