Mitsubishi revealed the new Outlander PHEV with the help of a circus performer in Montreal on Jan. 13.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Mitsubishi took the wraps off the refreshed 2026 Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV – Canada’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, at a private event in old Montreal ahead of the Montreal Auto Show Tuesday afternoon.
Part of the mid-cycle revamp includes more range. The range has jumped 18 per cent, so now you can drive 72 kilometres on electric power alone with a new, larger 22.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The previous version had a 20-kilowatt-hour battery. The total driving range with the gas tank and engine is now 690 kilometres.
Besides the increased range, fuel efficiency has improved too, now achieving 3.2 litres equivalent per 100 kilometres; the engine’s efficiency has improved to 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres for city and highway driving (the previous version was 9 litres).
When it first hit the streets in 2017, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was the first plug-in hybrid SUV in Canada. It was a huge success with few plug-in hybrid SUV competitors on the market. Today, there are more options such as the all-new Toyota RAV4 PHEV, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and mainstream three-row SUVS such as the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-90 PHEV. But the Outlander is Canada’s best-selling PHEV – a title its held for three years in a row – and it accounts for almost a quarter of Mitsubishi sales in Canada.
In 2025, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada sold 37,335 vehicles – down 4 per cent compared to 2024. Fifty-eight per cent of those vehicles sold were the Outlander. The gas-only Outlander SUV accounted for 12,688 units, a 41 per cent increase year-over-year; while the plug-in hybrid version represented 8,899 units – a 38-per-cent drop compared to 2024.
Even with that start decrease, uncertainty around EV incentives and a shifting political climate, Mitsubishi plans to keep investing in the PHEV.
“The Outlander PHEV isn’t going anywhere,” said Kenichi Kawaji, chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, ahead of the North American reveal that included a circus performer. “It remains the flagship vehicle in our lineup and we believe there is still a large market for electrified vehicles in Canada.”
A circus performer took the wraps off the vehicle at Cirque Éloize in historic old Montreal.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Last updated in 2023, the refreshed 2026 Outlander PHEV also gets increased EV power output and faster acceleration. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder gas engine, which delivers 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, is a carryover.
On the exterior, the styling is pleasant. There are subtle changes on its body including new wheels. The suspension, tire and power steering are also updated.
Inside, there’s seven-passenger seating, a new centre console design with a 12.3-inch infotainment display and revised digital driver display graphics, which are crisper and easier to read.
There are subtle changes on its body including new wheels.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
There is a new centre console design with a 12.3-inch infotainment display and revised digital driver display graphics, which are crisper and easier to read.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
There’s also new seat materials and colour options and an upgraded Yamaha audio system. All trims come with all-wheel drive, a long list of driver assistance safety systems and long warranties – a 10-year/160,000 kilometre powertrain limited warranty, a 10-year/160,000 kilometres lithium-ion battery limited warranty, a five-year/100,000 kilometre new vehicle limited warranty and a five-year/Unlimited kilometre roadside assistance.
The refreshed 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which is made-in-Japan, will start at $50,498, before freight and pre-delivery inspection, when it goes on sale this February in Canada.
Interior door panels on the refreshed Outlander PHEV.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
The 2.4-litre, four-cylinder gas engine is a carryover. The main change to the powertrain comes from a larger battery.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
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