Introduced in 2001, this crossover SUV became one of Mitsubishi Motors’ core global nameplates and was the company’s first vehicle in the modern crossover-SUV space. In its early history, the model was known as Airtrek in Japan, while the Outlander badge was used in export markets before the name was unified as the model evolved through later generations. The vehicle’s original appeal came from blending passenger-car drivability with a more upright SUV body and available all-wheel drive, helping establish Mitsubishi in a segment that would later become one of the industry’s most important.
A major turning point came with the 2005 redesign, which replaced the Airtrek-era version with a more refined and spacious Outlander built on a newer platform. Subsequent generations broadened the model’s role from practical family transport to a flagship technology showcase for the brand. In 2013, Mitsubishi added the Outlander PHEV, a landmark electrified variant that helped define the nameplate’s modern identity and gave it particular significance among enthusiasts and early plug-in hybrid buyers.
The model has remained in continuous production since its debut, developing from a compact crossover into a larger, more premium midsize SUV while retaining the practicality and all-weather capability that made it successful in the first place.