Mitsubishi is committed to continuing its fight in the North American market. Today, they announced there will be an off-road variant of its best-selling Outlander model. Here’s what we know.
Mitsubishi said this off-road-centric Outlander will feature off-road bodywork, off-road-focused drive modes and performance upgrades, as well as unique interior styling. It should launch late in 2026. The addition of this model is part of the Japanese automaker’s Momentum 2030 business plan. This outlines a path towards electricification, a renewed and expanded lineup, new dealerships, and new ways to purchse.
More Than Just The Trail Edition
Mitsubishi’s press release states this new Outlander variant will be an off-road-focused vehicle. It will reinforce the brand’s storied history in off-road and off-highway travel. Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) also recently debuted the Trail Edition package on Outlander. MMNA says this new model will build upon the graphic features of this package by adding the aforementioned off-road accouterments. It will also employ the company’s very good Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel-drive system, which has its roots in Dakar racing.
“This is just the beginning.”
“Two exciting announcements to discuss upcoming vehicle launches proves the strength of our Momentum 2030 business plan, plus the hard work and commitment from our colleagues at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Japan and our dealer partners across the U.S.,” said Mark Chaffin, MMNA’s president and CEO. “When we announced our Momentum 2030 plan publicly, we set ambitious goals for ourselves. The plan is underway right now, with the new 2025 Outlander already on sale, with an updated Outlander Plug-in Hybrid coming soon, the debut of a new mild-hybrid powertrain in the 2026 Outlander, and with today’s announcements of two more all-new vehicles coming in fiscal year 2026. This is just the beginning, with more new vehicles and more news coming.”
Chaffin continued, “There has never been a better time to consider a new Mitsubishi vehicle. We are proud to partner with nearly 330 Mitsubishi Motors dealer partners across the U.S. who are committed to customer satisfaction, to delivering a great vehicle at a fair price, and to building a long-term customer relationship. Our Momentum 2030 plan is going to build upon that with more dealers in more markets, and we’re already seeing interest from some of the largest dealer groups in the country to join us on our journey.”
My Mitsubishi Take
The Mitsubishi Outlander has been a success for MMNA. As it regains momentum in North America, the Outlander’s success needes to be followed by something else—and fast. A ruggedized Outlander is a good idea. You have Subaru with its Wilderness models, Honda with its Trailsport variants, and Nissan with its Rock Creek designates. These more outdoor-focused models help these brands add more appeal to their crossovers. Mitsubishi has a legacy of off-roading, and it’s great to see them tapping into it. While I was secretly hoping for a truly all-new model or the return of the Montero/Pajero platform, anything new from Mitsubishi is welcome. My question is: will the Outlander Sport ever get updated? When will the next truly new Mitsubishi debut?