Mastering Your Outlander PHEV: A Quebec Driver's Guide to Drive Modes and Charging

Stepping into a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially with all the buttons, modes, and charging options. The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV makes this transition easier with intuitive controls and clear information displays, but understanding when to use each feature will help you get the most from your investment.

This guide breaks down the drive modes, charging levels, and power management features in simple terms. Whether you're commuting from Saint-Hubert to downtown Montreal or planning a weekend trip to the Laurentians, you'll learn how to optimize your Outlander PHEV for Quebec driving conditions.

Understanding the Three Core Operating Modes

Your Outlander PHEV automatically switches between three main operating modes based on driving conditions and battery charge level:

EV Drive Mode

Uses the lithium-ion drive battery to power the electric motors for a quiet, clean and powerful drive with zero fuel consumption and zero CO tailpipe emissions. This mode is ideal for city driving, stop-and-go traffic, and short commutes.

Series Hybrid Mode

Uses engine-generated electricity to power the electric motors. This provides an additional boost when more power is needed, including when driving uphill and accelerating. The gasoline engine acts as a generator rather than directly powering the wheels.

Parallel Hybrid Mode

Employs the engine to power the front wheels, with assistance from the electric motors when extra power is needed. Excess energy is used to charge the lithium-ion battery when driving in this mode. This typically happens during highway cruising.

Seven Driver-Selectable Modes for Every Situation

Beyond the automatic operating modes, you can manually select from seven drive modes using the dial selector:

• ECO Mode: Improves efficiency of the gasoline engine and S-AWC to support fuel efficient driving. Best for maximizing range during longer trips.
• NORMAL Mode: Offers well-balanced all-wheel drive dynamics, resulting in enhanced fuel efficiency, traction, high-speed stability and predictable handling across a variety of road conditions.
• TARMAC Mode: Provides enhanced agility and heightened performance when travelling on dry, paved roads. Perfect for Highway 40 between Montreal and Trois-Rivières.
• SNOW Mode: Provides improved traction and stability specifically for light-to-medium snow-covered or slippery roads. Essential for Quebec winters.
• MUD Mode: Enhances performance when driving through muddy or deep snow conditions, especially when accelerating and turning from a stopped position.
• GRAVEL Mode: Delivers maximum traction on coarser roads or rough off-road terrain. Ideal for cottage roads in the Eastern Townships.
• POWER Mode: Maximizes acceleration performance to enhance responsiveness during situations where more torque is required, such as passing on the highway.

Advanced Power Management Options

The Outlander PHEV offers three additional power management modes for experienced users:

EV Priority Mode

Prioritizes electric-only driving in lower speed urban driving situations like stop-and-go traffic. Use this mode when driving through downtown areas or residential neighbourhoods to enjoy the benefits of efficient and environmentally friendly EV driving.

Charge Mode

Recharges the drive battery using the gas engine as a generator when the battery state-of-charge is low. This is useful when you know you'll need electric power later in your trip.

Save Mode

Saves your drive battery's state-of-charge at its current level and drives using the gasoline engine instead. This mode is best when you anticipate situations later in your drive where EV driving is more efficient, such as running local errands in stop-and-go traffic around town.

Charging in Quebec: Your Options

The Outlander PHEV supports three charging levels, giving you flexibility for different situations:

Level 1 Charging (120V)

Using the included 120V 12A cable, you can charge from any standard household outlet. Charging time is approximately 16.0 hours for a full charge. This works well for overnight charging at home.

Level 2 Charging (240V)

Most public charging in Quebec uses Level 2 stations. With a 240V/15A EVSE, charging time is approximately 6.5 hours. Circuit Électrique operates more than 50% of Level 2 charging stations across the province.

Cost: Level 2 public charging typically costs between $0 and $5 per hour, according to Quebec government data. If you have a home charging station, you can estimate an additional $300 to $400 per year on your electricity bill for charging.

DC Fast Charging (CHAdeMO)

The Outlander PHEV includes DC Quick Charge Port capability - uncommon among plug-in hybrids. You can recharge to 80% capacity in approximately 38 minutes using fast-charging stations.

Cost: Fast charging in Quebec typically costs between $15 and $30 per session. Circuit Électrique rates range from $0.36 to $0.60 per kWh depending on station wattage.

Government Incentives for Quebec Buyers

The Roulez vert program offers financial assistance for PHEV purchases, though amounts have been reduced for 2025:

• 2025 Registration: $2,000 for plug-in hybrids with 15 kWh and more battery capacity
• Program End: December 31, 2026

Regenerative Braking Features

The Outlander PHEV includes two systems to recapture energy while driving:

Paddle Shifters: Adjust the regenerative brake level position, determining energy recapture amount and deceleration strength when lifting off the accelerator.

Innovative Pedal: Allows one-pedal driving where acceleration and deceleration are controlled by the accelerator pedal alone. When decelerating, regenerative and friction brakes work together to recapture energy and slow the vehicle to almost a complete stop.

Planning Your Drives

With an estimated 61 km of electric-only range, the Outlander PHEV handles most daily Quebec commutes on battery power alone. For longer trips, the combination of electric motors and 2.4L engine provides a total range that eliminates range anxiety.

The 12.3" Full Digital Driver Display shows speed, navigation, safety data, S-AWC settings, battery state-of-charge, total range, and EV modes in high resolution, giving you all the information needed to manage your drive efficiently.

Ready to experience plug-in hybrid technology for yourself? Schedule a demonstration drive at Action Mitsubishi in Saint-Hubert, where our team can walk you through each feature and help you discover how the Outlander PHEV fits your Quebec lifestyle.