Mitsubishi PHEV vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Mitsubishi PHEV carries less risk than the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power: 24/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The Mitsubishi PHEV has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery»; the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)».

Risk index

Mitsubishi PHEV

Low risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 29 October 202616 sources How we work

Is the Mitsubishi PHEV reliable?

Yes, with caveats: the OCU ranks the Outlander PHEV first for reliability among used plug-in hybrids. What is documented are isolated campaigns (spark plugs and software, air flow sensor, fuel hose) and a possible loss of battery capacity, cited by one source and one study without figures. The Eclipse Cross PHEV, which uses the same system, has no documented faults of its own.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 5 of the Mitsubishi PHEV faults

Is the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power reliable?

There is still little reliability data: the three-cylinder 1.5 VC-Turbo only generates electricity and no mechanical faults are known in Europe. The documented weak points are in the e-Power electronics: battery campaigns and isolated cases of immobilisation.^[6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Mitsubishi PHEV and 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Item	Mitsubishi PHEV	1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	1,497 cm³
Timing	Chain	—
Power	163–224 hp	190–213 hp
Production	since 2013^[9][10][11]	since 2022^{[12][13][14][15]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	24Low risk	36Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	4
Of high or critical severity	2	3
Worst severity	High severity	High severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Loss of traction battery (high-voltage) capacity Medium severity: Spark plugs and petrol engine software on the Outlander PHEV (campaign R3033111) High severity: Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery	High severity: Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion) High severity: Fuel line that slips out of its clip and may leak Medium severity: e-Power warning and limited mode due to incorrect state-of-charge reading
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.4 Eclipse Cross PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2021-2024)^[4][5]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 Outlander PHEV (4B11, 12 kWh battery, 2013-2018)^[3][4][16] 2.4 Outlander PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2018-2021)^[1][2][3]	1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 190 hp (Qashqai J12, since 2022)^[6][7][8] 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 204 hp (X-Trail T33, front-wheel drive, since 2022)^[6][12] 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power e-4ORCE 213 hp (X-Trail T33, all-wheel drive, since 2022)^[12][14]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

Mitsubishi PHEV

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Other comparisons

With the Mitsubishi PHEV

With the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, el híbrido enchufable de segunda mano más fiable según la OCUHíbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 14 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Mitsubishi Outlander (II & III) – Bekannte Probleme und MängelGebrauchtwagenberater (Alemania) · Motoring press · published 2 March 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Baterías de híbrido enchufable: cuándo habrá que sustituirlas (Outlander PHEV)Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 May 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
El Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV sí llegará a Europa, incluida España, en 2021Híbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 18 October 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilidad y averías del Nissan Qashqai 3 (2021)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
Nissan Qashqai: richiamo per la batteria del sistema ibridoalVolante · Motoring press · published 4 August 2026 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Italian
Nissanowski SUV z usterką systemu zarządzania akumulatoremAutokatalog.pl · Motoring press · published 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Mitsubishi OutlanderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Mitsubishi 4B1 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Nissan X-Trail - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
Nissan KR engine - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
Nissan X-Trail (T33) - Wikipedia (versión alemana)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
Nissan z novim Qashqaijem uvaja e-Power v EvropiRTV Slovenija · General press · published 19 February 2021 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2013 – 2014): alerta A12/1947/19 (sensor de caudal de aire)car-recalls.eu (alertas Safety Gate / RAPEX) · Other source · published 13 December 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026