Mitsubishi Motors UK has hit back at Which? following a report it published suggesting that official mpg figures of the Outlander PHEV are misleading.

The report, as published in AM here, showed the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2014 onwards) at the top of its list of cars that miss their mpg by the most, detailing its claimed figure of 148, and its tested figure of 67.3.

The Japanese manufacturer states that the official New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) figure for the Outlander PHEV is 148mpg. However, with average UK daily commuting distances the vehicle can achieve considerably more than this. Longer journeys may reduce this figure but the Outlander PHEV will still return impressive economy. It said the 67.3mpg suggested by Which? is still good for a large 4x4 SUV like Outlander.

Managing director of Mitsubishi Motors UK Lance Bradley said: “The current test regime for emissions and fuel consumption is outdated and does the industry no favours but the suggestion that we in some way are misleading car buyers is well wide of the mark and irresponsible.”

Mitsubishi Motors UK claims that it has always made real life mpg very clear in its advertising and printed material. At the Outlander PHEV’s launch, several top motoring magazines all reported on the ‘refreshing honesty’ with which the company had presented its real life mpg expectations.

The Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid (2012-) came second in the list, with a claimed mpg of 155.2, and its tested mpg coming in at 80.7.

To measure a car’s official fuel consumption, manufacturers are required to use the NEDC test, which was created in the 1970's, and to display the results from this test on all technical and marketing materials.