Thank you, Mike for sharing your opinion with us.
I had been planning to replace my Forever Forester for a long time, as the car turned 10 years old and the odometer reached 280,000 miles. My family will continue using it.
My goal was to achieve comfortable driving and low running costs.
The review written by "not bad" thoroughly examines the issues and provides answers as to why purchasing the Mitsubishi PHEV is a worthwhile decision.
I have been interested in all forms of electric driving for a long time, and I had to choose the most suitable vehicle for myself and my family from the currently available models.
Approaching the age of 70, making a choice is difficult, as different automotive lobbies often entice buyers with one-sided advantages, highlighting the positives of their offerings while downplaying or only mentioning the downsides in fine print.
Living in a suburban area, 9 miles from a major city, the new Nissan Leaf initially seemed like an attractive option. However, its relatively short range, the limited and hard-to-access charging stations, and the fact that we take longer trips throughout the year led me to explore the hybrid vehicle market instead.
Then came the PHEV, a model from a relatively small manufacturer with high technical content, featuring electric motors driving the axles. In terms of value for money, it significantly outperforms premium brands. People tend to look at the car with curiosity rather than envy or resentment—something that, of course, is more influenced by the owner’s driving behavior than by the car itself.
With these considerations in mind, I purchased what my family simply calls the hybrid. The driving experience is very much like that of an electric car—at low speeds, it feels like a trolleybus, making it highly suitable for both city and suburban driving. Since the car lacks a traditional gearbox and clutch, relying only on switches, it is effortless and quick to drive. The gasoline engine primarily serves as a generator to charge the 12 kWh battery, which smoothly transfers energy to the electric motors, propelling the car forward.
I charge the battery at home, and it takes about 4.5 hours on average. Since it's summer, the air conditioning is running as well, so the pure electric (EV) range is about 35–38 miles in ECO mode.
These are just my initial impressions, but I will return with more insights after putting on more miles and gaining further experience.
One note: although oil changes are recommended every 14,000 miles, due to the frequent cold starts in the PHEV, even the highest-quality oil deteriorates over time and discolors. The only way to address this is by changing the oil more frequently (perhaps every 10,000 miles?).
Overall, I am satisfied with the fuel consumption—it is reasonable for a car of this weight.
The battery performance has remained unchanged over the past three years, though the energy levels and calibration of the cells need occasional monitoring.
I had been planning to replace my Forever Forester for a long time, as the car turned 10 years old and the odometer reached 280,000 miles. My family will continue using it.
My goal was to achieve comfortable driving and low running costs.
The review written by "not bad" thoroughly examines the issues and provides answers as to why purchasing the Mitsubishi PHEV is a worthwhile decision.
I have been interested in all forms of electric driving for a long time, and I had to choose the most suitable vehicle for myself and my family from the currently available models.
Approaching the age of 70, making a choice is difficult, as different automotive lobbies often entice buyers with one-sided advantages, highlighting the positives of their offerings while downplaying or only mentioning the downsides in fine print.
Living in a suburban area, 9 miles from a major city, the new Nissan Leaf initially seemed like an attractive option. However, its relatively short range, the limited and hard-to-access charging stations, and the fact that we take longer trips throughout the year led me to explore the hybrid vehicle market instead.
Then came the PHEV, a model from a relatively small manufacturer with high technical content, featuring electric motors driving the axles. In terms of value for money, it significantly outperforms premium brands. People tend to look at the car with curiosity rather than envy or resentment—something that, of course, is more influenced by the owner’s driving behavior than by the car itself.
With these considerations in mind, I purchased what my family simply calls the hybrid. The driving experience is very much like that of an electric car—at low speeds, it feels like a trolleybus, making it highly suitable for both city and suburban driving. Since the car lacks a traditional gearbox and clutch, relying only on switches, it is effortless and quick to drive. The gasoline engine primarily serves as a generator to charge the 12 kWh battery, which smoothly transfers energy to the electric motors, propelling the car forward.
I charge the battery at home, and it takes about 4.5 hours on average. Since it's summer, the air conditioning is running as well, so the pure electric (EV) range is about 35–38 miles in ECO mode.
These are just my initial impressions, but I will return with more insights after putting on more miles and gaining further experience.
After 50,000 Miles
The car is still in excellent condition, and I’ve only had to perform the required maintenance services.One note: although oil changes are recommended every 14,000 miles, due to the frequent cold starts in the PHEV, even the highest-quality oil deteriorates over time and discolors. The only way to address this is by changing the oil more frequently (perhaps every 10,000 miles?).
Overall, I am satisfied with the fuel consumption—it is reasonable for a car of this weight.
The battery performance has remained unchanged over the past three years, though the energy levels and calibration of the cells need occasional monitoring.