Hybrid or PHEV towcar

We will be interested in your thoughts on this. As I see it the economy possible is only on short journeys up to about 30 mph and after that it is just another car as far as economy is concerned. A bit of real life experience will be interesting and it might be something the magazine should be looking at if it can find enough members with them to give long term results.

We have taken note of the diesel controversy and wondered if they may become worthless in the future just when we need to move it on so took a petrol, but there was very little choice as many makes seem to have dropped decent sized ones from larger cars.

I tow my Bailey Pegasus GT65 (1472kg)with a PHEV and I love it.  I have a 30 mile commute each way to work and can charge there so its saving me a loads of money each month.  I can get to work on 98-100% EV in the summer, my best month being 1 fill up averaging 178mpg.  I'm also really pleased with it when towing.  I had a diesel CRV before - which struggled somewhat with the Pegasus. The PHEV is a much better match and a much easier drive... The real test was last year when we took the caravan to Bordeaux... yes, I had to fill up 3 times on the way down, but consumption was no worse than the CRV - at around 20-25mpg.  Just take it steady on ACC at the spead limit.  Very comfortable and although I was a little apprehensive at the start as to what would happen when I ran out of charge, the car proved to be extremely capable.   I love it - and I charge on site, with permission of course!!

I`ll be interested to see in the future what resale value these cars will achieve when the cost of replacing batteries becomes more evident. I see Teslar are currently guaranteeing batteries for eight years to offset this problem (appreciate these are fully electric).

The Mitsubishi also has an 8 year guarantee on the batteries, and I believe each cell can be swapped out, so its not necessary to replace the whole thing.

The towing limit is 1500kg which is the loaded caravan but if you remove heavy items (awning.chairs etc) out of the van and into the car how does it affect the towing performance, also my van tows far better loaded for holidays than it does empty as when taking for service so if you lighten the van and add weight to the car is the towing stability compromised. Because of the low towing capacity some people could be tempted to lighten the van to be within the tow limit but overload the car due to the large cargo area to be within the limit.

Clare is that the Mitsubishi PHEV?  (maybe there aren't others?)

We considered a Mitsubishi PHEV but the rock like seats made it impossible.  My back would be miserable after ten miles.  We got a Nissan X-Trail 2 litre instead through the Club/Nissan offer.  Still awaiting the free tow bar so no towing yet.

Well, I promised feedback and here it is!

We have just returned from a 4.5 week holiday touring Spain and Portugal towing our 2017 Lunar Clubman SB (1470 kg) with our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV covering a total of about 3500 miles during that time.

The first thing to say is that, due to the low amperage limits on almost all the sites we stayed at, we ended up spending most of our time (and money) operating on petrol - particularly onerous in Portugal as their government have a different tax regime than we had become used to - €1.59 per litre!)

In terms of pure towing, the car was a dream - no problems with side winds or large vehicles passing; braking (when necessary - regenerative braking makes you drive differently!) faultless; noise acceptable, even with windows open to save depleting the battery with A/C

Economy wise - 22.9 mpg took some adjusting to after the 35 of my previous  diesel towcar and the Mitsubishi has quite a small fuel tank so needs to be filled more often (an issue on Palm Sunday in central Spain....!!). However, talking to owners of more recognised brands of towcars, that was seen as "acceptable"

Comfort was not an issue - we did a couple of 300-325 mile runs using cruise control set to 50 mph and arrived feeling OK. By the way, our miniature schnauzer loved the whole back seat to herself!

Disadvantages were mainly experienced on the long, reasonably steep climbs from the north coast up on to the central plain. As previously stated, we tended to run at 50 mph on the cruise control (we're retired and happy to let life pass us by!). However, imagine my surprise when, on one particularly steep bit, the dash showed an image of a tortoise with the words "Propulsion power is reduced" showing below it! Soon followed by the cruise control cutting out!

Turns out that

a) it's all in the handbook (even Mitsubishi dealers say it's unuseable!)

b) when your speed drops below 10 mph below the set ctuise speed, cruise control disengages!

Did we have a great holiday - you bet!

Would I go again with the same set up - Yes, I think I would

Back home, I haven't used any petrol for nearly 2 weeks (and no, I haven't stayed in!)

Hope for technology improvements but, for now, feel I'm as green as I can be (most of the time)

Currently own a Honda CR-V (2.2 diesel) but hoping to change it for a hybrid with our next (granted, second hand) purchase. 

Great review djwake, thanks for taking the time to do this.

I am tempted by a PHEV, as we only do 8,500 miles a year, mostly local journeys, making it a greener SUV for "non-van" times - which equates to about 6/7 of a year. 

My current way of thinking is to wait three or four years until I can afford the new XC60 hybrid, (hopefully they'll be around £18-20k in three or four years time).

We have had the turtle a few times now too. Its always after or during, periods of sustained high power output, going up long steep hills for example.