The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL S-AWC.

A few years into this grand experiment between Nissan and Mitsubishi, the arrangement continues to bear fruit. Following a refresh, the new Mitsubishi Outlander SEL S-AWC is back, and it’s new and improved. Jump into Napleton News to find out more review to learn more about it.

What is the Outlander SEL?

With seating for seven in its three rows, the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL is a sport utility vehicle that utilizes the Nissan Rogue platform. I’m sorry, could you repeat that? That’s right, the Mitsu shares its best parts with its corporate cousin, the Nissan Rogue. And that’s not a bad thing, either. Thank “badge engineering” for that.

What’s badge engineering? Simple, that’s where a car is designed for one division of a company, like Chevrolet, for instance. Let’s imagine we are talking about the Chevrolet Chevelle, which was a popular car in the 1960s. To stretch their development and manufacturing costs, and to pay them back faster, a second and even third car was developed for the company’s other divisions. They looked basically the same underneath the skin, but featured variations on the front and rear of the car. Think of the Chevrolet Chevelle, Oldsmobile 442, and Pontiac GTO as corporate cousins.

What motivates the Outlander PHEV?

New this year for the Mitsubishi lineup is a 1.5-liter turbocharged mild-hybrid 4-cylinder engine that delivers 177-horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. That’s about average, give or take a few ponies, for the segment.

The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission and Super all-wheel control system. It’s Mitsu-speak for their all-wheel drive system. It features various drive modes including Gravel, Tarmac, Snow, Eco, Normal and Mud. These modes will hopefully help pull you through regardless of the situations and road conditions you find yourself in.

Mitsubishi backs its products up with a 5-year/60,000 mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000 drivetrain warranty. On top of that is five years of roadside assistance and two-years of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

How does the Outlander look?

In the past, we’ve characterized some Mitsubishi designs as coming from Japanese sci-fi movies. After a 2025 refresh, the Outlander SEL continues on its mission. Daytime running lights remain prominently placed on the vehicle’s front. Below them are the primary headlights, which, depending on the angle, look like an afterthought. They function, yet the appearance remains awkwardly clumsy. Thinking about these makes me recall the car drawings we did in school instead of paying attention to the teacher. Further refinement is added to the car’s overall appearance through the addition of a black roofline detail.

The overall attractiveness of the Outlander is enhanced by the collaborative design efforts of the Nissan and Mitsubishi studios.

Inside the Outlander SEL. What’s it like?

Vastly improved over the previous generation, our Outlander interior featured a new look that What a difference a few years makes. The interior of the 2026 Outlander has been drastically improved over that of the previous generations. Ours featured gray semi-Aniline leather with diamond pleating. The side panels have been replaced with soft-touch material that gives the Outlander a class-above feeling.

The driver’s digital measures a diagonal 12.3-inches. head-up display and a 12.3-inch central console display. Also on board, a Yamaha audio system, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Yamaha is one of those diversified companies that has been around for years, making everything from motorcycles to automotive engines to professional musical instruments and more. Their pro audio systems are nothing to sneeze at either.

Front row seating is comfortable for the long haul. The second row features good legroom. The second row offers seating for three with plenty of legroom thanks to the split seat’s ability to slide back and forth. The third row might be a challenge for fuller-figured adults.

Behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Outlander SEL.

Thanks to the collaboration with Nissan, we thought we were driving a Nissan Rogue. The quiet, well-appointed interior offered a comfortable environment to work . This was especially true when driving under normal conditions. Handling was probably better than others in the segment.

The All-wheel control system brought good grip through the kinks and curves. Power was a bit on the weak side, to be honest. Just based on its size, this kind of vehicle should be cranking out about 250 or more ponies. Here’s where there’s good news and bad news: Good on Mitsu for ditching the 2.5-liter four-cylinder in favor of a new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with CVT transmission. Boo on them for only supplying it with 174-hp.

Despite getting a new engine in the Outlander, it is still one of the weakest in the segment. A stronger engine is the only thing standing between the Outlander and the big time!

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Specifications

Engine Type	1.5-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged / hybrid engine
Horsepower	174 hp @6,000 rpm
Torque	206 lb-ft @3,600 rpm
Transmission	Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
EPA Fuel Economy Equivalent (Combined/City/Hwy)	28/26/31 MPG
Suspension F/R	McPherson Strut / Multilink
Turning Circle	36.7 ft.
Also Available	various trim levels, PHEV engine and other choices
Specs
Warranty	5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	10 years/100,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	5 stars
Max Seating Capacity	7 passengers
Wheelbase	106.5 inches
Overall Length	185.8 inches
Width	84.4 inches
Height	68.8 inches
Headroom, Front	40.6 inches
Headroom, 2nd	37.4 inches
Headroom, 3rd	34.5 inches
Legroom, 1st	41.7 inches
Legroom, 2nd	39.9 inches
Legroom, 3rd	18.7 inches
Shoulder room, 1st row	57.9 inches
Shoulder room, 2nd row	55.9 inches
Shoulder room, 3rd row	51.2 inches