Weekend adventures with Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
DRIVE
This second-generation flagship boasts the brand’s latest Dynamic Shield styling language, characterized by ultra-slim LED daytime running lights and signature chrome “X”- shaped elements on the front fascia. A slightly larger footprint equals extra interior space, and due to a repackaged higher-capacity battery designers managed to fit a stowable third row in the back to accommodate smaller passengers.
Speaking of the battery, its upgraded 20 kilowatt-hour rating yield 61 kilometres of emissions-free motoring, or together with the lager 56-litre fuel tank gives the compact-size crossover a total travel range of an impressive 687 kilometres (Fun fact: the latter is exactly the distance between Nashville, Tennessee, and Momence, Illinois).
A nice bonus is DC fast-charger support, not usually seen in the segment, meaning topping up to 80 percent takes 38 minutes if plugged into a compatible station. In addition, a nifty vehicle-to-load function allows occupants to connect electronic devices to one of two 120-volt AC outlets powered by the vehicle’s on-board 1,500-watt inverter. For example: recreational equipment or the LED lights and coffee maker used during our overnight excursion.
The powertrain is comprised of a 2.4-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, complemented by a pair of electric motors and a generator, creating 248 horsepower, 332 lb-ft of torque and all-wheel drive. When everything is working in concert, fuel consumption is rated at a thrifty 3.6 Le/100 km in mixed city and highway operation.
The vehicle truly shines while venturing off the beaten path. The company’s lauded Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system distributes torque to each corner as needed providing optimal traction, demonstrated impressively when we took the SUV on rough trails and through thick underbrush in neighbouring Fayetteville. New on the model is rear Active Yaw Control, previously only offered up front, which can individually brake the left or right wheel improving cornering capability. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is sold in five main trims and starts at $46,538.
STAY
EAT
PLAY
No previous experience is necessary, though drivers need to be able to operate a manual transmission. Prices start at $1,425 USD. The track is also available for private rental, and on the 420-acre property also sits a classroom and office, bathrooms and kitchen and a merch shop.
SEE
Inside the galleries, visitors can browse the countless priceless artifacts including stage wear and instruments, personal effects and the famous Gold Record Wall. One of the notable permanent exhibitions is Sing Me Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present exploring the genre’s roots in the nineteenth century through today.
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