• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, Yesterday

Mitsubishi Motors North America is rolling out an improved plug-in hybrid,  the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and an electric vehicle, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback. 

I recently test drove the top-of-the-line Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Black Edition and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback. I was already a fan of the gas-powered Outlander, but the new engine gives the vehicle noticeably more power. The combined system horsepower jumps to 297 hp from the previous 248 hp using its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and twin electric motors.

Drivers get 44 miles of per electric before the gas engine kicks in, which takes the total range to 420 miles. The combined electricity plus gas mpg is 73 mpg combined city/highway. For consumers who don’t manage to plug it in, the gas-only mpg is 27 mpg combined city/highway. 

A word about plugging in, and why I think it’s a no-brainer that consumers should take advantage of the best of both worlds. 

Level 1 charging from conventional 120-volt power — which everyone already has —  using the included charging cable takes 16.5 hours to go from 0 to 100%. For those who install a Level 2 charger, or who have a 240-volt outlet, it takes 6.5 hours.  If your daily commute is under 44 miles roundtrip,  you can go a long time without having to stop at a gas station.

Besides being a green steward, the Outlander continues offering stylish and value-added features. Outlander PHEV leads with an exterior style that sets it quite apart from other vehicles on the road. The interior of Outlander was completely refreshed for the 2025 model year, and the refresh was brought into Outlander PHEV for 2026.

The new Black Edition adds colors, features including massaging seats, and black-out of all exterior chrome trim. Black Edition models will include the semi-aniline leather-appointed seating surfaces, but in black to highlight the color-keyed items on the exterior. Also included are 20” black-finished alloy wheels.

The 2027 Eclipse, which will be on dealer lots later this year, is built on the same platform as the Nissan Leaf. Thanks to an alliance partnership, both vehicles feature the exact same mechanical setup: a 75 kWh battery, 214 horsepower, 261 lb-ft of torque and a front-wheel-drive configuration.

But they are not the same vehicle.  For example, the front end includes redesigned lights, the bumper surround, and the grille, which now sports 10 ridges on each side of the Mitsubishi three-diamond logo. Also noteworthy is that Mitsubishi offers a better warranty: five years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper vs. three years/36,000 miles. It also offers five years of roadside assistance versus Nissan’s three years. 

Both vehicles are the next step in Mitsubishi’s Momentum 2030 business plan, a plan that will see the company change how it goes to market, expand its product lineup and sales presence, and increase total sales as it approaches 2030.

The automaker is introducing new marketing initiatives for both vehicles, says Mitsubishi Motors North America CMO Kim Ito.

"We know that Mitsubishi Motors' customers tend to be digitally savvy in general, and we're fully expecting that Eclipse Sportback customers will be at the forefront, even more comfortable with technology to both research and shop for the EV of their choice,” Ito tells Marketing Daily. “ We intend to meet these shoppers where they're most comfortable, and we'll be serving up videos, social and online strategies that will answer questions they may have about the Eclipse Sportback and Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, as well as capturing like-minded new-car shoppers who perhaps hadn't previously considered a Mitsubishi vehicle.”

The automaker will lean heavily into the styling and warranty on Eclipse Sportback, and the flexibility that a plug-in hybrid offers for Outlander PHEV, she says.

“Specific to our strategy, digital media, product-feature videos, and curated creator content will feature heavily into our approach,” Ito says. 

Efforts will focus on Google searches, YouTube, Meta and Reddit.

“We know we can't be everywhere, but we can absolutely be where we need to be with a carefully crafted plan and clear focus on delivering messages and content that educates, entertains and informs in a way that lands squarely in the middle of our expected shoppers' feed,” Ito says.