2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL: Review, Prices, and Specs

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL in Moonstone Gray

Text by Tom Appel

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL AWD

Specs

Country of manufacture: Japan

Seating capacity: 5

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	A
Power and Performance	C
Fit and Finish	A-
Fuel Economy	B
Value	B+

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	174-horsepower 1.5-liter
Engine Type	Turbocharged four
Transmission	CVT automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Miles Driven: 88

Observed fuel economy: N/A

Driving mix: 50% city, 50% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 26/30/27 (mpg city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $40,845 (not including $1795 (destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($995), Premium Package ($3050), Tonneau Cover ($240), grille paint-protection film ($115)

Price as tested: $47,060

Audio-System Brand

Yamaha

Audio-System Quality

Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent

Pros and Cons

The great: Roomy, well-appointed cabin

The good: sophisticated ride and handling balance

The not so good: Down on power, not easy to find in some markets

Review

Question: What do Mitsubishi and Tesla have in common? Answer: Neither carmaker has a dealership in Alaska, Montanna, Nebraska, or Wyoming. Make of this what you will, but it’s been a long time since Mitsubishi ran radio ads boasting about being the fastest-growing car brand in the America.

Mitsubishi in America

Not too long ago, Mitsubishi stores were well stocked with midsize cars, sporty coupes and convertibles, a midsize pickup truck, and a midsize crossover.

Talk to Mitsubishi marketing veterans off the record, and they will tell you that the Japanese carmaker’s corporate dalliance with Daimler-Benz early this century proved ruinous, choking off product-development capital, and an unintentional repositioning of Mitsubishi and as 2^nd-tier “value” brand.

2026 Mitsubishi Lineup

Today Mitsubishi retails three small crossovers in the States—two of which are too close in size and price—and as noted above, doesn’t quite cover the country with its dealer network. But while this all may sound a little depressing, there’s also some good news: Mitsu’s midsize crossover—the Outlander—is very good, and, a bit like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, you are about to hear more about this largely forgotten import brand—and for all the right reasons.

Mitsubishi’s current lineup looks like this:

Outlander Sport – Subcompact Crossover

Price Range: $26,740-$31,655

Last redesigned: 2011

Eclipse Cross – Subcompact Crossover

Price Range: $29,440-$33,590

Last redesigned: 2022 (refresh)

Outlander – Compact Crossover

Price Range $32,205–$47,190

Last redesigned: 2025 (refresh)

That’s three models with starting prices within $5500 of each other. While this seems to cap the brand’s appeal, consumer really only have a single choice: Outlander.

And while there is the promise of fresh product from this long-dormant Japanese brand, including an electric crossover based on the Nissan Leaf dubbed Eclipse Sportback, we’d like to suggest that the criminally overlooked Outlander belongs on your compact crossover test-drive list.

2026 Outlander

Built in cooperation with Nissan, and based on that maker’s excellent Rogue compact crossover, the Outlander may be one of the best-kept secrets in this highly competitive segment.

Outlander Prices and Trim Levels

For 2026, the Outlander is offered in seven trim levels:

ES ($32,205)
LE ($34,555)
SE ($36,690)
SEL ($41,390)
Ralliart ($41,975)
Trail Edition ($41,990)
SEL Black Edition ($45,390)

Ralliart and Trail Edition

First, yes Mitsubishi really does offer the Outlander in both ES and SE trim levels, and it’s confusing as hell.

Second, the Ralliart and Trail Edition come only with AWD. Other trim levels come with standard front-wheel drive, with AWD offered as a $2200 option.

While trims generally ascend in content and level of luxury, two Outlander models boast unique profiles. The Ralliart hues to a sporty theme, with unique grille and exterior features, black alloy wheels, and unique cabin accents.

The off-road themed Trail Edition sports “basket-weave” black alloy wheels, black exterior trim, and rugged bits including mud flaps, front skid “garnish,” rear protector, fender protectors, side protectors, and bumper corner protectors.

Test Car

Consumer Guide recently spent some time behind the wheel of an AWD 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL in Moonstone Gray. Including the Premium Package and destination charge, our well-equipped test car came to $47,060.

Room and Comfort

Like its Nissan cousin, the Outlander boasts plenty of cabin space, making it deal for families with growing youngsters. There’s ample large-adult space in the front row, and class-leading 2^nd-row head, knee, and legroom. Thanks to a relatively low ride height, and large door openings, entering and exiting the Outlander is a simple process.

Cabin Appointments and Connectivity

And while we’ve always been a fan of the Rogue’s premium-feeling cabin, especially in upper trim levels, we think the Outlander in SEL guise is the more premium feeling crossover of the two. The cabin is classy, lined with premium looking—and feeling—materials, and apparently well screwed together.

Touchscreen and infotainment engagement is predictably like that of the Rogue, which is mostly a good thing. We found the screen easy to read, menus predictable, and the system quick to respond to touch inputs.

We were pleasantly surprised by the 12-speaker Yamaha-brand sound system found in our test car. Included on SEL with the available Premium Package, the upgrade sound system replaces an 8-speaker Yamaha outfit, and sounds clean and rich. Folks serious about their music will want to invest in the 12-speaker option.

Power and Performance

Surprisingly, the Rogue and Outlander are not entirely clones, and differ considerably under the hood. While both crossovers are offered with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine mated to a CVT-style automatic transmission, the engines themselves are unique to each manufacturer.

The Rogue unit is a 3-cylinder mill rated at 201 horsepower, while the Outlander’s 4-cylinder engine generates just 174 horsepower. The Outlander’s power deficient is palpable, and while the Nissan is borderline sprightly in around-town driving, the Mitsubishi can feel sluggish in certain driving environments.

Fuel Economy

Unfortunately, our evaluation of the Outlander did not include sufficient highway driving for a fair mileage comparison between it and the Rogue, however, EPA combined estimates are substantially higher (31 mpg versus 27 mpg) for a Rogue with AWD than the similarly equipped Outlander.

Ride and Handling

The competition between the two vehicles tightens back up on the road. The Outlander rides and handles like a premium vehicle, and interior noise levels are kept well below class average. The Mitsubishi scores big points for long-trip comfort, and would make a fine small-family vacation ride.

Value

In simplest terms, the Outlander is a Rogue with a nicer cabin, but less power. And, if you live in a state where access to a Mitsubishi dealer isn’t an issue—and to be fair, that’s most states—we seriously suggest you take Mitsubishi’s largest and most comfortable offering out for a test drive. Yes, the company promises more product is on the way, but why wait? The Outlander is the industry’s best-kept small-crossover secret.