Mitsubishi Will Be Fielding a Rugged Toyota 4Runner Competitor Next Year

The Japanese automaker has confirmed that it will be adding an “off-road-focused vehicle” to its lineup with unique equipment and bodywork.

Close-up of a silver SUV front showing LED headlights and part of the grille with "ROVER" lettering.

By Gray Van Dyke

Published 12 hours ago

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While you wouldn’t know it from Mitsubishi’s current lineup, the automaker used to be a real presence in the off-road segment.

Go-anywhere 4x4s like the Delica and the Pajero (badged as the Montero in the United States) catered to those looking for something with adventure-ready capabilities, while rally-derived options like the Lancer Evo provided driving enthusiasts with high-octane thrills.

a photo of a mitsubishi outlander driving on snow — Mitsubishi has moved away from enthusiast-focused vehicles, but a return to the off-road segment could curry favor with the outdoor crowd.

In recent years, Mitsubishi has instead focused on midsize crossovers and affordable compacts, and its lineup has accordingly proven pretty lackluster. However, as part of a recent announcement, the brand has confirmed that it intends to field a real-deal, rugged off-roader late next year.

A real-deal off-road SUV option

Mitsubishi first made its interest in re-entering the off-road segment clear earlier this year with the launch of the Outlander Trail Edition. Unfortunately, as adventurous as the SUV attempted to be in spirit, the update itself was little more than an aesthetic package.

a close-up photo of a mitsubishi mud flap — The Outlander Trail Edition was really only adventurous in spirit.

But now the automaker is getting serious. Following the announcement of a new BEV, Mitsubishi has confirmed that it will be adding an “off-road-focused vehicle” to its SUV lineup that “reinforces the brand’s storied history in off-road and off-highway travel.”

Press speak aside, these are important statements, as they mean that the new model will add “off-road-specific bodywork, off-road-focused drive modes and performance upgrades and unique interior styling with specific materials.”

Five Mitsubishi SUVs lined up on a flat surface at sunset, with three covered in black cloth and two uncovered labeled Outlander Sport, Eclipse Cross, Outlander PHEV, and Outlander. — The two vehicles in the center will be a new Leaf-based BEV (left) and a more rugged Outlander variant (right).

In other words, it sounds like Mitsubishi could finally be gearing up to field a potential Toyota 4Runner rival. Between the improved capabilities and the rugged styling, it should make for a much more formidable SUV than the current Outlander.

All the more so because, as much as Mitsubishi celebrates its Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system in the announcement, it also states that the model will take the technology “to the next level.” We’ll have to wait and see what that means.

Blue SUV kicking up dust while driving on a dirt road surrounded by dry bushes. — Mitsubishi’s rugged off-road-focused vehicle will feature an upgraded version of its S-AWC.

Poised for potential

While there’s no denying that the prospect of Mitsubishi introducing a new off-road-capable SUV is an exciting one, it does, of course, ultimately come down to how the model will be equipped once it reaches the market.

As things stand, the Outlander is available with two powertrains. The base model comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. When paired with a CVT, it’ll do 0-60 mph in about 9.0 seconds.

a close-up photo of a black mitsubishi wheel — There’s heaps of potential. Hopefully Mitsubishi can deliver on the promise.

The PHEV, on the other hand, pairs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with a pair of electric motors, making it good for a combined output of 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the added electrification, the SUV’s 0-60 time falls to 7.3 seconds.

Now, in each case, Toyota’s equivalent 4Runner option outguns the Outlander when it comes to power and performance — the 2.4-liter turbo four is good for 278 horsepower, while the i-Force Max powertrain takes that figure up to a combined total of 326.

a photo of a white mitsubishi outlander in a forest clearing — Mitsubishi needs to undercut the 4Runner with a competitive price or superior features if it wants to carve out a niche.

As such, if Mitsubishi wants a more rugged Outlander variant to be able to carve out a niche, it needs to deliver the model at a lower price than the Toyota at its $41,270 starting MSRP.

Considering that the Outlander PHEV is already knocking on the door at $40,445 (granted, Toyota’s 4Runner hybrid options start from $52,490), it will be interesting to see what Mitsubishi can do with its effort to re-enter the off-road market.

Silhouettes of four people on a rocky ledge near a vehicle and tent at sunset. — This ‘glamper’ BEV is a concept that’s slated for a reveal as part of the Japan Mobility Show.

More to come

At this stage, Mitsubishi has yet to reveal further details. However, given that the brand has been working on concepts like the above BEV off-roader, it’s clearly invested in currying favor with the outdoor crowd.

Only time will tell whether the brand can deliver on the promise of a rumored Montero revival with a rugged new SUV, but the fact that another off-road option is coming means that buyers will have more options than ever in the coming years — especially with a Baby G, a mini Defender and a boxy Audi also on the way.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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