Toyota RAV4 rival in for an upgrade: 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander timing confirmed for Australia but when will the updated petrol and plug-in hybrid BYD Sealion 6 SUV rival go on sale?

Mitsubishi has updated the petrol version of the Outlander SUV, joining the earlier update applied to the plug-in hybrid version last year.

Though neither have landed in Australia yet, the updates usher in improvements to the design and tech for both powertrain variants, as well as increasing the electric driving range in the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version.

Mitsubishi Australia has confirmed to CarsGuide the updated Outlander will arrive in quarter three this year, though specific timing is yet to be confirmed. This is the case for both petrol and plug-in hybrid versions of the mid-size SUV.

As previously reported, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gains a larger lithium-ion battery, now a 22.7kWh unit, and a new driving range tested under WLTP for 86km. Previously, range was 84km but under the less accurate (and more generous) NEDC testing cycle.

The petrol version is the most recent to be updated, however, with new features confirmed in the US market including a larger multimedia touchscreen and new sound system.

The Outlander is discernible through new bumper designs front and rear, though the most significant changes are inside where a 12.3-inch multimedia screen and a new Yamaha audio system are found.

Other small tweaks include relocated cupholders and more sound-deadening material for the cabin, though it appears the Outlander’s internal combustion engine drivetrain will remain the same - a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine making 135kW and 244Nm, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The details for its Australian launch are yet to be confirmed, though expect similar updates here for the popular mid-sizer.