2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV now coming in quarter three as Toyota RAV4 hybrid rival gets top safety tick

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will match the top safety rating of its petrol-powered sibling when it eventually hits showrooms later this year.

But the launch of the fuel-sipping eco SUV has ben confirmed for quarter three.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awarded petrol versions the new-generation Outlander a five-star rating in January, but it held back a rating for the plug-in hybrid variant until it could assess additional data from Mitsubishi.

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According to ANCAP, that has now happened and the PHEV is a five-star-rated car.

The crash test watchdog said it conducted additional frontal offset and oblique pole tests to confirm the integrity of the battery and the safety of the electrical systems.

“This is an important rating for fleets and the market more generally. Alternative-powered models and variants are growing in popularity – particularly given the recent rise in fuel prices,” ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg said.

“There are an increasing number of alternative-powered models which hold a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and the Outlander PHEV now adds to that list as a safer and greener choice. Consumers and fleet buyers should not compromise on safety when considering these vehicles.”

Some of the standard safety gear in the Outlander PHEV includes auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, driver attention alert, lane change assist and more.

Timing for the Australian launch of the Outlander PHEV has also pushed out to quarter three this year, after originally being scheduled to arrive in April, then more generally the first half of the year.

Like most manufacturers, Mitsubishi has been impacted by the global semiconductor shortage as well as shipping and other supply chain delays.