The Mitsubishi Outlander SUV gains a quieter ride, premium touches and thoughtful design tweaks to offer more comfort at a competitive price
The refreshed Mitsubishi Outlander gives families a roomy, practical three-row SUV with better comfort and tech upgrades, all without costing a fortune.
Without a luxury sibling brand, Mitsubishi is betting big on its Outlander to deliver upscale comfort and refinement through a series of smart, customer-driven upgrades. The result is a surprisingly premium SUV that punches above its price point, offering quiet rides and thoughtful details that set it apart in a crowded market.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a midsize SUV that seats up to seven people, making it popular with families and those needing extra passenger space. Its mix of practicality and value has helped it carve out a strong presence in Canada’s crowded SUV market. The Outlander is also offered as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), appealing to drivers looking to reduce fuel costs and emissions.
SUVs come in all shapes and sizes, with every powertrain and luxury option imaginable. Many automakers offer luxury siblings: Toyota has Lexus, Honda offers Acura, Nissan markets Infiniti, Ford has Lincoln, and Hyundai and Kia share the Genesis brand.
Mitsubishi, however, has no corporate cousin in the luxury segment. Instead, it relies on dressing up its top-selling Outlander to appeal to buyers looking for a more refined experience.
Last year, Canadians bought 23,295 Outlanders—almost 450 every week. Of those, 14,290 were the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model, while the gas-powered version accounted for 9,005. Altogether, the Outlander made up nearly 60 per cent of Mitsubishi’s 38,921 vehicle sales in Canada, a nine per cent increase from 2023
I recently test-drove the refreshed gas-powered Outlander; the updated PHEV version, Canada’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, will arrive later this year.
Settling into the brown leather bucket seat, the first thing I noticed was the attention to luxury touches, from finely stitched leather to an elegant finish. Once underway, the ride was smooth and remarkably quiet.
Automakers typically launch all-new models every five to eight years, with periodic mid-cycle refreshes in between. For the Outlander, the refresh includes updates to the front grille, bumper and tail lights. Inside, the changes are more significant: a redesigned centre console with a larger armrest and additional storage, a bigger 12.3-inch navigation screen, revised controls for the transmission and drive mode, and upgraded premium seat materials.
The sound system is a highlight. Developed in partnership with Yamaha engineers, it’s the first time Yamaha has designed a vehicle audio system for the North American market. Beneath the surface, engineers also improved the ride and handling to offer a more refined drive.
Jeremy Barnes, senior director of communications and events for Mitsubishi Motors North America, says these changes are based heavily on customer feedback. “We addressed things that customers said bugged them or that they didn’t love, and we left the things customers were happy with,” he explained.
One example is the repositioning of cupholders. They’ve been moved forward to the passenger side of the console, spaced apart and slanted slightly so tall cups won’t clash lids, a small detail that enhances everyday usability.
Reducing road noise was another priority. Mitsubishi added sound-deadening materials throughout the floor, roof, pillars and doors to mute outside sounds, making the cabin notably quieter.
The Outlander rides on a 2,705 mm wheelbase and measures 4,719 mm long.
The model lineup includes six trims, ranging from the Outlander ES S-AWC starting at $35,598 to the top-tier GT Premium S-AWC at $47,498.
Under the hood, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivers 181 horsepower through a continuously variable transmission. Fuel economy is rated by Natural Resources Canada at 9.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.7 on the highway.
Standard features include Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control system, three rows of seating accommodating up to seven passengers, and a suite of driver-assist technologies such as automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning.
Barnes sums up the approach this way: “This update is very much a series of little things we’ve addressed. By themselves, they may not seem like much of an update, but add them all together and you get a car that feels much more luxurious.”
The refreshed Mitsubishi Outlander is a solid choice for buyers seeking a practical, three-row SUV with added comfort and refinement, without the luxury price tag. It’s smart, customer-driven upgrades improve ride quality, reduce cabin noise and enhance usability in everyday details. While it doesn’t deliver sporty performance or cutting-edge technology, it covers the essentials well, with an emphasis on comfort and value. For those wanting an approachable SUV that feels a step above the norm, the Outlander’s latest update hits the mark.
Our Verdict
The refreshed Mitsubishi Outlander delivers solid value with thoughtful upgrades that boost comfort and refinement without the luxury price. It’s a practical, family-friendly SUV that feels more premium than its badge suggests. While it’s not the sportiest or most high-tech in its class, it covers the essentials well, making it a smart choice for buyers who want reliability, space and quiet confidence on the road.
Dale Johnson is an award-winning author, broadcaster and journalist who has worked in TV, radio, print and online. While the manufacturer provided Dale with a vehicle to test drive, the content of this review was not reviewed or accepted by the manufacturer.
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