Upgraded 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Makes North American Debut
Introduced in 2018, the Outlander PHEV is a very important product for Mitsubishi in Canada—and Quebec in particular. As a matter of fact, 39 percent of all PHEVs sold nationwide last year landed in driveways across La Belle Province.
For the 2026 model year, the company has refined the Outlander PHEV following a similar mid-cycle update to the gas-only Outlander for 2025.
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As far as styling is concerned, the front fascia has been redesigned, most notably the lower bumper, grille and headlights. At the rear, the lower section of the bumper has been revised, too, and the taillights have a slightly darker appearance now. Honestly, you need a (very) keen eye to spot any differences with the outgoing model.
Other cosmetic changes include new wheels with three different designs across the lineup.
New Displays and Graphics
Just like the exterior, the interior of the 2026 Outlander PHEV has subtly evolved. The instrument cluster facing the driver benefits from updated graphics. The centre touchscreen, now measuring 12.3 inches diagonally, also gains a more modern interface, but one that still feels a bit dated in our opinion. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
New seating surfaces can be found with a choice of four fresh colours: black and white, black, white, and brown. Availability depends on the trim level. Also new for 2026 are ventilated front seats on select models.
In order to please occupants’ ears, the 2026 Outlander PHEV boasts a quieter cabin while offering two audio systems developed in partnership with Yamaha. The first is designed for entry-level and mid-range models (ES, SE, LE, SEL), while a more premium audio system is reserved for top-line GT, GT-P and Black models.
New Battery, Increased EV Range
For 2026, Mitsubishi has slightly revised the suspension, steering and low-rolling resistance tires.
Under the hood, the naturally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and two electric motors all return and continue to deliver a combined 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The big news is the larger-capacity, high-voltage battery (22.7 kWh instead of 20 kWh) allowing the Outlander PHEV to travel up to 72 km without burning any fuel (previously 61 km).
Furthermore, Mitsubishi claims that fuel consumption is reduced once the battery is depleted, averaging 8.6 L/100 km (previously 9 L/100 km). That was one of the main complaints about the 2025 model. We’ll obviously need to do a proper road test to make sure the company is telling the truth.
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV makes its North American debut this week at the Montreal Auto Show and will go on sale across Canada in March starting at $50,498 (MSRP). Further pricing details will be shared at a later date.
