Why Australians are buying these hybrids

Australians are waking up to the potential of plug-in hybrids according to new research.

Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV) owners drive in EV mode 81 per cent of the time, reducing running costs and infrastructure anxiety, according to Mitsubishi Australia.

The claim is based on a new survey commissioned by Mitsubishi Australia and carried out by independent researcher Platform One, who interviewed 800 owners of the Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEV models to reveal how owners use their PHEV vehicles.

Overwhelmingly, the brand said, owners were predominantly using their PHEVs in the most efficient and least polluting drive mode, with the study also finding that 75 per cent of Eclipse Cross PHEV owners used their cars in EV mode.

The results of the study are at odds with a similar survey conducted in Europe in 2022 by The International Council on Clean Transportation which claimed that the electric-only drive share of PHEV vehicles was only 45 per cent to 49 per cent of total drive time.

 

Mitsubishi maintains on its global website that EV mode is designed for everyday use, such as driving to the shops and commuting to work, while hybrid usage is designed for longer road trips where electric charging infrastructure may not be available.

Unlike battery electric vehicles, PHEVs carry an internal combustion engine (ICE) in addition to a single electric motor and battery, giving drivers the option of driving in pure-electric, hybrid (electric and ICE) or ICE modes.

Pure electric range on the Mitsubishi Outlander is claimed at up to 84km, while total range is claimed to exceed 800km. The Eclipse Cross’ electric driving range dips to a claimed 54km, while Mitsubishi doesn’t quote a figure for full hybrid range.

Charge time for both vehicles at home through a regular AC wall socket is estimated to be between six to six and a half hours.

2025 Ford Ranger Stormtrak Plug-in Hybrid

Mitsubishi's findings come off the back of a surge in demand for PHEV vehicles amongst Australian buyers, and could suggest the tide is turning on a technology many considered redundant just a few years ago.

As of August this year, PHEV vehicles made up 13,076 sales in Australia, an increase of about 127.4 per cent and translating to roughly 1.6 per cent of new car sales.

Mitsubishi is leading the charge on PHEV vehicles, with the Outlander and Eclipse Cross representing a 43 per cent market share of the entire PHEV market, edging out rivals such as BYD Sealion 6 and Mazda CX-60.

Mitsubishi has sold 18,741 Outlanders so far this year, with PHEVs making up 20 per cent of total sales. The brand has sold 6624 examples of the Eclipse Cross, 27 per cent of which have been PHEV.

The brand has already confirmed that a plug-in hybrid powertrain will power the next generation of Triton utes, with Mitsubishi confirming to CarsGuide last year that the technology is already in development.

It will join Ford, who previewed its new Ranger PHEV this week, which is set for an arrival date of 2026. The BYD Shark, which is expected to arrive later this year, will debut Australia’s first ute with PHEV technology.