The Outlander is Mitsubishi’s flagship vehicle, so when it makes major changes it’s a big deal – even if it’s one of the smaller brands out there. For 2026, the 3-row SUV gets some important changes, especially for the plug-in hybrid model. So, we were excited to get our hands on one!

Fresh Looks

A mild re-fresh of the exterior takes an already handsome looking SUV, and makes it look more upscale.

Up front, there’s a new grille and bumper with a larger single piece grille, and C-shaped trim that braces the vertical headlights, while the lower fascia looks wider and more open. Being a Black Edition makes it look that much more aggressive with blacked-out trim. And we love that O U T L A N D E R is spelled out in big block letters on the hood – very Range Rover!

The profile retains the same chunky SUV looks as before, with a small greenhouse giving it a muscular, high shouldered look. Blacked-out 20-inch alloy wheels on our tester gave some added off-road cred.

On the side is a big badge that says EV – which is cool until you get closer, and you see the “Plug-in Hybrid” in smaller letters above it. We think that being a PHEV is fine, and a lot of consumers are looking at plug-ins now, so we’re not sure why trying to lean on the EV part is such a big deal. Go figure….

The rear remains familiar, with lightly revised rear taillights and a lower bumper that looks a bit wider and better integrated. Finishing off our tester’s exterior was a handsome paint color Mitsubishi calls White Diamond with a black roof, and the overall look is handsome and modern. 

Rugged meets Refined

Inside, the look is a blend of chunky trucky goodness and upscale luxury.

Open the door, and out tester greets with the smell of semi-aniline leather seats with a rich tufted/stitched pattern that reminds us of Genesis and high-end European products like Bentley. The front seats themselves are plush and comfy, heated and cooled, with massage feature for both driver and passenger. Posh indeed.

The second row is heated and equally adult friendly, and instead of captain’s chairs, you get room for 3 across – we like the added utility. Speaking of which, the third row is very small – kind of expected in a vehicle of this size – and is for kidlets or pets only. It does fold flat and out of sight, so there’s not much penalty in having a 3^rd row here.

With the third row up, cargo space is small, but dropping the third row gives a nice hold, and flipping the second row down gives loads of space.

The best seat in the house is the driver’s though, and we like the chunky 4-spoke leather wrapped wheel and a 12.3-inch driver’s digital display that’s handsome. We especially liked the analog-looking speedometer – yes, we’re old school!

Mitsubishi is going the direction of a separate stand-alone tablet style display (rather than the Kia/Hyundai wall-o-screens), and the 12.3-inch touchscreen is handsome, and the tablet does not look out of place with the squared-off lines of the interior. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make quick work of connectivity, and we love that Mitsu gives a real volume knob below the center display.

A couple other switches are below that, and a small gripe – the button that turns on the 360-degree parking view is a bit of a reach. We think most drivers will be using the helpful features often, so which it was a little closer. And a bit of piano black here and there is going to get smudgy over time.

Good thinking wins out here, though, with a dedicated climate control system that’s easy to navigate, and thankfully not part of the infotainment screen. More kudos go to the chunky mouse-style shift lever that feels great in your hand, and the large circular knob below for drive and terrain modes. Simple, well thought out and handsome – just like the entire interior.

Our tester was indeed posh, and some of the upscale goodies we appreciated were the panoramic sunroof, 3-zone automatic climate control, frameless digital display rearview mirror, 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha audio system and 10.8-inch, head-up display. It raises the game and makes you feel like you’re in something special.

Un-Plug that Hybrid and Let’s Go!

Driving is the real highlight of the change from last year’s model. With a new 23-kWh battery (up 15%) there’s an impressive 45 miles of electric range, and a new cooling system and improved thermal management for a big bump from 248 to 297 horsepower.

Combined with a CVT and Twin Motor Super All Wheel Control, the Outlander feels quick, and poised but in an interesting way – it’s so smooth off the line, there’s almost the EV-type whoosh as you take off, and then the rest of the system kicks in – the feeling is more of luxury than out-and-out performance, but it is impressive. And for a relatively big, heavy vehicle, once you’ve used up those 45 miles of pure EV power, you still get 27 EPA mpg on the highway.

Adding to that, Mitsubishi says they have retuned the suspension and steering to be more engaging, but we say it still likes to swim in the luxury lane. Fine by us! When you are done wafting along, a DC fast charger should get you back to 80% charge in about 38 minutes, which is quite good for a PHEV.

Also interesting, all Outlanders will be electrified from now on, with a choice of Plug-in Hybrid like out tester, or a light hybrid on lesser models – we look forward to testing one of those in the future.

Mitsubishi is making a play for your wallet too, with complimentary maintenance for two-years or 30,000 miles, a powertrain (and hybrid component) warranty of 10-years or 100,000-miles and 5-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty. Impressive!

How Much for all this Good Stuff?

The Outlander line up starts with the ES 1.5T 2WD mild hybrid at $29,995. With standard goods including 7 passenger seating, 18” alloy wheels, 12.3-inch smartphone line Display Audio with Navigation, it strikes as an impressive bargain in an entry level 3-row SUV with some handsome looks.

Our PHEV Black Edition is the full enchilada model and starts at $53,695. The White Diamond Paint with Black Roof adds $995, Door Ground Illumination a nice touch at $379, and adding a few extra accessories and $1,795 for Destination, rang the bell at $57,475.

Competitors would include the Toyota RAV4 Prime. With 324 horsepower in its PHEV, it’s a bit quicker, and 52 miles of EV range is a bit longer. It’s an impressive vehicle, but it’s also smaller, with no 3^rd row seats, and the interior is plasticky and less plush than the Outlander. To be fair, at $52,160 it’s also a bit less expensive.

We also like the Mazda CX-90 PHEV model, with a lovely interior, a true 3-row package, and a 323-horsepower combination that would make it a bit quicker than the Outlander. The 25-mile EV range looks pretty wimpy compared to the Mitsu, though. At $58,920 it’s similarly priced to the Outlander. Both are attractive choices – see which you like.

With tasteful updates in looks and interior tech, 3-rows of seats, a much more powerful engine and a lovely upscale vibe, the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV shows you can have a thrifty ride without giving up the luxuries of life!