Our fleet: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hs - November 2014

Six months of using the Outlander PHEV have gone by rather quickly, and perhaps this is testament to how easy it is to live with as well as a good indicator of why the car is selling so well.

We’ve reported previously that the Outlander PHEV is currently king of plug-in car sales, with a combination of good all-round practicality, affordable pricing and very low BIK tax liability make a truly compelling case for a company car that has also to meet the needs of a family when used for private mileage.

One aspect of ‘ownership’ that has been very slightly disappointing is the relatively small fuel tank size.

Accommodating the EV components has meant a reduction of 18 litres compared with a diesel Outlander, so the couple of times a month I’ve had to make a long journey, I’ve often found myself looking for a filling station as well as EV charging point.

I know the latter is not strictly necessary as it runs on petrol quite happily, but it’s surprising how quickly it will burn through a tank on the motorway if you haven’t set off with it brimmed.

It typically achieves around 40-45mpg at a constant 70mph, when the diesel Outlander would be achieving closer to 50mpg and have an extra four gallons after filling up.

Of course the PHEV powertrain is optimised in urban use, and this is where the Outlander is at its best. A high driving position giving excellent visibility, a comfortable cabin and the ability to travel in silence have all been welcome during the last six months.

The Outlander PHEV is a great vehicle to promote the benefits of plug-in cars and of those currently available it presents perhaps the fewest compromises for buyers, particularly on purchase costs.