MITSUBISHI'S Outlander PHEV has been a huge success in the UK and Europe.

The petrol plug-in hybrid clocked-up 10,000 UK sales in its first year alone and now more than 100,000 have been sold across the continent.

In the same way that the Nissan Qashqai became to the definitive crossover, the Outlander PHEV has managed to become the go-to plug-in hybrid vehicle of choice.

Launched in 2014 it's an SUV which offers super low emissions and running costs.

Looking like a regular SUV, characterised by Mitsubishi's familiar boxy but classic design blueprint, it combines a petrol engine and electric power and has a battery which can be charged from a normal domestic socket or a rapid charger.

It's powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine assisted by two 60kW motors.

It doesn't quite have the blistering all-electric pace of something like a Tesla Model S but still feels suitably sprightly in electric mode.

It'll take you from 0-62mph in 11 seconds and has a top speed of 106mph.

Officially the combined fuel economy is 166.2mpg with carbon emissions of 41g/km, though that would be if you only use the electric motor.

If you only want to use electric power the Outlander PHEV is essentially designed for short commutes.

Fully charged it has a range of 33 miles, meaning if you were staying within that daily mileage and charging it by night your petrol tank could theoretically remain permanently full.

While there are no doubt some owners who could operate that way the likelihood is you'll be using both petrol and battery power sources.

Also, it's worth noting if you drive it hard that 33-mile range may drop and even using the heating or air conditioning has a noticeable impact on the distance it can travel on pure electric power.

However the Outlander PHEV's batteries can also be charged on the go, either via the engine or through regenerative braking.

After undergoing a fairly extensive refresh in 2016 the Outlander has had even more upgrades.

One of the new features is an EV Priority Mode, which allows the driver to operate the vehicle in EV mode without the engine starting, provided there is sufficient charge in the batteries.

A well positioned and easy to operate electronic parking brake is another new feature.

Under the skin the powertrain and suspension have been tweaked too.

As a result it's a little swifter, more refined, the electric power range has been upped by a mile from 32 to 33 miles and rapid charging can be completed a little quicker.

There are a few more safety features too with the Forward Collision Mitigation system now featuring Pedestrian Detection.

Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic are useful features in a car this size, though to be fair the Outlander has great all-round visibility.

It feels exceptionally well put together and is characterised by a feel that combines rugged elements with creature comforts.