2020 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid vs gas: is the plug-in worth it?
PHEV SEL 4WD vs SEL 4WD
No. Does not pay back in 6 years.
28.4years to pay back
- Plug-in: $6,800 more. Saves $240 a year.
- Break-even: 340,400 miles.
- 12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents a kWh. Plug-ins: 50% of miles on electricity.
Every plug-in pair
| Pair | MSRP | Rating | Energy a year | Price gap | Saves a year | Payback | Ahead after 6 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHEV SEL 4WD SEL 4WD | $36,295 $29,495 | 25 mpg, 46 kWh/100 mi 26 mpg | $1,237 $1,477 | $6,800 | $240 | 28.4 years | Gas, $5,362 |
| Plug-in Hybrid SEL S-AWC ES 2WD | $36,295 $24,895 | 25 mpg, 46 kWh/100 mi 27 mpg | $1,237 $1,422 | $11,400 | $185 | 61.6 years | Gas, $10,290 |
| PHEV GT 4WD GT 4WD | $41,695 $33,745 | 25 mpg, 46 kWh/100 mi 22 mpg | $1,237 $1,745 | $7,950 | $508 | 15.6 years | Gas, $4,901 |
| Plug-in Hybrid GT S-AWC ES 2WD | $41,695 $24,895 | 25 mpg, 46 kWh/100 mi 27 mpg | $1,237 $1,422 | $16,800 | $185 | 90.8 years | Gas, $15,690 |
What changes the answer
- Gas price for a 6-year payback: $7.23.
- Miles a year for a 6-year payback: 56,700.
What you give up
| Measure | Plug-in | Gas | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 117 hp | 166 hp | -49 hp |
| Torque | 137 lb-ft | 162 lb-ft | -25 lb-ft |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 1,500 lb | about the same |
| Cargo, seats up | 30.4 cu ft | 10.3 cu ft | +20.1 cu ft |
| Cargo, seats down | 66.6 cu ft | 63.3 cu ft | +3.3 cu ft |
| Curb weight | 4,222 lb | 3,472 lb | +750 lb |
What this cannot tell you
Incentives, insurance, upkeep and resale are not included.
Your own mpg will differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree