2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Gets New Base Engine, Increased PHEV Battery
The Mitsubishi Outlander is an important vehicle for the brand. It’s the manufacturer’s best-selling vehicle and arguably, the most competitive, which is quite the feat in such a hard-fought market segment.
Last year the gasoline-powered Outlander models received a mid-cycle refresh and this year it’s the Outlander PHEV’s turn. But there’s also big news for the non-plug-in Outlanders for the 2026 model year.
Fresh Look, Bigger Battery
The biggest news for the 2026 Outlander PHEV is the larger-capacity battery that increases its all-electric driving range. Currently, the vehicle comes with a 20 kWh battery and rumor has it could be a 22.7 kWh battery that replaces it, but the brand has not confirmed size as of yet. Currently the Outlander can travel 38 miles (61 km) on a single charge, so the larger battery should extend that to 40+ miles (65+ km).
Besides the larger battery, the steering and ride quality have been improved through tire and suspension tuning. Inside, there’s more sound-deadening, as well as new materials, new colors, and available heated and ventilated front seats. The centre console is new, with larger-capacity armrest storage, new cupholders, and better wireless phone charger storage.
On the outside, updates include a revised grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers, new 18-inch or 20-inch wheels, and darker tint rear taillights. Mitsubishi expects the 2026 Outlander PHEV to go on sale early next year.
Now with Turbo Power
Not to be left out, the non-plug-in hybrid Outlander gets a new powertrain for the 2026 model year. That means the current 181 horsepower (hp), 181 pound-feet of torque (lb ft), 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder is gone. Replacing it is the brand’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with some sort of hybridized system. We expect the new drivetrain will be more of a mild-hybrid system, most likely with a small electric motor to assist in acceleration and cruising.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, minus any sort of hybrid assist, is currently in the Eclipse Cross. In that smaller SUV, it generates 152 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Mitsubishi claims the engine will make “increased torque and drivability thanks to electrified torque aiding off-the-line acceleration”. There’s important wording in there to get an idea of the new power levels. Although we expect the Outlander will get more than 152 hp, it doesn’t sound like it will produce more than the 181 hp in the current motor. With the 1.5-liter turbo engine’s torque already greater than the out-going 2.5-liter’s, it’s any guess just how much more pulling-power the electric motor will add, if any.
The 2026 Outlander will go on sale before the end of this year.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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