What does Mitsubishi make these days? And no, I’m not talking about their heavy industries arm that makes literally everything, but the car manufacturer? Take a second, because as much as you think you do, you don’t know their entire lineup. Here in Canada we get the RVR, Eclipse Cross and the Outlander. That’s a razor thin lineup and I bet you didn’t get all three. I sure didn’t.  

It's weird though, because I see Mitsubishis everywhere in the greater Toronto area, except it’s always the Outlander, and usually the PHEV. I just happen to have a 2026 Outlander PHEV GT Premium to figure out why.

You might notice, especially inside, that it looks very Nissan - that's because it is - but it’s worth understanding the symbiotic relationship here. The Outlander bones are indeed repackaged Nissan Rogue bones, with obvious clues being the front end styling and much of the interior, with the UI software being a dead giveaway. But that’s not the whole story.

Where Mitsubishi borrowed from Nissan for the platform, its Nissan who borrowed from Mitsubishi for their hybrid tech. So the powerplant in the Outlander PHEV is all Mitsubishi, despite the rest of the Outlander feeling very Nissan-ish. It’s a win-win and it starts with that powertrain.

It’s the heart that matters - powertrain

The Mitsubishi hybrid powerplant has been fine-tuned over the course of about a decade and is precisely why Nissan wanted it. Put simply, it’s good. It’s a 2.4L four-cylinder mated to twin electric motors that combine to produce a decent 248 horsepower and a strong 332 lb-ft of torque. The 22 kWh battery is good for an estimated 72 km of range, and can be charged with a plug or by using the gas engine as a generator to produce electrons to recharge the battery. 

The Outlander PHEV loves to stay in EV mode as much as possible, and when the gas engine kicks in it prioritizes giving charge to the battery first before stepping in to help power the (front) wheels (it is all wheel drive, but the rear wheels are driven by one of the electric motors). It’s a buttery smooth operation, with the Outlander feeling like it virtually always has that velvety EV power delivery and torque, and the gas engine barely makes itself known to you in almost all circumstances. Honestly, I was pretty blown away at how refined the whole thing felt, considering Mitsubishi isn’t a big player in the grand automotive landscape these days.

on the road - DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

One drawback is the EV only range. It got up to around 75 km on the dash, but my unscientific guesstimation is that I got maybe 50-55 km of range on the regular, and this was in half decent weather with no speedy shenanigans to speak of. I’m still ok with it, because most EVs tend to miss their range estimate, it just feels exasperated in a PHEV with limited EV-only range to begin with. But it will do your errands and typical (short) commute on pure EV power, as it did for me.

The Outlander PHEV just works the way it should. The smooth powertrain is matched with a forgettable-in-the-right-way suspension and steering that doesn’t feel overly boaty for a 7 passenger crossover. It's comfortable, quiet, easy to drive, and that's all most people want.

Butterface? - Exterior style

I wouldn’t call it a looker, as the busy front end isn’t for everybody, but the Outlander manages to look borderline handsome, especially finished in the inoffensive moonstone grey with diamond cut wheels. Bonus points for people who want to flex about having an EV, because the PHEV logo on the front doors is the largest I’ve ever seen. Weird flex but ok. 

Surprising luxury - INTERIOR ACCOMmODATION

Brown semi-aniline diamond stitched leather is not what I was expecting in a Mitsubishi, but here we are. It looks and feels great, and the front seats are supportive and provide a strong massage function to go along with the heat and cooled comfort.

Although the seats look and feel premium the rest of the interior is very Nissan, right down to the dual 12.3” screens for the gauge cluster and infotainment screen, both which use Nissan’s software with nary a change. The shifter and climate controls are pulled from the Nissan parts bin too, but Mitsubishi didn’t defer on everything, choosing to use a bespoke steering wheel to separate itself from its cousin.

And guess what, it just works. Everything feels appropriate for the category and feels intuitive in the right ways. I could complain about the overly thin feeling door cards, but that’s just nitpicking, as they do seem to give you the illusion of more space.

Like an old baseball glove - wrap it up

The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT Premium manages to feel familiar and comfortable, like an old baseball glove. Sure there are flashier things out there, but if you’re just trying to get the job done, the Outlander will help make that happen provided you treat it like a 5 seater with an 872 litre trunk, because third row legroom is a joke and only meant for your enemies.

And although the price of $62,598 inches above some of its closest competitors (like the RAV4), the Outlander PHEV GT Premium feels like a half -class above from a luxury standpoint, and it is the only affordable three-row plug-in, even if that third row doesn't count for much. In summary, Mitsubishi doesn’t really make many cars, or even all that much of the cars they do make, but clearly there’s a reason people know about and buy the Outlander PHEV: it's practical, affordable, and nicer than you'd think.