Skip to main content

Honda CR-V vs Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Honda CR-V is the more reliable used buy: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 4.4 percentage points ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV on first-time MOT passes. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (80.7% against 83.8%) because Honda CR-Vs on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 74.1% of the time, against 81.6% for cars the age of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV fleet. That comparison covers 25,448 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Honda CR-V
Pass rate80.7%
Age-matched national74.1%
Difference+6.5
Tests20,016
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Pass rate83.8%
Age-matched national81.6%
Difference+2.1
Tests5,432

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Honda CR-Vs registered 2002–2022 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs registered 2014–2021.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Honda CR-V

Mk5, 2018–2023 (Hybrid) · mid-size family SUV

The Mk5 Honda CR-V (2018–2023) is among the most reliable mid-size SUVs in the UK. The dominant owner-reported issue is oil dilution with fuel on the early 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol, mostly on short cold trips. We found no UK recall or Honda campaign for it in DVSA's recall file, so ask whether any Honda software update or oil-dilution repair was done. The hybrid (e:HEV) is exceptionally low-maintenance. Best-buy years: 2020–2023. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2020/061recall
    The absorption of moisture into the driver's air bag propellant could lead to slow deployment or inflator rupture
    42,435 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers)
    Large recall — 42,435 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2023/357recall
    Battery Cable Contact Short Circuit Problem
    18,733 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 22 October 2018 and 1 July 2022
    Large recall — 18,733 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 1.5 VTEC Turbo fuel-in-oil dilutionmajor
    Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; oil smells of petrol; reduced oil viscosity
    2018–early 2019 (1.5T petrol) · Warranty cover varies by car, so ask a Honda dealer about the exact one; post-warranty oil damage: £800–£2,500 depending on severity
    Check: Dipstick at viewing — oil level should not be above max. Ask the seller whether any Honda software update or oil-dilution repair was carried out, and for the paperwork. Service history should show Honda-stamp servicing with evidence of oil changes at correct intervals. Be wary of cars that sat in short-trip urban use.
  • e:HEV inverter (hybrid models)moderate
    "System Error" or "IMA" warning; reduced power; rare fail-to-start
    2018–2021 hybrid · Under warranty typically (Honda 5-yr hybrid warranty); out of warranty £1,800–£3,200
    Check: Scan for hybrid system codes. EV-mode should engage cleanly at low speeds — if it never enters EV mode, inverter or battery may have faulted.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
1.5T petrol: 31–38 mpg real-world. e:HEV hybrid: 42–49 mpg — significantly better on UK city/suburban use
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Used Honda CR-Vs for saleFull CR-V fault guideUsed Hondas

Also compare:

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

2014–2021 plug-in hybrid · large plug-in hybrid SUV

The early Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has an unusually long DVSA recall record: cars built from late 2013 to March 2016 are inside up to four large recalls, including a parking-brake caliper boot (R/2018/180), an engine ECU relay that could stall the car (R/2018/019) and a fault that can leave the car without drive (R/2017/183). What Car?’s used review (May 2021) ranked it 13th of 14 hybrids in its reliability survey. Mitsubishi’s current terms give the traction battery 8 years or 100,000 miles from the 2016 model year.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2018/180recall
    Parking brake caliper shaft boots incorrectly sealed
    51,154 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 11 September 2012 and 12 April 2016
    Large recall — 51,154 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2018/019recall
    ECU relay may overheat and cause ECU to malfunction
    28,059 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 5 December 2014 and 6 April 2016
    Large recall — 28,059 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Cover — Mitsubishi UK’s warranty and traction-battery termsminor
    Not a fault. Mitsubishi Motors in the UK gives a new car 5 years of cover (24 months unlimited mileage, then 62,500 miles to month 60) from first registration, and its current warranty manual adds 8 years or 100,000 miles on the Outlander PHEV’s main traction battery from the 2016 model year. The 12-volt battery has 3 years.
    All; the terms depend on the model year and registration date
    Check: Mitsubishi says cover depends on the model year, the date and type of registration, so ask a Mitsubishi dealer for this VIN rather than assuming eight years. A 2014 or early 2015 car was sold under earlier terms: What Car? says the standard warranty was three years until Mitsubishi raised it to five in 2015.
  • Battery range display, charging flap and warning beepsminor
    What Car? says some owners noticed the battery range on the display seemingly fall over time, which Mitsubishi puts down to the car learning how it is driven and adapting the predicted range; that the large flap over the charging sockets has been known to bend or lose clips; and that the car makes an unusual number of warning beeps and some owners had Bluetooth problems with iPhones.
    2014–2021 Outlander PHEV
    Check: Fully charge the car and compare the range shown with the seller’s claim, close the charging flap several times, and pair your own phone.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
No sourced real-world figure. What matters on a plug-in hybrid is the electric range on a full charge and the economy once the battery is flat; read both on the car you are looking at.
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2018, 2019
Years to avoid:
2014, 2015
Used Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs for saleFull Outlander PHEV fault guideUsed Mitsubishis

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Honda CR-V

Good for: Families wanting reliable Japanese quality in an SUV package. e:HEV hybrid is the pick for urban and suburban commuting — no plug needed, excellent real-world economy. Buyers with good service history documentation.

Less good for: Buyers tempted by early 1.5T examples with no oil-change history; short-trip-only drivers on the 1.5T petrol; hybrid buyers needing 7 seats (seven seats were offered only on the 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol; the hybrid is five-seat).

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Good for: Buyers who want a large plug-in hybrid SUV and will check the recall record, particularly on a 2014–2016 car, and the battery cover for the exact VIN.

Less good for: Anyone buying a 2014–2015 car without the dealer record for the parking-brake, ECU-relay and hybrid-system recalls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda CR-V or the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV?
The Honda CR-V. Measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 4.4 percentage points ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV on first-time MOT passes, across 25,448 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (80.7% against 83.8%) because Honda CR-Vs on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 74.1% of the time, against 81.6% for cars the age of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV fleet. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Honda CR-V and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV compare?
80.7% of Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT first time (20,016 tests in DVSA's records) and 83.8% of Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs pass their MOT first time (5,432 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Honda CR-V's age average 74.1% and cars of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's age 81.6% — so the Honda CR-V runs 6.5 points better than its age group and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV runs 2.1 points better than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should I avoid?
Honda CR-V: Early 2018–2019 1.5 VTEC Turbo engines reported fuel mixing into the engine oil in cold-weather short-trip driving patterns — exactly how many UK commuters use their cars. Oil level would rise above max and engine longevity was compromised in severe cases. We found no UK recall or Honda campaign for it, so a car's oil history matters more than its year: the problem can go undetected for months. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2018 and 2019 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a CR-V by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Cars built from 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2016 are in the parking-brake caliper boot recall R/2018/180, and those built from 5 December 2014 to 31 March 2016 in the engine ECU relay recall R/2018/019. Builds from 6 May 2015 are also in the door-latch recall R/2018/021, and builds to 1 June 2015 in R/2017/183, where the engine may not start to charge the battery. DVSA’s MOT table rates 2014 and 2015 registrations level with all cars registered those years, so the case rests on the recall dates.
Is the Honda CR-V or the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine, and for a plug-in or electric version on whether you can charge at home. Honda CR-V: 1.5T petrol: 31–38 mpg real-world. e:HEV hybrid: 42–49 mpg — significantly better on UK city/suburban use. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: No sourced real-world figure. What matters on a plug-in hybrid is the electric range on a full charge and the economy once the battery is flat; read both on the car you are looking at. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Honda CR-V or Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.