Judges' Special Award - Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hs

In the past, the Towcar of the Year judging panel has presented a Special Award to recognise an innovative new model. And this year, it was unanimously decided that the award should go to Mitsubishi for its Outlander PHEV.

It’s the only manufacturer to enter a plug-in hybrid into the competition. And as these hi-tech cars become more sophisticated, we’re sure it won’t be alone next year. 

Although the Outlander PHEV won’t suit everyone, it does an admirable job of towing, with four-wheel drive ensuring it feels safe and secure. This helped to make up for the old-fashioned CVT auto gearbox and noisy 2.0-litre engine. 

When you’re not hooked up to a caravan, an electric range of 30 miles and low emissions make it a cost-effective family car. It’s also roomy, well equipped and refined – and we’re running a PHEV on our fleet, so follow our regular reports to see what it’s really like to live with.