Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2026 First Drive Review: Ahead and Behind of the Toyota RAV4 PHEV

Mitsubishi introduced the PHEV version of its Outlander SUV to the Canadian market in 2018. At launch, the available range was a modest 35 kilometres. It climbed to 40, then to 61 kilometres with the model’s 2023 redesign. For 2026, the model receives a mid-cycle refresh, boosting its electric range to 72 kilometres. Now we’re talking.

Strengths

• Increased range

• New Yamaha audio system

• Excellent Ride and comfort

• S-AWC (All-wheel drive) system

Weaknesses

• Improved fuel consumption, but still high in hybrid mode

• Steep price at the top of the lineup

• Third row: for small passengers only

But that’s not all that changes. Beyond the improvements on that front, the model benefits from the updates introduced on the gas-powered variant in early 2025. Let’s take a closer look.

Design

Aesthetically, it takes a sharp eye to spot the differences in the new version. The most noticeable changes are the wheels, which get new designs. Otherwise, the grille has been slightly revised, as have the front and rear skid plates, which shift in colour from silver to matte grey. The rear lights also inherit a smoked finish, as seen on the 2025 gas-powered version.

What you can hope for when Mitsubishi redesigns its model is a new front end. The current one is awful. Fortunately, the lines are more harmonious at the rear and in profile.

Seven trims remain in the lineup, and all benefit from Mitsubishi‘s S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) all-wheel-drive system, one of the best in the industry.

Interior

Once inside, you discover an environment with a successful design, a contrast to what you find up front. It also feels quality throughout, it must be said, though it’s worth noting that press events always put us behind the wheel of the highest-trim variants. That needs to be kept in mind. All that said, quality is present throughout the lineup, and on the ergonomics front, there is nothing to fault. Everything falls naturally to hand.

The choice is also broader, with six material-and-colour combination options, a welcome development. Note that ventilated seats are finally offered on the model, available on leather-trimmed seats starting with the SEL trim. The multimedia system screen also moves to a 12.3-inch format across all trims, a decision that benefits those who opt for entry-level models.

The biggest change, however, is the arrival of the audio system developed in collaboration with Yamaha. We first discovered it with the gas-powered version, and now the PHEV version has it too. Two versions are available: an eight-speaker setup and a twelve-speaker one, starting with the GT trim. That may seem modest for a premium system, but certain speakers have very specific roles, handling bass, treble, and so on. The result is a noticeably more engaging listening experience than before. And to help you make the most of it, this PHEV version also inherits additional sound-insulating materials, notably at the door level, for a cabin even more cut off from outside noise.

Comfort in the second row is also excellent. The third row is where things fall off, but after all these years, it’s well known: the Outlander’s third row is designed with children in mind first. It’s there for occasional use.

Powertrain

The 2026 Outlander PHEV carries over the same combustion engine, a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder. It is paired with an electric motor that delivers 60% more power this year. Some figures remain undisclosed for now, including individual motor outputs, but the overall result is a more capable model. Combined output climbs from 248 to 297 horsepower. As for torque, engineers smile when asked whether there’s an increase on that front. Official figures are forthcoming, but a modest bump can be anticipated.

On the electric range front, that’s where it gets interesting: capacity increases from 61 to 72 kilometres, thanks to a larger battery that grows from 20 kWh to 22,7 kWh. In total, Mitsubishi states that the model can cover up to 690 kilometres when combining the electric range and the fuel tank capacity. What’s amusing is that, when you dig into the numbers, the total range in 2025 was 687 kilometres. So how is it that only three additional kilometres are gained when the electric range alone grew by eleven? Moreover, fuel consumption in hybrid mode dropped from 8,9 to 8,6 L/100 km.

A mystery? Not quite. It’s simply because the fuel tank was trimmed by three litres to accommodate the larger battery.

Behind the wheel

What defines the driving experience in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is its smooth ride. The power is there, and it’s appreciated when merging onto a highway or making a pass, but it remains secondary. Behind the wheel, you don’t feel the urge to floor the accelerator; that’s not what this model is about.

To access the full 297 horsepower and all available torque, Power mode must be engaged, drawing on both the gas engine and the electric motor simultaneously. There are seven driving modes in total, adjustable for different surfaces such as snow, mud, and gravel. Other settings are specific to the plug-in hybrid configuration, including energy-saving and charge-recovery modes. The latter, quite effective, allows the driver to recover electric kilometres for use as needed, though its use comes with a fuel consumption penalty. Is it worth it?

When asked, the engineers had some nuance to offer. Since the mode increases fuel consumption, does it actually reduce overall consumption? The answer is complex and depends on the situation, driving environment, and so on. The exact magnitude of the consumption increase when using the charging mode isn’t disclosed, which makes the math tricky. Engineers did mention, however, that the increase remains minimal and is similar whether driving in the city or on the highway.

We recommend that owners run their own tests to determine where using this mode reduces average consumption and maximizes energy efficiency.

To close on the subject: overall, the driving experience is satisfying, provided you have no expectations for agility. A Toyota RAV4 is more dynamic behind the wheel; that should tell you something.

That said, if not exciting or engaging, driving the Outlander PHEV is reassuring and predictable, a formula that clearly appeals to its target audience.

Nissan unveils the 2026 Rogue Plug-In Hybrid. Yes, it’s a Mitsubishi Outlander wearing a Nissan badge

Conclusion

The PHEV version of the Mitsubishi Outlander has been the best-selling plug-in hybrid in Canada over the past three years. That’s no small feat. Greater model availability compared to the Toyota RAV4 PHEV certainly plays a role, but it remains a genuine win for Mitsubishi.

Beyond that, there is something for everyone across the lineup, which spans seven trims,  including a base ES that, at the time of writing, qualifies for the federal incentive available for the purchase of an electrified vehicle.

For pricing, the picture below tells the full story.