Often we overlook the opinions of the country that Japanese used cars were made for, the Japanese domestic market. Here we look at some Japanese reviews of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug in)
Japanese reviews:
Overall Evaluation 5/5
Driving performance 5/5
Fuel efficiency 5/5
Design 3/5
Price 3/5
Overall assesment:
M-grade with a vehicle weight of 2010kg and 18-inch tires! With the current model, the AYC (Active Yaw Control) operates on both front and rear tires, making it a winner! It also has good fuel efficiency, making it a really great car!
Points of Satisfaction
The thick 18-inch tires excel in ride comfort, surpassing the 20-inch tires in terms of a good ride experience. Compared to the P-grade, the M-grade is 100kg lighter due to its vehicle weight of 2010kg. By removing the rear seats, registering it for two passengers, and replacing the front seats with semi-bucket seats, it easily falls below 2000kg. This allows for cheaper vehicle weight tax from the next vehicle inspection!
The steering is light and comfortable, absolutely fantastic.
The car combines excellent power performance and long-distance comfort, making it perfect for snowy drifts.
From this current model, it is equipped with a lock mechanism to prevent unauthorized removal of the charging cable for regular charging, providing peace of mind.
Negative Feedback
The OEM seats are targeted towards foreigners and not designed for Japanese people. It is difficult to have a clear view of the front.
The regenerative braking that engages from speeds below 1 km/h to complete stops is very unpleasant and uncomfortable. It produces a jerky sensation that is displeasing. This issue may apply to AT vehicles in general.
Even though it doesn’t exist in this model, a manual transmission is still preferable.
The functionality of the seat moving excessively with the main power button’s on/off function is extremely uncomfortable and pointless. Electric seats or unnecessary features should be eliminated to lower the price. Mitsubishi should stop adding useless and unnecessary equipment that raises the price.
The shift pattern is difficult to engage in neutral, especially for average drivers who might not use it often. The long-press setting is dangerous and should be discontinued by Mitsubishi. It can be risky in certain situations, such as when there are time constraints or when trying to quickly shift into neutral. It can result in accidentally shifting into reverse. It may be difficult for regular people to understand this situation.
When the engine is running in CHARGE mode to recover electrical power, there is a strange and unpleasant smell around the engine area. It would be preferable to address this issue.
Design.
Facial appearance is mediocre, but the rear resembles an Audi, which is a favorite feature!
Driving performance
From this current model, the Active Yaw Control (AYC) operates on both front and rear tires, resulting in excellent performance.
It is fantastic that the engine starts up smoothly and effortlessly.
During U-turns, the car rotates like a front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) vehicle, which is exhilarating.
Ride Comfort
The thick 18-inch tires provide superior ride comfort, surpassing the experience offered by 20-inch tires. The car’s suspension system is designed to absorb road imperfections and provide a smooth and pleasant ride.
Cargo Capacity
Removing the rear seats and storing them at home can be advantageous. By laying down a board and a mat, you can create a spacious cargo area with ample capacity for transporting large items.
2nd hand prices in the auctions range from 2 million to 2.7 million at the time of this writing for a 2020 vehicle GG3W chassis. Not bad price considering a new one is nearly twice the price.
