2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Road Test: 2,500 Miles LaterAutoweekMark VaughnMon, September 28, 2026 at 4:00 AM UTCAdd us on Google2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2,500-Mile Road TestMark VaughnThe Mitsubishi Outlander competes in what has to be the biggest segment of the automotive market, where subcompact crossover utility vehicles scurry about in grocery store parking lots and school pickup lines across America. It doesn't have it easy, going up against class juggernauts like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, and Nissan Rogue, to name just the top sellers.Riding on its own unique take on the Nissan Rogue platform, with its own its own exterior and interior looks, as well as its own suspension tuning, the pluckish Outlander is valiantly doing battle by offering value for the money—and a long, long warranty—against mega-sellers with big engineering budgets and even bigger marketing strategies.Consider that the RAV4 alone sold almost half a million units last year, up slightly from the year before. Honda sold over 400,000 CR-Vs in the same period, breaking its own previous record. Chevy got close to 300,000 Equinoxes. Even Nissan moved 217,896 Rogue SUVs out showroom doors in the US during the 2025 calendar year. Compared to that, Mitsubishi's 35,895 Outlanders looks downright puny—or heroic, depending on who's ad copy you're writing.Diamond stich pattern on the SEL trim level looks classy.MitsubishiHow does Mitsu separate itself from the pack? With an exterior that, if you squint, looks a little like a Land Rover Discovery from the front; an interior that takes diamond stitch styling cues on its semi-aniline leather from what looks like a Bentley Bentayga to make it look and feel like a much more expensive car; and by offering seating for seven, a rarity in the subcompact class. And don't forget that ludicrously long warranty—10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain, five years 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper.AdvertisementAdvertisementSo when a press loan of the Outlander coincided with a long-planned drive across all the mountains of the Western United States, I decided to forgo the previously planned 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan camper and go with the Mitsubishi.It turned out to be a good choice.The 2026 Outlander represents the fourth generation of the nameplate, redesigned in 2022 and facelifted last year. It now has more sound insulation throughout, which helps on those long drives.The Outlander starts at a meager $32,255. My fully loaded test car was $44,075.Outlander takes a breather by the mighty Colorado near Moab.Mark VaughnThe compact utility segment makes up roughly 21 percent of all new vehicle registrations in the US. SUVs and crossovers as a whole dominate the American market, accounting for over 60 percent of total new vehicle sales.AdvertisementAdvertisementMy top-of-the-line SEL trim also had a 12-speaker Yamaha audio system and a panoramic glass roof. Once you balanced the digital equalizer on the 12.3-inch screen, the 12-speaker Yamaha audio sounded pretty good.On the first leg of our journey, we were in states with speed limits of 65 mph on the highway. In those states, I was getting about 28 mpg. But then we crossed over into Utah and Idaho, where the upper limit was 80 mph. Heck, you could go 100 and no one would bat an eye. In those states, mileage dropped to about 26.5 mpg. For such a relatively small crossover, I would have expected better numbers.The Outlander I had included a mild hybrid drivetrain, so if I'd driven those 2,500 miles in stop and go city traffic, or at 55 mph, the mileage surely would have increased. Compare that to the all-wheel-drive RAV4's 29–30 combined EPA mpg, the CR-V's 29 combined, and the Rogue's 31 mpg combined.Trout Lake, Colorado, south of Telluride.Mark VaughnOne drawback, and this is hardly unique to Mitsubishi as almost all competitors have them, was the CVT transmission. It tended to rubber band on steep, twisty mountain roads, sapping the engine's output. This would be what you'd call a dissappointment. But you can't bash Mitsu, or any other carmakers with CVTs, for trying to meet CAFÉ standards any way they can.AdvertisementAdvertisementYou can bash it for the 174-hp output of the 1.5-liter transverse-mounted four-banger. Especially when stepping out to make bold passing moves on narrow mountain roads. If you're starting your pass at, say, 55 mph, and you floor the gas pedal, you won't exactly be overwhelmed with neck-snapping power or torque. So plan your passes. Compare the Outlander's output to competitors like the Equinox at 175 hp, CR-V at 190, and the RAV4 at 203.All these CUVs offer hybrid options with greater output and better fuel economy, including the Outlander, so you can move up to get more hp and better mileage.A big plus in the Outlander's favor, especially for our big trip, was the amount of room inside. We had three adults and enough camping gear for two weeks on the road. I called around to try and purchase a set of $265 cross members for the roof rack so we could store some stuff up there, perhaps in one of those stylish roof bags. But no dealers in LA had them in stock, and I couldn't get one on order until long after we'd set out. Hence, all the gear was stacked high to the ceiling inside, which you might think would block rear vision. Not so! My SEL trim came standard with one of those Digital Rearview Mirrors with Rear Camera. By seeing out through the tiny camera hidden in the rear glass, it didn't matter that the conventional rear view was blocked. Point Outlander!Parked above the Snake RiverMark VaughnSure, the bike rack carrying the mountain bike blocked the camera at first, but a few adjustments of the bike rack's nylon straps fixed that and vision was restored. It was a camping miracle! If I owned the Outlander instead of just borrowing it, I would have sprung for the cross members.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut most owners aren't going to spend their entire ownership/lease on long roadtrips. For everyday around-town suburban living, the Outlander makes for a fine conveyance/companion. For instance, if you have a carpool, or have to haul the Little Mermaids soccer team around, it turns out there's a third-row seat in the wayback, meaning your Outlander seats seven. Few, if any, in the class can say that. The third row seats are among the smallest I've ever encountered, though.More of the Snake River, which seemed to be everyhwere.Mark VaughnI did drive a little off-road, but only on graded dirt roads, since the Outlander rode on 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels wrapped in low-sidewall rubber. As far as I could tell there was no spare tire, so I didn't want to get a flat way out in the middle of nowhere. There are aftermarket A/T tires available, should you plan more adventure.So should the Outlander be on your shopping list for a subcompact SUV? It definitely should, especially if you need an occasional third row and appreciate comfort, quiet, and luxury cues not usually found in the class.