The current, fourth-generation Mitsubishi Outlander arrived in 2021, but an all-new model could reportedly arrive in 2028, carrying a redesigned exterior and a reworked plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The Outlander remains Mitsubishi’s most important model in the US. Last year, 35,896 units were sold, down from 45,253 the previous year, though it still held its position as the brand’s best-selling vehicle.
The next-generation SUV is reportedly set to borrow cues from the Elevance Concept unveiled last year. The concept’s overall shape and size closely matched today’s Outlander, though it brought a fresh design language that could modernize the fifth-generation model.
Key concept elements expected to reach production include bold headlights and daytime running lights that flow down the fascia, along with a body-colored grille.
The Elevance’s oversized side windows will not make it to the production car. If the rear follows the concept, the new Outlander could feature a full-width LED strip and taillights that climb the D-pillars and stretch across the rear flanks.
The current plug-in hybrid pairs a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors, backed by a 22.7 kWh lithium-ion battery. The setup produces 297 hp and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque, with an electric-only range rated at up to 66 miles (106 km).
For the fifth-generation model, Mitsubishi could reportedly add two more electric motors for a total of four. Beyond the expected power increase, the four motors would be central to Mitsubishi’s next-generation Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, another feature shown on the Elevance Concept, delivering power precisely to each wheel. An upgraded engine is also reportedly in the plans for the PHEV.