Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Sales Are Way Up. Why?

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is no spring chicken. The platform debuted in 2010 and is still in production in 2026. That’s 17 model years. While it’s undergone exterior tweaks, interior restyles, and options have come and gone, it’s still the same general platform. According to a Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) Q2 sales press release, the old Outlander Sport’s sales are up. Way up. Why?

Why Are Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Sales Up?

Looking at Mitsubishi’s chart, year-over-year Q2 sales for the Outlander Sport are up 51.7%. Year-to-date sales, up 53.3%. Looking back through Mitsubishi’s sales history, Outlander Sport hasn’t sold this well since 2021. Is it fleet sales? Is it increased marketing? The press release said this:

“Both Outlander and Outlander Sport’s current success in the marketplace can be attributed directly to a sharp focus on responding to a growing consumer affordability issue. MMNA has debuted well-equipped new trims of each model—a new LE trim on Outlander and an S trim on Outlander Sport—at an attractive price point, delivering content, style and value that is driving sales results.”

According to Mitsubishi’s website, the Outlander Sport 2.0 S is the entry-level trim, and starts at $24,995, which includes all-wheel drive, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and LED headlights. It also still has hubcaps instead of aluminum alloy wheels. But I reached out to Mitsubishi’s Senior Director, Communications and Events, Jeremy Barnes for more info.

“With Mirage’s discontinuation, and the general challenge with affordability across the industry we’re seeing now, we knew we needed to address those points with Outlander Sport, and the new S trim makes an already good deal into a great one,” said Barnes. He continued, stating, “With a starting MSRP of $24,995, but still packing the features customers want such as standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with an 8” screen, automatic climate control, power windows and mirrors, and even rain-sensing wipers, it’s a compelling deal and an attractive proposition.”

Is Affordability The Outlander Sport’s Secret Weapon?

With the average price of a car over $50,000, vehicles like the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 S offer a lot for a little. For $1,600 more, buyers can step up to the 2.0 ES model and add an auto-dimming mirror, automatic headlights, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, LED fog lights, lane departure warnings, and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

All trim levels have the old 4B11 2.0-liter engine making 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque through a CVT, except the 2.4 SEL making 168 horsepower and 167 lb-ft of torque. That model starts at $29,695.

For reference, 10 years ago, a 2016 Outlander Sport ES with the same 2.0-liter engine, CVT, and all-wheel drive would run you $22,195. That’s only $4,400 less than a 2026 2.0 ES, so I’d say that’s not bad. The addition of the 2.0 S means you can get into an AWD vehicle for only $2,800 more than a decade ago.

It should be noted that the Outlander Sport does not come in two-wheel drive anymore. The FWD models were dropped for the 2023 model year.

Speaking from personal experience, my mother bought a new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES with AWC. It was exceptionally reliable and practical. If it hadn’t been totaled, she’d still have it (she has a 2019 Outlander now). But the Outlander Sport has always been versatile, dependable, and fairly frugal. It’s not the fastest, the flashiest, or most fuel-efficient, but it’s been an honest-to-goodness crossover. Long in the tooth, but steadfast.

When Will The New Outlander Sport Launch?

In some parts of the world, the Outlander Sport is called the ASX, such as in Europe. There, the car got a second generation based on the Renault Captur in 2023. However, I have been flat-out told that the Captur-based ASX will not be coming to North America. This makes sense as the Renault Captur hasn’t been federalized for use on North American roads, and doing so would cost a lot.

So when can we expect to see a redesigned Outlander Sport? I can only imagine in the next couple of years. The platform is nearing two decades of age, and Mitsubishi’s “Momentum 2030” plan is to introduce a new model every year until 2030. The latest will be the new Eclipse Sportback EV, based on the Nissan Leaf. We expect a new Montero/Pajero, and even possibly a Delica for the U.S. market. (Fingers crossed on the Delica.)

Since automotive PR folks are notoriously tight-lipped on future product, we can’t provide a specific date on a new Outlander Sport. But since the four-then Outlander has been around since 2022, one can only imagine a new Outlander Sport is likely to debut soon … ish. Maybe.