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A few months ago Mitsubishi announced that they would (finally) be bringing the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a crossover PHEV) to the United States, but they won’t have long before competition steps in. Kia Motors recently announced they would be adding a PHEV model, the Kia Niro Plug-in to the Kia Niro lineup, and it looks like a great vehicle.
The Niro Plug-in is a successor of the Kia Niro, a hybrid SUV, that debuted in 2017 and Kia expects the new model to be available sometime in 2018. As a PHEV, the Niro Plug-in is equipped with an internal combustion engine (1.6L I-4 engine), as well as an electric motor that is powered by a 8.9 kWh lithium-ion battery. Together, the motor and battery give the Kia Niro PHEV a total driving distance of 26 miles on a single charge!
There are several similarities between the two crossover PHEVs. Both vehicles are five-passenger vehicles that offer consumers great space for passengers, cargo and comfortable cabins. Additionally, they are both backed by the same industry-leading warranty that include a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited PHEV warranty, which includes the battery.
First of all, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is unique because it is the only plug-in hybrid electric crossover on the market that comes standard with all-wheel-drive, and that’s a great perk for some drivers. The Kia Niro will only be available as a front-wheel-drive vehicle.
When it comes to fuel economy, the Kia Niro Plug-in is more fuel efficient than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. While there isn’t a significant difference between the electric distance of both vehicles (Mitsubishi Outlander has an electric driving range of 22 miles and the Kia Niro Plug-in has an electric driving range of 26 miles), the Kia Niro Plug-in has a better city/highway combined hybrid fuel economy and total driving distance than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The Kia Niro Plug-in has a combined city/highway hybrid fuel economy of 105 MPGe and a total distance with a full tank of gas and fully charged battery of 566 miles, whereas the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a combined city/highway hybrid fuel economy of 74 MPGe and a total driving range with a fuel tank of gas and fully charged battery of 310 miles.
The charging times for both PHEV crossovers is fairly similar, but the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a slight advantage. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is available with a CHAdeMO DC Fast Charge port and that port gives the Outlander PHEV an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Without the DC Fast Charge, the Outlander PHEV can be fully recharged with a 120-volt outlet in eight hours and about 3.5 hours with a 240-volt outlet. The Kia Niro Plug-in is not available with a Dc Fast Charge port and with a 120-volt outlet, the Niro Plug-in is recharged in less than nine hours and with a 240-volt outlet the Niro Plug-In is recharged in 2.5 hours.
Which crossover PHEV do you prefer? Are you looking for a more fuel efficient vehicle that can also handle any type of terrain? Or is your focus just on fuel economy? NowCar has a variety of fuel efficient vehicles including PHEVs, EVs and hybrids, so reach out to us if there is anything we can do to help you on your search!