2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2026 Outlander Sport is Mitsubishi’s smallest and least expensive SUV. Along with its low price point, the Outlander Sport touts standard all-wheel drive and an exceptional warranty. Those are the bright spots; the rest of this model’s appeal quickly dims from there. The Outlander Sport is now among the oldest vehicle designs you can buy, at a whopping 15 years old. In the automotive industry, that’s ancient. This SUV has had updates over the years, but not enough to make it more attractive than any of its other subcompact SUV rivals. Moreover, it doesn’t have the latest safety and driver assistance features like, well, almost every other subcompact SUV rival. In our rankings of the best subcompact SUVs, the Outlander Sport unfortunately sits last.

If you still have your heart set on an Outlander Sport, read on.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact SUVs, including the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

The 2026 Outlander Sport S and ES trims finally get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, along with an 8-inch touchscreen. These were previously reserved for higher trims.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport starts a bit below far better competitors like the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona. It’s also less than the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek, which, like the Outlander Sport, have all-wheel drive standard. Yet for all its disadvantages, the Outlander Sport isn’t necessarily a bargain. A Kia Seltos begins lower, as do the Nissan Kicks and even the Toyota Corolla Cross. All of these offer more advanced safety and driver-assistance features like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control that are not even available in the Outlander Sport.

Although the allure of a lower price might be tempting now, you’ll likely pay more for the Outlander Sport in the long run, primarily when it’s time to sell. That’s because the Outlander Sport has one of the lowest resale values in the segment. We urge you to remember that recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Yes, it has the word “sport” in its name, but the Outlander Sport isn’t really sporty. That name differentiates it from the larger, 3-row Mitsubishi Outlander.

We do like that the Outlander Sport has all-wheel drive as standard. This is a benefit if you live where roads can get slippery due to foul weather. About the only adjective we can think of after our tests with this Mitsubishi is “mediocre.” All but the top trim must make do with a paltry 148-horsepower engine connected to a CVT transmission. Compare that with the Mazda CX-30’s standard 191 hp and snappy 6-speed automatic. You’ll need a heavy right foot to get the Outlander Sport up to speed on freeways and for passing duties.

The story is a little better in the SEL trim. And by a little better, we mean 20 more horsepower, which is what the SEL’s bigger engine musters. Again, this isn’t groundbreaking, but it isn’t woeful.

With either engine, we’ve found ride quality on the firm side. That’s fine for solo jaunts on back roads, and not so great with a small family aboard.

Fuel Economy

The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is rated at 26 mpg in mixed city and highway driving. This is no longer that competitive. The Mazda CX-30, which also has all-wheel drive standard and far more power than the Mitsu, earns 29 mpg. The Subaru Crosstrek, with all-wheel drive and slightly more power, also earns 29 mpg combined. Then there’s the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, also with all-wheel drive, that earns 42 mpg.

Although it’s not exactly as it was when the Outlander Sport debuted 15 years ago, the design hasn’t changed drastically for its 5-passenger interior. Its rivals have better materials, fresher aesthetics, more technology, and more space. The Outlander Sport just isn’t competitive anymore. Heck, you don’t even get push-button start until you reach the SE trim.

Finally, though, for 2026, the Outlander Sport can say it gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. Additionally, the two lower trims jettison their former 7-inch touchscreen for an 8-inch model. This is hardly groundbreaking when a Hyundai Kona comes standard with a 12.3-inch display, but it’s something. Also new for LE and above trims, rear USB ports are now onboard.

Up front, there is room in front for a pair of 6-footers. But those of the same height won’t be all that comfortable sitting in back. Rear legroom of 36.3 inches is adequate, but the Seltos has 38. Now let’s compare cargo room. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has 21.7 cubic feet behind the seats and 49.5 with them lowered. The Seltos has 26.6 and 62.8, respectively.

We thought the Outlander Sport looked handsome when it debuted so long ago, and at least we can say it’s aged pretty well. It’s a diminutive little pup that, at 171.9 inches long, is now shorter than some rivals that have grown. The Toyota Corolla Cross, for instance, is 176.1 inches.

Standard all-wheel drive

All 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport models come with all-wheel drive — or, as Mitsubishi calls it, Super All-Wheel Control.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers
In rival vehicles, this feature is quite often an option or fitted to a higher trim. It’s standard in the Outlander Sport SUV.

Warranty
Like other new Mitsubishi vehicles, the Outlander Sport has an exceptional warranty: five years/60,000 miles basic, and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. That’s on par with what Hyundai and Kia offer.

Rear parking sensors
These are optional across the Outlander Sport range. Even though this small SUV has a parking space-friendly size, a little extra help is always a good thing to have.

Leather seating surfaces
The SEL model has these as standard. They add a little class to a somewhat workaday cabin.

2.4-liter engine
If Mitsubishi made this the standard engine on the Outlander Sport, we would have more to recommend it. Especially since its fuel economy is close to that of the 2.0-liter unit.

The engine in most versions of the 2026 Outlander Sport SUV is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit making a pretty meager 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The exception is the 2.4 SEL, which has a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine developing 168 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. It’s the better choice of the two, and quieter as well. But that would mean splashing out on the priciest Outlander Sport variant — and for that kind of money, there are more appealing alternatives. Both engines are connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and all models have all-wheel drive as standard.

Warranty

The new vehicle warranty on a 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport lasts for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain’s coverage is 10 years or 100,000 miles. There aren’t any better warranties, although Hyundai and Kia offer the same arrangements. All new Mitsubishi vehicles also include two years/30,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

Safety

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport receives mixed ratings in some tests with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning Good in a few categories and Acceptable. It earns four stars out of five in testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).