Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD 2026 Review

This update shouldn’t be glossed over. The big talking point is the Australian-developed suspension tune. It includes recalibrated spring rates and dampers with revised bump/rebound and a thinner front sway bar, as well as manipulated steering with new software. Revisions also extend to the exterior design, as well as a tweaked centre console layout, new rear seats and extra kit.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see the prices are up across the board. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants are in for a revamp, too, with a Q1 2026 arrival expected. However, for the purposes of this review, we’re sticking to solely petrol power.

Our chosen variant is the mid-spec seven-seat 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD (all-wheel drive), which is now $2950 more expensive, bringing the monetary value before on-road costs (ORCs) to $51,040. You can save $1500 by opting for front-wheel drive.

It carries on the tradition of being a mid-size SUV packed to the gills with seats, retaining the option of five or seven seats. Although, it’s important to note that even Mitsubishi states that the latter is more a 5+2 arrangement, rather than a full-blown three-row SUV. If the Aspire exceeds your budget, but you still want AWD, the LS is $45,790 (+ORCs).

Being mixed in with the brawl that is the medium SUV segment, the Outlander isn’t short on rivals. And they aren’t pushovers, either, with likes of the new, sixth-generation Toyota RAV4, refreshed Kia Sportage as well as stalwarts like the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson. 

There’s also a slew of fast-improving Chinese competitors to contend with, too, like the Chery Tiggo 8 and MG QS, while the Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tayron also offer seven-seat practicality.

The styling hasn’t really been touched with the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD, but despite the design remaining relatively unchanged since the fourth generation’s 2021 launch, it remains an attractive silhouette – especially in the higher grades, which score big 20-inch wheels.

The Aspire gains a chunk of goodies like LED headlights, daytime running lights and taillights, part synthetic leather and suede seats (powered adjustment/lumbar for driver only), heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and a powered tailgate. Metallic paint is an extra $790, while premium hues are $990.

Warranty has been a Mitsubishi strong suit for a while now, and the Outlander’s base plan is five years/100,00km. However, if you consistently service your vehicle within the brand’s dealership network, that doubles to 10 years/200,000km.

Those intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, while a 10-year/150,000-kilometre capped-price servicing plan will set you back a reasonable $4340 over that period, or an average of $434 per year. Another incentive to service with Mitsubishi is four years of roadside assistance.

The range recently underwent retesting with ANCAP, resulting in a full five-star safety rating for the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD.

Improvements to the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) see it now also have turning and motorcycle detection as well as including rear AEB, while the lane support and driver monitoring system have been beefed up. This is on top of radar cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, parking sensors and a 360-degree camera (Multi Around Monitor).

For those with families, there are top-tether anchorages and ISOFIX points as well as eight airbags.

Yet, as with most new cars, it’s the integration of the speed sign recognition and driver monitoring tech that frustrates the most. We even received a telling off from the infrared cameras (positioned on the steering column and looking right at you) for daring to take our eyes off the road to switch off some of the audible warnings.

And like most systems on the market, they revert to being on every time the Outlander is restarted, meaning you must repeat the cancelling-out presses with each drive. If only there was one button to turn everything off. Luckily the speed sign recognition doesn’t bing or bong, because it doesn’t always get them right.

There isn’t much missing with the level of tech inside the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD. It houses a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen proudly within the dash, while also gaining a second 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

In terms of the infotainment screen, it’s clear and concise with the operating systems being relatively fast to respond to touch inputs, though the graphics don’t shout luxe. This isn’t a huge issue given that most users will be connected to the wireless smartphone mirroring – both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new digital instrument cluster is quite detailed with all the vital information you need, plus there’s a range of configurability and different arrangements to choose from. Although, having to toggle through various menus via the steering-wheel mounted controls to switch off safety systems is a faff.

Elsewhere, the Aspire grade gains decent kit with premium-brand audio – an eight-speaker Yamaha system – while there’s also native sat-nav (including internet-sourced live traffic), DAB+, Bluetooth, voice control, USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad.

The Aspire grade also gains access to Mitsubishi’s Connected Services with the first five years being complimentary. Remote access is available from the smartphone app, too.

If there is a chink in the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD’s armour, it’s underneath the bonnet.

Nope, there’s no modern, small capacity turbocharged engine or electric assistance here, just a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit (shared with the Nissan X-Trail). Okay, it’s a family-focused medium SUV so it doesn’t require oodles of oomph, but its 135kW/244Nm is ‘just’ enough to haul the 1695kg kerb mass adequately.

It certainly isn’t the final word in mechanical sophistication, but it gets the job done with acceptable levels of performance for city duties or leisurely, single-lane overtakes in the country. There are drive modes, too, which include Eco, Normal, Tarmac (Sport), Gravel and Snow/Mud, yet none of them seem to calm the somewhat touchy throttle pedal.

Our Aspire is also fitted with Mitsubishi’s ‘Super All-Wheel Control’ AWD system (it sends power to the wheels with the most traction) and is tied to an ‘eight-speed’ continuously variable transmission (CVT) – which offers a rather redundant manual mode with steering wheel-mounted paddles.

The eight stepped ratios do their level best to avoid the traditional perching of revs through heavier acceleration, but it isn’t totally successful, resulting in strained acoustics. It’s especially noticeable on inclines where the transmission is going in search of power and torque that isn’t there. However, in normal day-to-day operation, it’s harmless and intuitive enough.

Well, it isn’t in purely petrol form. The brand claims 8.1L/100km for the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD, but living with it for a week shows this is wide of the mark. Our combined average came to 9.2L/100km. So, it isn’t exactly frugal, then.

It regains points via its liquid diet of the cheaper 91 RON unleaded fuel and the tank itself is 55 litres.

Again, if low fuel consumption is important to you and justifying the extra spend is a non-event, then the PHEV drivetrain will be the one to go for with its 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack serving up 105km of EV-only range (up from 84km).

Sometimes it’s all about what you can’t see that makes all the difference, which is the case with the refreshed 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD.

The Aussie suspension tune, which was developed and evaluated in South Australia with fettled springs and dampers, reveals its positive effects most at speed on the open road as opposed to confined to CBD limits, largely due to the 255/45 profile tyres wrapping the big wheels.

Leave the city or suburbia and the rewards are present. The Outlander absorbs lumps and bumps more happily as the springs and dampers breath with the road far better. No, the Mitsubishi still isn’t quite as dynamic as some of the top performers in the segment and it can feel a little heavy and lethargic, but it’s far from being outclassed. Its newfound handling aptitude certainly comes as a refreshing change.

The tweaks to the steering also generate tangible differences, too, with weight and feedback being well judged for this vehicle type – no longer is it too quick. There is no need to change the driving mode to Tarmac as it merely adds synthetic heft. And without regenerative braking, the pedal returns much more natural progression, meaning you don’t have to adjust to any inconsistencies as the driver.

There’s always plenty of purchase thanks to the added traction of AWD, although the reality is there isn’t enough grunt to warrant the extra spend on it.

Can it go off-road? In terms of family trips to the snow or camping adventures traversing well-kept dirt roads, yes it can. However, the Bridgestone rubber is bitumen-centric and low profile to wrap around the large wheels, while there’s only a space-saver spare and minimal ground clearance at 210mm. So, there are clear limitations.

Mitsubishi is keeping an eye on the competition, so don’t totally rule out an Outlander with more, ahem, outlandish off-road talent.

The fourth generation really moved the game forward in 2021. It went from looking cheap and feeling nasty to anything but – a true metamorphosis that was sorely needed. Upmarket vibes are real in the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD, with the update adding even more luxe appeal. This is refreshing given the price point.

The part synthetic leather and suede seats are also nice and comfy to sit in for long drives, while the use of physical dials for the climate control is an ergonomic win. In fact, just about everything is where you expect it to be and a cinch to operate, something the reworked centre console also aids. Storage areas are well-catered for, too, and the view out is generally clear from all angles.

Yet, there are hard plastics and finger-print and scratch-inducing piano black sections throughout the cabin.

Also contradicting the higher-class ambience inside is the road noise, which can become quite intrusive at speed. And you do tend to hear bigger hits through the suspension on a bumpy road. Our test car also had a quality-control issue, with the misaligned sunglasses holder being a case of ‘once seen, you can’t unsee it’.

The realities of housing seven seats in a 4720mm body with a 2706mm wheelbase are always going to hit home in the third row and the Outlander can’t quite pull a Houdini act. The third row is tight for anyone taller than a primary schooler, with access requiring mild gymnastic moves. However, as a vessel to collect friends of younger siblings, it’s valid additional seating capacity.

In contrast, the middle row is palatial. Well, it can be. Given the trio of pews can be slid forward and back (as well as recline) to accommodate all passengers, it’s a give-and-take scenario. Yet, by and large, the second row is a nice place to be with plenty of headroom, too. Amenities are covered off with air vents, USB ports, map and phone pockets, a folding centre arm rest and bottle holders in the doors.

With all seats in place there’s enough room for the kid’s backpacks or lighter luggage considering the 163-litre capacity – which expands to a maximum of 1461L in total. Or in the more common five-seat mode, there’s 478L to play with. Handy hooks, tie-down points and a 12-volt outlet also feature, while the removable cargo cover can be stored underneath the flat boot floor.

The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD might be more a head-over-heart purchase, but when it comes to ticking boxes, it leaves few unchecked. Which is why it’s rightfully proved so popular. Still, Mitsubishi should be commended for its development push and not for resting on sales success.

Granted, the four-cylinder petrol only just cuts the mustard here, in both efficiency and performance. Yet, there is the PHEV powertrain to solve those issues if budgets allow. And while this isn’t an issue exclusive to Outlander, the overzealous safety systems do their best to kill the free-and-easy vibes.

Ultimately, there’s no rewriting of the seven-seat medium SUV rulebook here, but it also doesn’t require it. For the relative cost tied in with Mitsubishi’s strong warranty and servicing plans, the case for the Outlander as a family hauler is hard to ignore. 

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire AWD at a glance:
Price: $51,040 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 135kW/244Nm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 185g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2025)

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