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Mitsubishi’s Outlander Plug-In Hybrid is an understated surprise
No one would blame you if you thought Mitsubishi no longer sold cars in the United States. After being a major player in the sport compact segment during the '90s and 2000s, the automaker just sort of faded away from the vehicle zeitgeist. While its profile was almost nonexistent in the United States in the past few years, in Europe, the company's Outlander Plug-In Hybrid (starting at $34,595) has been a huge hit. Now the hybrid SUV is available in the United States, and I got a chance to see what all the hype is about. What I discovered was a vehicle that nearly hits all the checkmarks for an electrified vehicle that surprised me with its comfort and puzzled me with its infotainment system. For every weird decision made by the automaker, thankfully there were two or more features that brought me back around.
Mitsubishi cars get Nokia's Here Traffic road updates in near real time
If you're the sort of driver who needs up-to-the-moment road conditions, you may want to consider a Mitsubishi for your next ride. The automaker's touchscreen-equipped 2014 Lancer and Outlander models in North America can now use Nokia's Here Traffic services, including (almost) real-time congestion alerts, fuel prices and weather. The cars don't need direct internet access; all data goes through HD Radio, which has enough bandwidth to provide updates every 30 seconds. While Here Traffic is only one piece of a full navigation system, it's hard to object to getting more connected car services at relatively little cost.
