Port Moody, BC — Just a short year after the gas version of the Mitsubishi Outlander was refreshed, Mitsu is back with a refreshed version of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model that is all about the “EV” part of its name. They’ve given it a larger battery, more power and – crucially – more electric-only range to the tune of a claimed 72 kilometres. That represents a 11-km jump over the previous model’s claimed range.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Styling-wise, you do really have to squint to see the changes, which include tweaked front and rear skidplates, some new wheel choices, smoked taillamps and a new Moonstone Grey colour, seen here. Not a huge change overall, but the grey is a nice choice and the 20-inch wheels on my tester are a hit.
Inside, the changes are more pronounced; the brown semi-aniline diamond-print leather is a new choice, and is joined by a two-tone grey/black cloth, black leather and light grey leather. Black cloth seating is standard. A 12.3” digital gauge cluster is also standard and can be tweaked to two different alignments – it’s matched with a central 12.3” display that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and – for the first time – wireless Android Auto. Other first include ventilated front seats on the top four trims (SEL, $57,598; GT, $60,598; GT Premium, $61,698 and GT Noir, $63,048; the base ES model will run you $49,998, making it the only model in the line-up eligible for the new Canada EV rebates) as well a eight-way power front seats as standard, available digital rear-view mirror and eight speaker Yamaha audio.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Speaking of audio: eight speakers come standard, but that jumps to 12-speakers on the top three trims and needless to say, the audio in here is fantastic. It’s crisp and bassy but more than that, the Yamaha speakers look fantastic with their real metal grilles finished in a gunmetal grey with gold “Yamaha” badges. Like a good hi-fi system adds a touch of class to a living room, it does the same in a car’s cockpit as well. Those speakers along with the real leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and plenty of soft touch materials throughout make for some very swish environs.
Every Outlander PHEV comes standard with Mitsubishi Super All-Wheel-Control AWD (S-AWC) as well as three rows of seating and while we’ll see how the former makes tonnes of sense, the latter slightly less so.
I mean, I get it; having an extra row of seating in your mid-size SUV is a nice bonus, but the third-row seats in the Outlander are so very snug – in both headroom and legroom, but especially in legroom – that they really do seem an add-on when in fact, they are standard. Added to which the headrests are massive and cover most of the rear window, making the digital rear-view mirror that much more necessary. The seats also take a few steps to stow or deploy and are somewhat heavy. I just have trouble seeing the value of a vehicle this size with seating for seven, and that includes the likes of the Toyota Highlander and Kia Sorento. Would it be too much for Mitsu to at least offer a two-row option?
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
For its part, the second row is well equipped with heated seats and climate controls but this is a stadium seating situation, meaning the second row is a little higher than the first, and the third a little higher still. So, that does mean a slight dip in second row headroom but only the tallest and behatted among us will really feel it. The panoramic sunroof, meanwhile, makes for an airy cockpit.
Power comes courtesy of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and two EV motors for a combined total of 297 horsepower. Torque figures have not yet been announced, but if that last PHEV is anything to go by, expect something in the region of 340 pound-feet.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
There is a gas motor, sure, but its main function is to serve as a generator for the 22.7 kWh battery and EV motors. That’s the more efficient use of the gas motor and it will only directly power the wheels under very heavy loads or when you select the PHEV-specific “power” drive mode, which joins eco, normal, tarmac, gravel, snow and mud for a total of seven drive modes.
Mitsu has designed it this way because they want the Outlander PHEV acting more like an EV than what your standard parallel hybrid is capable of. The result is instant acceleration as soon as you dip the throttle and as mentioned before, 72 km of EV range on to a total of 690 km of combined range. Not only is the acceleration brisk for a three-row SUV that weighs in at 2,230 kilos (4,916 lbs.), but it’s done is such smooth fashion as well, thanks in no small part to a direct-drive one-speed automatic transmission.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Which, of course, means the paddles attached to the wheel aren’t there to change gears, but rather to change how much regen/drag there is when you release the throttle. It’s a nice touch and another nod to emphasizing on the “EV” part of this PHEV. Indeed, if you can plug in daily and you’re doing mostly city drives, you’ve pretty much got yourself an EV here.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
An EV that rides as smoothly as it operates, it must be said. Small bumps are swallowed nicely while the body is kept nicely in control over repeated tarmac heaves and through turns. It’s an impressive ride considering there is no air suspension or adaptive dampers to speak of. Add a steering tack that’s been tweaked for ’26 for more front-end response, and you have a mass-market SUV with a luxury bent that I absolutely love and I’m sure will pay huge dividends at the dealership.
Underpinning all of this is S-AWC, which is always monitoring all four wheels no matter the conditions. That means instant response from the system; when a given wheel starts to slip, power is sent lickety-split to the wheels with more grip. It means confident forward progress no matter the conditions, and that is a massive boon for consumers.
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The Outlander has been a top seller in Canada and number one when it comes to PHEVs dating all the way back to 2023. With the way they’re bringing it with the new Outlander PHEV, I don’t see that changing as we move into 2026.
