Mitsubishi Outlander (2026) Review

Introduction

Although Mitsubishi stopped selling new models across Europe in 2021, a strong after-sales network was maintained here in the UK so customers could always get their vehicles serviced or repaired.

Now, in a complete U-turn (they are not restricted to just politicians you know) we are seeing the revival of the brand. Fifty of the service centres will be used as showrooms, and that number will increase to 60 in the coming months. Taking pride of place in the display windows will be the latest versions of Mitsubishi’s most-popular UK models – the L200 pick-up and the Outlander SUV.

And it’s the family-focused SUV that we are concentrating on here. It is sold in two trims called Nativa, priced from £46,995 and Diamond which costs £49,995. The Nativa is a seven-seat vehicle, while the Diamond trim comes with room for five occupants. 

Both models are powered by a revised 2.4-litre plug-in hybrid petrol engine with lithium-ion battery and two electric motors delivering all-wheel drive.

We tested the Mitsubishi Outlander Diamond on a road and off-road route.

What are the Pros and Cons of the Mitsubishi Outlander?

Pros: 

• Practical with a choice of five or seven seats
• Plug-in hybrid with strong EV-only range
• Well equipped
• Easy to drive and lots of physical controls
• Impressive warranty
• A sensible company car option

Cons: 

• Many rivals are cheaper
• Only the lower trim grade has seven seats
• Not particularly exciting to drive
• If you don’t plug in regularly the fuel efficiency is just average

What are the first impressions of the fourth-gen Mitsubishi Outlander?

The Mitsubishi Outlander boasts a strong road presence with bold, rugged styling that’s a not-so-subtle hint to its go-anywhere ability. 

The five-door SUV features the distinctive Diamond Shield front end with a predominantly black grille complimented by stylish silver trim. 

There is a sculpted bonnet, slim headlight clusters, chunky wheel arches, full LED tail lights, body-coloured door handles, a rear spoiler, privacy glass and 20-inch alloys.

Our range-topping Diamond grade also gained a panoramic roof allowing light to flood into the cabin.

What are the Mitsubishi Outlander’s key features?

Both trim levels of the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV boast plenty of on-board features, so customers will not need to spend a fortune on optional extras.

For example, the Nativa grade with seven seats, has a black interior with heated front seats offering lumbar support, plus a heated steering wheel. 

There is a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, head-up display, an eight-speaker Yamaha premium sound system, privacy glass, 2-Zone climate control, rear parking sensors, a wireless phone charger, a powered tailgate, Super All-Wheel Control and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Step up to Outlander Diamond and it gains a panoramic roof, digital rearview camera, ambient lighting, leather upholstered seats with a memory function - these seats also offer ventilation along with a massage setting.

The rear seats can be heated and the sound system is upgraded to a 12-speaker Yamaha premium audio. There are window blinds and the tailgate has a hands-free setting which is handy if approaching the car with your arms full.

How far is the EV-only driving range with the Mitsubishi Outlander?

The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander is a plug-in hybrid that features a 22.7 kWh battery with electric motors on each axle for all-wheel drive. 

The electric-only range is 53 miles, which is quite an improvement on the 28 miles that the 2019 model achieved with its compact 13.8 kWh battery pack.

How does the Mitsubishi Outlander drive and handle? 

Although the Outlander shares some of its underpinnings with the Nissan Qashqai as part of a long-term alliance between the two manufacturers, the plug-in powertrain is all Mitsubishi’s own work. 

And it’s impressive, too, with the revised 2.4-litre petrol engine sitting alongside a 22.7 kWh battery and two electric motors – one on each axle for all-wheel drive. 

The front axle has an output of 85 kW and the rear is slightly higher at 100 kW.

With a combined power output of 299 PS/ 220 kW and 195 Nm of torque, the vehicle can reach 62 mph from a standing start in 7.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 106 mph. 

The 53-mile EV-only range will easily cover the average daily commute a couple of times before any charging is necessary and the existing range can also be saved.  

The Outlander prioritises electric driving wherever possible, so it starts, reverses or pulls away in pure zero emissions format. 

As well as an EV mode, there is a Series Hybrid setting and in this configuration, the engine generates electricity to power the electric motors, whilst working alongside the battery. 

Finally, at higher speeds, a Parallel Hybrid mode kicks in with the petrol engine directly driving the wheels, while supporting battery regeneration. 

So, lots of clever wizardry going on in the background, but how does the Outlander perform when put to the test? The answer is rather well. 

For a family-sized SUV, the acceleration is surprisingly brisk while the single-speed automatic transmission impresses with its smoothness. 

As does the vehicle’s balance and road holding through sweeping country lanes where body sway is kept well in check. 

The car is refreshingly refined with barely a sound filtering into the cabin. And if it does, there is always that pitch-perfect Yamaha sound system to fall back on.

And there are plenty of settings for the driver to explore. For example, steering wheel paddles can be used to alter the strength of the regenerative braking, although there is no single pedal driving function, which is a shame.

Additionally, there are seven drive modes to choose from accessed via a rotary dial situated just behind the chunky gear lever. 

Three modes can be selected during normal on-road driving and these are called Eco, Normal and Power. Then when you move to more testing terrain, you can flick through to Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud settings for added grip.

It’s a car that’s happy on fast-moving dual carriageways, ambling around town or on challenging B roads. And it’s also very happy when you venture away from the Tarmac.

We had the opportunity to test the vehicle off-road and explore the 4x4 settings in more depth along with the hill descent control system. Both performed flawlessly, with the Outlander tackling steep climbs and descents with confidence and ease.

How fast can the plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander charge?

Charging the Mitsubishi Outlander’s compact 22.7kWh battery from zero to 100 per cent using a 15A supply will take about 6.5 hours. 

If using a higher 105A supply, the zero to 80 per cent time is just 32 minutes.

What are the day-to-day running costs with the Mitsubishi Outlander?

The Outlander Nativa seven-seat specification is priced from £46,995, while the five-seater Diamond trim model, as tested, costs £49,995. 

The advantage of the plug-in hybrid powertrain with 53 of electric-only miles is the low day-to-day running costs. The official WLTP-tested fuel efficiency figure is 313.24 mpg, although this would only be achievable if the car’s battery was kept fully charged and EV miles used to the max. 

Realistically, expect far less – we were averaging 37mpg on our test drive. 

The 20g/km carbon emissions figure results in a first-year road tax bill of £115, but it will increase to the standard £200 charge after 12 months. 

However, despite the Expensive Car Supplement threshold recently being increased from £30,000 to £40,000, Outlander owners will have to pay an extra £440 from years two to six.

For anyone looking to run the Outlander as a business car, it has a Benefit-in-Kind rate of 10 per cent and both the Nativa and Diamond trims sit in insurance group 47D.

For added peace of mind, the Outlander is backed by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty package.

What’s the interior of the Mitsubishi Outlander like?

In top-of-the-range Diamond trim, as tested, the interior of the Outlander PHEV is all very plush and features brown perforated soft-touch leather upholstery, alongside contrasting black gloss and metal-effect trim on the doors, dashboard and around the gear shifter and drive mode controller.

The seats are power-adjustable, can be heated or ventilated and also feature a massage function for added comfort. The steering wheel, along with the rear seats can also be warmed.

The main focal point is a 12.3-inch floating touchscreen display and this offers access to the wealth of on-board tech, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, sat nav, rearview camera and a brilliant 12-speaker Yamaha sound system.

The vital driving data, such as speed, drive mode and EV range are clearly shown on a screen behind the steering wheel, and the car features a head-up display as standard too.

Die-hard Mitsubishi fans will be delighted to hear that the latest Outlander still features numerous physical controls rather than being overly-touchscreen dependent like some rivals these days. Everything works well enough without the flashy bells and whistles and that’s something we applaud.

How practical is the Mitsubishi Outlander?

The Outlander has a strong road presence stretching 4,720mm in length, 1,862mm across and 1,751 tall with ground clearance of 199mm.

It’s certainly spacious inside the cabin, but the really big question facing Outlander customers is whether or not they need five or seven seats. 

If it’s seven, the only option is the entry-level Nativa trim, but if it’s five, then you will need to upgrade to Diamond grade which costs an extra £3k.

Our five-seater boasted bundles of space up front with the driver and front passenger separated by a wide centre console. In the back, there is ample room for another couple of adults to sit comfortably. The middle seat is considerably narrower and slightly elevated, but would be fine for a youngster who will also need to straddle a raised hump.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate with a kick function – this is a practical solution if approaching the car laden down with shopping. Wave your foot beneath the rear bumper and, providing you have the keys on you, the tailgate will pop open.

While Mitsubishi does not supply any official boot capacities at this time, the older outgoing car had a limit that ranged from 463 to 1,602 litres with 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped down, so this should be similar.

Additionally, there are numerous practical storage options scattered throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, central cubby, door bins with space for a bottle, seat back pockets, front and rear cup holders, trays and a wireless charging pad. And with an emphasis on staying connected on the move, there are five USB-C ports.

With family adventures in mind, the Outlander PHEV can tow a braked caravan or trailer weighing up to 1.6 tonnes with a roof load capacity of 80kg. And with approach and departure angles of 18.7 and 22.5 degrees, it can easily wander off the beaten track. 

How safe is the Mitsubishi Outlander?

The latest Mitsubishi Outlander is yet to be tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, but both the Nativa and Diamond trims are packed with safety features and driver assistance aids.

That means occupants and other road users are protected by features such as forward collision mitigation with pedestrian and cyclist detection, predictive forward collision warning, emergency lane keeping, blind spot detection and intervention, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, active stability control, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, hill descent control, trailer stability assist, tyre pressure monitoring, traction control, terrain control, driver attention alert, child presence detection in rear seats, plus a full suite of airbags.

Can I choose optional extras with the Mitsubishi Outlander?

The Mitsubishi Outlander is well equipped as standard, so at this stage, any optional extras are few and far between. 

The standard colour choice is basic white, but customers can upgrade to other metallic shades called White Diamond, Moonstone Grey and Black Diamond for £750. 

Unfortunately, the rather striking Red Diamond colour is not available on high-end Diamond trim.

What are the main rivals to the Mitsubishi Outlander?

There are a number of rivals that the Outlander PHEV will be competing with, including the Kia Sorento, Volvo XC60, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and BYD Seal U.

What’s the final verdict?

It was back in 2014 when Mitsubishi introduced us to the first seven-seater SUV with PHEV technology. 

Despite an absence of five years, the Japanese carmaker is back in the UK again and is launching with the all-new fourth-generation Outlander, which alongside the L200 pick-up, were previously the company’s best-selling vehicles.

And this 2026 model packs plenty of punch. It boasts strong styling, is practical with a choice of five or seven seats, is generously equipped with all the mod cons, and has a decent asking price, too.

With plenty of off-road ability, it will easily double as a family and business vehicle, and the plug-in technology will make it an attractive option for fleet drivers too.

Factor in the decent driving manners and it’s a very appealing all-rounder. Welcome back Mitsi!

Where to next?

View latest Mitsubishi Outlander lease deals - from £608.66 per month inc VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of Special Offers and Lease Deals.

New Estate? Read our latest Reviews and find the right model for you.

Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive Leasing Guides.

Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest Car Leasing News.

**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Mitsubishi Outlander.

**Correct as of 15/07/2026 . Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £8,167.92 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. The Arrangement Fee for our services, which you will have to pay at order is £680.66 inc. VAT. Credit is subject to status.

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

We like to be up front and transparent with our customers, ensuring they get the service they can expect. View our initial disclosure document here: https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/initial-disclosure-document.html

All vehicles listed are subject to manufacturing availability and images and descriptions used are for illustrative and reference purposes only. Please visit the manufacturer’s website for more accurate specification. All data listed comes from the CAP database and is subject to change. Terms and conditions apply. 

To be eligible for one of our offers you will need to be over 18 to qualify and approved for credit with one of our verified lenders, which is subject to status and the finance companies terms and conditions. Not all applicants may be eligible. Failure to maintain payments may result in the termination of your contract agreement and the vehicle being returned

Select Car Leasing is a credit broker not a lender. Select Car Leasing is a trading style of Select Contracts (UK) Limited and the firm is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 670832. VAT Registration No 392 2756 72. ICO Registration ZA076253. Company Number 06569098. Select Car Leasing is proud to be a member of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) No 1846.