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 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.