Tougher Mitsubishi Outlander confirmed but it won’t be tri-motor Ralliart hero, rather a Subaru Forester Wilderness rival

Mitsubishi Motors North The USA has confirmed this would well debut an ‘off-avenue focused’ variant of its upcoming Outlander gentle-hybrid mid subsequent year. Despite being a step-up from the gift US-grade Plug Edition, this almost at the moment-to-start out-roader leaves many wishing for added.

Three years ago, there had been murmurs of a rally-bred, 285kW, tri-motor Ralliart model. It’s tranquil yet to look, even supposing sorting out became confirmed and a spokesperson suggested Chasing Autos in 2023 “we in actual fact desire to assemble that roughly skills for manufacturing vehicles.”

One can imprint our disappointment then, when the truth of a recent off-avenue mannequin sets in. Largely, the indisputable truth that this would well exercise the identical 135kW/245Nm 1.5-litre gentle-hybrid as the rest of the U.S. Outlander vary.

Further small print are yet to be confirmed however the as-yet unnamed variant will feature recent, off-avenue particular bodywork (perchance reprofiled bumpers and dim wheel arch mouldings), and an upgraded model of the Outlander’s ‘S-AWC’ all-wheel force blueprint.

As for Australian plans for Mitsubishi‘s Toyota RAV4 Edge, Subaru Forester Desolate tract and Nissan X-Plug N-Crawl rival, a spokesperson suggested Chasing Autos:

“We imprint there is Aussie buyer ardour in this kind of automobile and we’re evaluating how a extra adventure-focused Outlander may perchance well ogle in due course, for our market. Nonetheless, no plans are confirmed at this moment.”

The recent US-certain off-avenue Outlander builds upon the recently released Outlander Plug Edition, also abnormal to US markets. That mannequin starts from US$39,295.

In Australia, that tag would translate to around $60,500 sooner than on-avenue prices — roughly the tag of an Outlander Exceed Tourer.

US-market Plug Edition Outlander fashions form upon the middle-grade SE, equal to our ‘LS’, including 18-inch wheels, exterior physique protectors, roof-rails, mud flaps, and blacked-out suggestions including a bonnet decal, door handles, mirrors and grille-neat.

US-market 2026 mannequin Outlanders will transition from exercise of a 135kW/244Nm 2.5-litre engine (the accurate same unit offered in Australia) for a 135kW/245Nm 1.5-litre gentle-hybrid, marketed alongside an updated Outlander toddle-in hybrid blueprint.

Talking to Mitsubishi Australia, it became confirmed that an improved toddle-in hybrid Outlander will reach in January, however the likelihood of a gentle-hybrid stays off the desk for now. More on those powertrains right here.