Mitsubishi Outlander History

The Outlander arrived in North America for the 2003 model year as a compact crossover, replacing the Montero Sport and bringing a more car-based approach to the segment. Originally sold under the Airtrek name in Japan, the global Outlander name was unified for the second generation (2007).

Mitsubishi launched the Outlander PHEV in Japan in January 2013 — the world's first plug-in hybrid SUV — with sales reaching 42,400 globally by 2015; the PHEV arrived in the US market for the 2023 model year after a lengthy gap. The fourth generation (US 2022 model year) is built on the Renault-Nissan CMF-CD platform shared with the Nissan Rogue and X-Trail, reflecting the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.