Mitsubishi and Renault advance plug-in hybrid SUV offerings

The European plug-in hybrid SUV market features new developments from Mitsubishi and Renault. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV offers 306 hp through a combination of a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors. While it provides an electric range of approximately 86 km and all-wheel drive, its use of the CHAdeMO charging standard may present challenges for users in Europe where the standard is becoming less common.

Meanwhile, the Renault Rafale, enhanced by the Alpine performance brand, utilizes a “hyper hybrid” powertrain. This system combines a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with three electric motors to reach a total output of 300 hp. The vehicle features all-wheel drive, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 180 km/h.