2022 Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vs 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

PHEV technology has gone from strength to strength over the years. In its present state, it is at a minimal compared to its combustion engine counterparts, and often even outperforms them. As this technology continues to play a bigger and bigger role in the industry, it comes as no surprise that a range of different manufacturers are throwing their hats in the ring to grab a slice of this ever-increasing market.

A particularly competitive segment in the market in New Zealand is 7 seater SUVs. The versatility of these vehicles have always made them a popular choice among Kiwis, and the addition of PHEV technology is further icing on the cake. Two of the latest 7 seater PHEV SUVs to enter this category are the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid.

In this blog, we give a side-by-side analysis of each of these PHEVs to help you gain a better understanding of which one is best suited to your lifestyle.

Variants

There are three different variants of the Next Gen Outlander PHEV, the LS, XLS and VRX. Of the three variants, the XLS and VRX are both 7-seater models.  The Kia Sorento is available in 4 different variants, with the AWD EX variant featuring PHEV technology.

Engine

All variants of the Next Gen Outlander PHEV feature a  2.4L DOHC MIVEC Petrol that utilises Mitsubishi's Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC), a proven system for providing great power, response, and efficiency that works well to ensure that you're getting the most out of the Outlander PHEV's electric vehicle technology.

The Kia Sorento PHEV has a smaller engine than the Outlander's, housing a 1.6L-T GDI Petrol Turbocharged engine. Even given the smaller size, the Sorento PHEV still has a nice punch to it, with the PHEV variant of the Sorento having the highest power output of the latest Sorento range.

The PHEV Technology

While the engines of both vehicles play an important role in the vehicle, people are interested in PHEVs for one main reason, the electrical vehicle technology. For the vast majority of people looking to buy a PHEV, their main intention is to make full use of their drive battery to save on fuel and lower their emissions.

Both vehicles have impressive specs in this department, but as with the size of the engine, the Outlander PHEV brings a little more to the table. The Outlander PHEV features a 20kWh lithium-ion battery, one of the biggest that can be found in a medium sized SUV PHEV. This powers 2x permanent  magnet synchronous electric motors, one at each of the vehicle's axles, allowing the Outlander to take advantage of Mitsubishi's Super-All Wheel Control. The max power from the electric motors is front/rear 85kW / 100kW and produces a max torque of front/rear 255 Nm / 195 Nm.

In a similar vein to the engine size, the Sorento's PHEV system is toned down when compared to the Outlander's. Don't get us wrong though, the Sorento's performance is still impressive! It has a 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery and unlike the Outlander, the Sorento only has a single electric motor. However this motor puts in the work with a max power and torque rating of 66kW/304 Nm.

EV Range, Combined Range and Fuel Economy.

Range is always an important consideration when purchasing a vehicle, and this is especially true for PHEVs.

Given the size difference between the two vehicles' batteries, it should come as no surprise that the Outlander PHEV has a significant advantage in its driving range over the Sorento PHEV. In EV mode, a mode that relies purely on the battery and no fuel to power the vehicle, the Outlander PHEV can travel up to 84km - more than enough to meet the daily commuting needs of the average Kiwi. In comparison, Sorento's smaller battery has an EV range of 57km. While that's quite a difference, it should still be noted that this too is more than enough for most New Zealanders to be able to rely on the Sorento PHEV as their daily driver without the need to tap into their petrol tank.

For longer journeys, both vehicles can tap into the power of their combustion engines to run them in parallel with their electric motor/s to extend the range of the vehicle, or to add an extra boost of power. While once again the Outlander PHEV has the advantage over the Sorento PHEV, the difference is less than you might expect. The Mitsubishi PHEV has a combined range of around 800km, with the Kia PHEV hot on its heels with approximately 740km.

Given the bigger engine found in the Next Gen Outlander PHEV, the Kia Sorento provides better fuel economy. It boasts an impressive 1.0L / 100km. The Outlander PHEV in comparison provides a fuel economy of 1.6L / 100km, which is still leagues ahead of any of its comparable combustion counterparts.

Emissions

Both vehicles are doing their part in lowering your carbon footprint quite significantly, with their emissions being neck and neck at 35g / km and 34.9g / km for the Outlander PHEV and Sorento PHEV respectively.

Warranty

In regards to new vehicle warranties, there's no beating Mitusbishi's Diamond Advantage. It is the most extensive new car warranty available in New Zealand  offering a 10 year / 160,000km powertrain warranty. This warranty has also been extended to cover the latest PHEV technology, with the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV also having an 8 year warranty specific to the lithium-ion battery.

The Sorento PHEV comes with Kia's standard 5 year / 100,00km warranty. In addition to this it also comes with a 7 year warranty specific to its battery pack.

Final Thoughts

There's no doubt that both the Next Gen Outlander PHEV and Sorento PHEV are two of the most impressive plug-in hybrid SUVs on the market. But if we had to choose one, our money would be on the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander (all biases aside of course!). It has a larger battery, longer range and comes with an industry leading warranty.  But at the end of the day, the best vehicle for you is the one that meets your specific needs and budget the best. Both of these vehicles are sure to do just that!

Simon Lucas Motors Are Auckland's Leading Experts on Mitsubishi PHEVs

Simon Lucas Motors is Auckland's leading expert on Mitsubishi PHEVs. If you're in the market for a new Outlander PHEV or any other Mitsubishi vehicle, be sure to get in touch with us today! We would love to help you find your perfect match. So swing by our North Shore showroom, or contact us today to book a test drive.