Next Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV may arrive in 2028 with more advanced S-AWC
A next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is reportedly being considered for 2028, with a larger battery and a more advanced S-AWC all-wheel-drive system inspired by the Elevance concept.
2028 could mark a full generational change for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Japanese outlet Response reports that the next generation may debut roughly seven years after the current model, with further development of the plug-in hybrid system and S-AWC all-wheel drive. Mitsubishi has not announced a launch date, so this remains preliminary information rather than an official reveal.
The biggest question is the number of electric motors. The current Outlander uses one motor on each axle, but Mitsubishi has already shown a much more complex layout on the Elevance concept: two front in-wheel motors and two rear electric motors with Active Yaw Control. Together they form a four-motor all-wheel-drive system managed by S-AWC. Elevance is seen as one possible technical reference point for future electrified SUVs from the brand.
However, Mitsubishi has not confirmed that this layout will reach the production Outlander. Response suggests the cost of the system could lead the company to retain two motors, while still giving the control electronics finer management of torque between the axles and individual wheels.
Electric driving range could also increase. The current Japanese-market Outlander received a 22.7 kWh traction battery in place of the previous 20 kWh pack. Its official EV range is 102 km for most versions and up to 106 km WLTC for the base M trim. The next model is expected to use a larger battery, although Mitsubishi has not announced a capacity.
The current vehicle remains Mitsubishi's key PHEV model. By the end of November 2025, the Outlander PHEV family had reached around 430,000 sales in more than 60 countries. A seven-year cycle between the current generation's 2021 debut and a possible 2028 replacement therefore appears plausible, although there is still no official schedule.
For now, what is confirmed is not the final specification of a 2028 Outlander, but the direction Mitsubishi is already pursuing: larger batteries, a stronger electric component and continued development of S-AWC. The four-motor layout is the most intriguing possibility, but it remains unconfirmed.