2026 Outlander - Better Than Ever!
Mitsubishi Motors introduces the brand’s first mild hybrid powertrain.
After making a number of noteworthy upgrades to the 2025 Outlander earlier this year, Mitsubishi Motors recently announced that this fleet favourite will be getting a new powertrain for 2026.
The big news is that the current 2.5L four-cylinder engine will be replaced with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, equipped with the brand’s first mild hybrid system.
While the 1.5-litre turbo is new to the Outlander, it’s not new to Mitsubishi. “It’s the same engine we offer in the Eclipse Cross,” says Don Ulmer, Senior Manager, Telematics & Product Strategy at Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “The big difference is the belt starter generator that’s added to the engine, which makes it a mild hybrid.”
Another key difference is that the 1.5-litre engine found in the Outlander uses a water-cooled intercooler instead of an air-cooled intercooler, which is standard in the Eclipse Cross. “Otherwise, it’s essentially the same engine,” Ulmer explains.
According to Mitsubishi, “the 48V Belt-driven Starter Generator (BSG) provides additional torque and driveability thanks to the electrified torque aiding acceleration from a standing start.”
Ulmer explains that the BSG replaces the alternator as well as the starter. “Whenever the driver applies the brakes, energy is taken from the crankshaft and put back into the 48V battery pack,” Ulmer says. “Then, when the driver accelerates, depending on the throttle input, the BSG will activate, and because it’s belt-driven, it will provide additional power to the crankshaft.”
In other words, instead of using additional fuel, it’s using electricity to speed up the crankshaft and provide more power to the engine. “And because the BSG is like an electric motor, it creates torque instantly,” Ulmer adds.
The 48V battery pack in the Outlander is located underneath the floor at the rear of the vehicle, and is much smaller than the battery pack found in the Outlander PHEV.
Improved performance
Another key benefit of this new hybrid powertrain is the ability of the BSG to reduce turbo lag, which is par for the course with turbo-charged engines. “Turbos have come a long way, but they still tend to have some turbo lag,” Ulmer says. “However, the BSG can mitigate some of that lag, because once it engages, the torque kicks in right away, which helps diminish the turbo lag you might otherwise experience.”
The extra torque is available the moment the driver steps on the accelerator, which gives the new Outlander more low-end performance—an improvement over the outgoing Outlander equipped with the 2.5-litre powertrain.
For comparison’s sake, the outgoing engine delivers 181 lb.-ft. of torque, whereas the new 1.5-litre engine delivers 206. “It’s also delivering that extra 25 lb.-ft. of torque at a lower RPM than before,” Ulmer adds. “That translates into better low-end performance, and that’s something that we know drivers will appreciate.”
As for horsepower, Ulmer notes that on paper, the new engine delivers less power than the outgoing engine (174 vs. 181), simply because of the lower displacement. “The engine makes seven horsepower less, but it’s delivering that horsepower at a lower RPM—5,000 vs. 6,000 RPM—and based on my experience driving the new Outlander, you don’t really notice the slightly lower power output,” Ulmer adds.
Fuel economy improvements
Besides improving performance, the new powertrain also delivers better fuel economy. Moreover, the 2026 Outlander is the first Mitsubishi Motors product to feature auto start-stop technology in Canada, which further improves fuel efficiency.
Ulmer stresses that the start-stop technology is especially smooth. “Because the BSG is belt-driven, and because it replaces a traditional starter, when the engine starts up, you don’t hear that typical start-up noise,” he explains. “You don’t get the traditional metal-on-metal sound, and it’s much quieter overall.”
Ulmer says that the 2026 Outlander is ideal for fleets that are looking to balance efficiency with a lower cost of entry when shopping for a four-wheel-drive SUV.
“When it comes to fuel economy, fleets need to hit certain targets,” adds Luc Grenier, Fleet / VIP Manager, for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “The new Outlander is rated at 8.7 L/100 km combined, which gets us under 9 L/100 km combined for a four-wheel-drive SUV, and that’s important to many fleets.”
Updates to 2025 Outlander
When Mitsubishi Motors announced a mid-cycle refresh to the 2025 Outlander earlier this year, they noted that the goal was to provide an, “elevated refinement and enhancement of the driver and passenger experience, with updates to drivability, interior and exterior styling, and an industry-leading in-car entertainment system developed by the audio experts at Yamaha.”
To make the passenger cabin more inviting and quiet, Mitsubishi Motors added strategically placed sound insulation materials throughout, which resulted in a reduction of more than 0.5dB in road noise and nearly 6dB in overall sound isolation. Moreover, the use of steel for the hood and front fenders enhances the vehicle’s NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) damping characteristics, making the passenger cabin that much more comfortable.
In addition, a redesigned centre console, a larger armrest, more storage, a more functional wireless mobile phone charging area, as well as revised controls for the transmission and Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) drive mode selector make the new Outlander more practical and functional than ever.
Premium seat materials make the Outlander more inviting and cozy, while ventilated seats (available for the first time) add another layer of comfort for those hot summer days. Outside, the Outlander gets new 18- and 20-inch wheels, an updated front grille and bumper, and new taillights.
In addition, to improve driving feel and enhance confidence behind the wheel, engineers designed a more precise and retuned power steering system, along with recalibrated springs, shock absorbers, and stabilizer bars.
Pricing and availability
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander starts at $36,398, is available in six trims, and comes with a long list of notable features, including auto LED headlights and high beams, headlight washers, room for seven, 3rd row fold-flat seats, multiple USB-C ports for charging, dual and triple-zone automatic climate control, a Bluetooth hands-free cell phone interface, push-button start, wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, Satellite radio, a Yamaha premium sound system with eight speakers, a 12.3-inch screen display, and much more.
Standard safety and ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) technologies include lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation, rear automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, 11 airbags, and rear seat occupant alert.
For added peace of mind, Mitsubishi Motors offers one of the best warranties in the industry. The 2025 Outlander is covered by a 10-year/160,000-km Powertrain Limited Warranty, a 5-year/100,000-km New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and fiveyears of unlimited kilometre Roadside Assistance,
“Production started in October, and the 2026 Outlander will be deliverable for fleet customers in the first quarter of 2026,” concludes Grenier, adding that orders are now being accepted.
