Strangely dead forum? New 2023 Mits Owner

Discussion in 'Outlander PHEV' started by Rajiv Vaidyanathan, Apr 5, 2023.

  1. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    After participating in the Honda Clarity PHEV forum (still the best car I've ever owned five years in), I'm surprised to see so little activity on the Mits PHEV forum.

    I just bought the 2023 PHEV and am extremely disappointed. Not at all what I was hoping for and a huge step down from the Clarity (except for the space and AWD which I needed).

    Anyone else a recent 2023 Mits PHEV owner that is willing to share some experiences and help me understand if some of my problems are my unit vs. endemic to the model?
     
  2. insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Maybe you can find experienced and knowledgeable Outlander PHEV owners on this forum. It's too bad Honda decided only China needed a CR-V PHEV.
     
  3. Steven B

    Steven B Active Member

    For those of us still searching for the SUV equivalent of our Clarity, would you care to list your disappointments with the Outlander PHEV. I was eagerly waiting for it to come to the US back in the 2016 timeframe and gave up and got the Clarity as soon as the dealer received their first one. Subsequently, it became clear to me that Mitsu wasn't on the same page as the the bigger Japanese automakers. The latest model was supposed to rival the RAV4 Prime for EV range.
     
  4. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    I still have my Clarity and needed an AWD SUV for the wife (and for those occasional Duluth days when I cannot get out of my sloping driveway.

    PROS (What I like)
    - It's a PHEV. I love the idea of having no range anxiety yet getting a vast majority of my driving done on electric power.
    - It's relatively quiet and comfortable on the highway.
    - It's luxuriously appointed and has a ton of safety features (including blind spot detection that I miss on my Clarity)
    - It has a 3rd row set. Although it is very cramped and not suitable for regular use, it is perfect for us as we have no kids at home. So we have it as an option if ever needed, but its cramped nature does not affect us.
    - DC Fast charging - may not be such a big deal given the relatively short range, but nice to have a quick boost when needed.
    - Quite impressive AWD performance and multiple modes.
    - LOVE the auto dimming headlights and auto-rain-sensing wipers.
    - Got $8900 in discounts and rebates on the lease (which I hope to pay off at the end of my 90-day ownership period)

    CONS (What bothers me)
    - THE BIGGEST ISSUE (related to a few items below): Cannot seem to keep it in EV mode. The EV mode is called "EV Priority" but it just never seems to get prioritized.
    - As soon as I hit "Start" a loud fan turns on (even if I have my HVAC fan turned to its lowest setting). So, even in EV mode, there's a loud fan that sounds like a jet engine. It's even louder outside the vehicle than inside.
    - Engine starts immediately on hitting start. Can't seem to find a way to get going in EV only.
    - Some very high-pitched whining sound immediately on start. I can't hear it too often (old age and plenty of heavy metal music), but my wife is sound-sensitive and it REALLY bothers her. She says it's like driving with a dentist drill going near your ear all the time.
    - Doesn't seem to stay in "Protect" mode with all the safety features turned on. I have to hit a button on the steering wheel each time.
    - Cannot stay in "one-pedal" mode. Have to start it each time. And it's "faux" one-pedal mode - just high regen.
    - Lots of oddities like using the regen paddles on the steering wheel turn off EV priority mode.
    - Pretty lousy gas efficiency in HV mode. I'd guess about 30 mpg.

    There are more, but I don't remember them immediately as I am rarely driving it - my wife does. I'm happy sticking with my 2018 Clarity Base that still drives like a dream. I'll try and update this post as I remember.
     
    Steven B likes this.
  5. DaveD

    DaveD New Member

    My wife still has her 2019 Clarity Touring which has been flawless. I recently put down a deposit on a 23 Outlander PHEV, so I joined the forum mentioned above. There is a simple "trick" to force the EV start and avoid that issue at least (or so I read!) Seems to be a lot of good info over there, but that forum's not too active either...
     
  6. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    Could you please link me to the trick? I'd love to use it.
     
  7. DaveD

    DaveD New Member

    You push the start button first with your foot NOT on the brake, then select EV. Then you push the start button again with your foot on the brake. Using this method apparently it won't start the ICE unless it is very cold. Give it a try!
     
  8. My mother picked up a new Outlander phev last month. No complaints thus far. Ev range has been sufficient for 20-30 miles a day driving.
     
  9. Her experience with the car so far has been great.
     

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