The world has changed considerably over the last twenty years. In 2002, social media had yet to entrench itself into our lives, television was starting to embrace its highly defined future and the legend of Trent Evans and the “Lucky Loonie” was just beginning to implant itself into the Canadian psyche. At this same time, Mitsubishi Motors was turning its attention to the adventure seeking motorists with the introduction of the Outlander crossover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). The Outlander was Mitsubishi Motors’ very first vehicle in that growing segment. Based on the ASX (Active Sports Crossover) concept vehicle, that first Outlander brought the higher ground clearance and all-wheel-drive capabilities that the Montero (Pajero) had earned fame for, to a smaller, more efficient vehicle with car-like handling. And through the course of the next two decades Outlander would evolve over three generations, while cementing itself as a core model in the company’s lineup. More importantly, Outlander would also become one of Mitsubishi’s most advanced vehicles, too.
When it debuted in Japan in 2013, the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) became the first ever PHEV SUV the world had seen. Employing a small and fuel-efficient gasoline engine with two 60kW electric motors, the Outlander PHEV had the potential to travel in relative silence, using only its lithium-ion battery to power the electric motors, while maintaining its all-wheel-drive capability. With its combination of interior comforts, SUV practicality, rugged capabilities and an environmentally conscious powertrain, the Outlander PHEV quickly found favour with families committed to taking nothing but memories and leaving nothing but footprints on their adventures. Outlander PHEV was even a finalist for World Green Car of the Year in 2014. In 2018, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was introduced to Canadian consumers for the very first time. It was the first affordable PHEV SUV in Canada and the only vehicle of its kind to offer both 100% electric All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) and fast charging capability. Canadians were quick to realise the
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