I think the Series Hybrid mode that Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has is very interesting. I think they could very efficiently run a car in Series Mode using propane to power the motor and have very respectable mileage.
You do have a point--that with only 5 seats, there is not a lot of passenger hauling difference (plug in minivan, anyone?)--but I think the real difference they're shooting for with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is having an all-wheel drive SUV that's capable of off-roading or 4-wheeling while...
It does seem essential to have a resistive heater to heat the car otherwise you would lose all the benefits of having a plug-in hybrid in the winter months. I have looked to see what kind of heater the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has, but have been unable to find the answer to this question.
$34,000 is not a bad starting price for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. It would be one of the cheaper plug-in hybrids, as well as being the only SUV on the market.
It sounds like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a fairly standard ABS anti-lock brake system. I would be curious to know if it has predictive anti-lock technology.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is on sale in Japan and this article talks about the fuel efficiency based on their numbers. They said the 148 mpg will likely be around 80 mpg by US standards.
http://insideevs.com/mitsubishi-outlander-phev-on-sale-in-japan-today-extended-promotional-video-released/
Yeah, it definitely helps if the seat belts are pretensioned so you do not lunge forward before the belt catches you. This is certainly a good safety feature to have on the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
There is more about the RISE technology used in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV at the following Wikipedia article.
RISE is a monocoque body system that combines an energy-absorbing front and rear section with a strong, rigid occupant cell to provide protection in the event of an accident. It...
Although a 10 year / 100,000 mile warranty is great, I think the mileage would run out before the time period. Using an average of 12,500 miles per year, you're looking at 8 years when the warranty would be over on the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.