Jump LinksInfotainment: Better, But Not Near The BestLook at the list of changes for the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and you wouldn't realize how important this crossover is to the brand. Between the regular Outlander, which got most of these updates last year, and the PHEV, which is getting them now, the Outlander is far and away Mitsubushi's best-selling model. Not many automakers can say that their best-seller is also their priciest, which is a good problem to have. The changes, though, on paper, are tiny - the kind you need a set of before and after images to really nail down. The PHEV does add electric range, and it can charge a bit more quickly this year, but is that enough to keep a vehicle that debuted four model years ago fresh? Somehow, Mitsubishi's team has made it work.Mitsubishi brought us to Vancouver, Canada to try out the changes. Canada is the largest market for the Outlander PHEV in the world, with its small population moving more than double the number the brand sells in the US, so rolling it out up north first makes a lot of sense. This isn't the Outlander's home, but the number of them I saw on the road in a day's drive might make you think the plant was nearby.First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on CarBuzz for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon. What's Changed For This Model Year? The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is Mitsu's largest model in the US. It splits two segments, offering a third row like the Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe, but the exterior size is closer to a Sportage or Tucson. For 2026, the Outlander PHEV's biggest change is a new battery pack, one that boosts the all-electric range from 38 miles to 45 and also boosts higher-speed acceleration and cuts fuel consumption from 64 MPGe to around 73.The PHEV finally gets the changes that the gas one got last year, which include more sound-deadening insulation and new screens, new suspension and steering tuning, and those blink-and-you'll-miss-it styling changes.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (21 of 52) Design: If The Concept Car Looks Ain't Broke, Don't Fix Them The 2022 Outlander brought the design of the Engelberg Tourer concept to market almost entirely unchanged, and this refresh doesn't tweak a good thing too far. The Outlander has presence without looking overly aggressive. It's a chiseled block of marble in a segment where other brands can't seem to decide what they want to be.This year, the PHEV has its upper grilled filled so now it looks like the latest from Gillette, and not an electric shaver like it did before. The taillights add a smoked finish, and the lowest-down trim pieces on the bumper are a new color. The best changes are the new wheels, which are a big improvement. The 18-inch standard wheels are much nicer, and the 20s on higher-spec trims are still an improvement.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2 of 52) Interior: Small Changes, Big Results Mitsubishi focused our attention on the extra in-cabin sound deadening making the vehicle quieter, but it's one tech change that rules the day in this updated model. The Outlander line is the first in the business to get a Yamaha audio system, and it's not limited to the big spenders. Even the base model gets a Yamaha system, though it doesn't have as many speakers or as many watts. It's strange to see Yamaha doing car stereos instead of engines, but the system is very well integrated into the car. And it sounds incredible. Especially for this price point. It also looks good, with metal speaker grills hammering home the quality improvements.Evan Williams/CarBuzz/ValnetMitsubishi moved the cupholders so they're now not crammed between driver and passenger. The change added storage space in the center console, and the holders themselves are cleverly angled, so the lids of your 44-oz Big Gulps won't touch (it's the details that matter). The first and second rows are spacious. The third row is not, but it's really meant for occasional use by kids or shorter adults. Most of the time it'll probably be folded, where it unfortunately doesn't lock in place and bounces over speed bumps.All of the important controls, including the climate and seat comfort settings, get real buttons, knobs, and dials. Thanks to Mitsubishi for being one of the few to drop in a larger screen without it also taking over every part of the car that has no business being on-screen only.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (36 of 52) Infotainment: Better, But Not Near The Best A new 12.3-inch center screen is standard across the board, and outsizes the 8 and 9-inch screens from before. The center and dash screens have higher refresh rates, so they look smoother than before, which is especially welcome when the multiple needles on the dash are moving. The center screen has updated graphics, too, that are a massive improvement over the prior generation. They're a big improvement, but they still don't look especially modern - especially the navigation's maps. But at least this one won't embarrass you when it loads up like the old one might.The Yamaha system also comes with settings you won't find anywhere else, like audio output signal compensation for HVAC noise and even for rain hitting the car and splashing up around the wheels.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (35 of 52) Powertrain & Driving: A Bounce In Your Step Every Outlander PHEV gets a 2.4-liter gas four-cylinder and two electric motors. Mitsubishi calls it an EV-first design, so the gas engine almost never turns the tires directly. Since the engine doesn't drive the wheels, it can come in and out completely seamlessly. Unless you're at low speeds, you probably won't even hear it.The two motors give the Outlander a good boost off the line, with electric torque getting you rolling briskly. Mitsubishi says that there's lots more power, now 297 horsepower instead of the 248 of last year. Importantly, there's more power available at higher speeds because of the new battery - but I had a hard time feeling any of the extra ponies on the road; acceleration above 40 mph feels particularly slow. There's no electric torque boost at speeds, and because the engine doesn't start screaming like it would in its competitors, there's no extra sensation helping make it feel quicker.Acceleration isn't brisk, but it is smooth, at least. The entire ride is smooth, thanks to new shocks and changes to the steering. The Outlander PHEV punches well above its weight class when it comes to on-road comfort, and all but the biggest bumps (the ones that move the back seat) disappear - I could hear them more than feel them through the chassis.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (18 of 52)Thanks to the yaw control that's part of Mitsubishi's S-AWC all-wheel drive system, there's little body roll in corners. The flat ride and a suspension that's on the softer side combine with the quiet interior to make this an extremely relaxing drive. After most of a day in the new Outlander, I was feeling much more relaxed than spending the same amount of time in anything else in this segment. There's no transmission, so that part of the system is always smooth as well. The sound of the motors has been reduced, and the driveline, especially in EV mode, might as well not be there.Stopping the Outlander, though, was disappointing. Not because I wanted to keep going, or because of the braking - it actually has more regen this year for smoother stopping without the brakes - but because of a strange suspension pitch. No matter how smoothly I came to a stop, it would bounce slightly on the suspension after the Outlander came to a halt. Get it very smooth and there might only be two or three bounces. Slam the brakes, and I counted as many as seven. With how good the ride was the rest of the time, I was surprised by this flub.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (50 of 52)Fuel economy, or more accurately range, met the promise of the new system. I managed the full 45 miles and then some on electric power, and the route had mountain climbs and highway traffic. When the engine came on, mostly to run the heat, fuel economy showed an indicated 78 MPGe or so. Verdict & Pricing: Plug In To Something Rare - A Bargain More range, power, and refinement give the Outlander PHEV the changes it needs to stay competitive. Crucially, the changes also help set it apart from the new and nearly identical Nissan Rogue PHEV - Nissan gets all the old stuff, and none of the new stuff. Nissan hasn't announced US pricing yet, but the Canadian model is up just $1,500 from 2025 pricing. If Mitsubishi manages that for the US, the starting price should fall in at around $42,000 and when a plug-in Sorento starts for a hair under $50,000 including shipping, and the Mazda CX-90 starts for well over $50,000, the Outlander really shines.Don't expect it to be much more than the smaller RAV4 PHEV, and even the Rogue PHEV, with its older tech, and half of Mitsubishi's 10-year powertrain warranty (plus 3 years vs 5 on bumper to bumper) is priced much higher. We expect Mitsubishi to compete on price; the recently departed Mirage as well as the Outlander Sport and Eclipse Cross make that all too clear.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (22 of 52)The Outlander, including this refreshed PHEV, shows that the company can compete on product and not just price, at least when it wants to. The Outlander PHEV is even better, and if you're on the fence about hybrid electrification or a PHEV and you need space for five with occasional space for more, it's a must-drive. For the first time, it's now also the choice of those who value great audio tech, and the comfort choice in the small crossover segment - and that's not something you expect to read about a Mitsubishi.The Outlander PHEV was already the best vehicle in the Mitsubishi lineup. More importantly, it was one of the best in its admittedly small segment. The changes for 2026 aren't big, but they do make it meaningfully better. I'd seriously consider an upgrade from a 2022 model for the stereo alone. The smooth ride and quiet cabin make it a must-check-out if you're shopping for a mainstream PHEV crossover. It's only let down by its acceleration, and that little bounce for anyone who actually stops at stop signs.