Mitsubishi has detailed an updated 2026 Outlander range for Australia, nearly 12 months after the mid-life facelift arrived. The headline change is the new Black Edition, which has switched from all-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, dropped $2500 in price and grown its alloys from 18 to 20 inches. The flagship Exceed Tourer also adds Red Diamond to its colour palette. Here is what each of those changes means for the kind of buyer Mitsubishi is targeting.
The MY26 Outlander Black Edition FWD is priced from $45,490 before on-road costs, replacing the outgoing MY25 LS Black Edition AWD, which sat at $47,990. That is a $2500 reduction, but it comes with a real powertrain change and slightly different equipment. Whether it is a downgrade or a smarter buy depends on how you actually use the car.
What the Black Edition gains over the LS
Compared with the regular Outlander LS FWD seven-seater it is based on, the Black Edition costs $1450 more. For that money, buyers get darkened exterior trim, gloss-black B- and C-pillars, black headlining, black suede upholstery with synthetic leather seat bolsters, heated front seats and the larger 20-inch alloys instead of the LS's 18s.
The Black Edition also reverts to chrome trim for the front grille and side window surrounds, but pairs that with a black grille and black Mitsubishi emblems. The outgoing LS Black Edition AWD ran black surrounds with a chrome grille and chrome emblems, so the visual treatment has been softened slightly while still leaning hard on the dark theme.
Premium paint is included in the Black Edition price, available in White Diamond, Black Diamond, Red Diamond or Graphite Grey. That is a meaningful saving against grades where premium paint costs $740 to $950 extra.
Why the switch from AWD to FWD
Mitsubishi has pulled the AWD option from the Black Edition entirely for MY26, which is a deliberate repositioning. The previous LS Black Edition AWD was a niche pick. Buyers who wanted AWD usually stepped up to the Aspire AWD or Exceed AWD, while buyers attracted to the Black Edition styling were more often urban families who never used the AWD system in anger.
Dropping AWD also improves the Black Edition's fuel economy. Combined consumption is now 7.7L/100km against 8.1L/100km for the outgoing AWD, and CO2 emissions drop from 185g/km to 174g/km. For city and suburban use, that is a real-money difference of roughly $200 to $300 per year in fuel.
If you regularly tow, drive in alpine snow or use unsealed roads, the loss of AWD matters. For everyone else, it does not. The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol making 135kW and 244Nm carries over, paired with a continuously variable transmission.
Exceed Tourer adds Red Diamond
The range-topping Exceed Tourer AWD picks up Red Diamond with a black roof as a new colour option. It joins Black Diamond with a silver roof, and White Diamond, Graphite Grey or Moonstone Grey with a black roof.
The Exceed Tourer remains a five-seat-only proposition, which is a deliberate compromise. Buyers who want seven seats need to step down to the Aspire or Black Edition grades. The five-seat layout in the Exceed Tourer prioritises rear cargo capacity and second-row comfort over the cramped third-row seating that seven-seat versions of mid-size SUVs typically deliver.
Pricing across the MY26 range
The non-hybrid 2026 Outlander range starts from $39,990 for the entry-level ES front-wheel-drive five-seat and rises to $58,740 for the Exceed Tourer AWD five-seat. A seven-seat capacity is offered at extra cost on the ES FWD, or as standard on the LS FWD and AWD, the new Black Edition FWD and the Aspire FWD and AWD.
The Exceed and Exceed Tourer revert to a five-seat layout with standard all-wheel drive. That means if you want a seven-seat Outlander Exceed, you cannot have one. This is a longstanding Mitsubishi quirk that often catches buyers out at the dealership, particularly those who assume that paying more automatically means more seats.
How the Outlander stacks up in the segment
At $45,490 plus on-roads, the Outlander Black Edition FWD competes with the Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid (around $44,000 plus on-roads), the Hyundai Tucson Elite Hybrid and the Mazda CX-5 Touring. None of those are seven-seaters at this price. The seven-seat Outlander Black Edition is one of the few mid-size SUVs in this segment that offers genuine third-row seating without stepping up to a Kia Sorento or a Hyundai Santa Fe.
For buyers who want darker trim, larger wheels and a third row that is fine for kids on shorter trips, the Black Edition is sharply positioned. For buyers who want hybrid efficiency and AWD, the Outlander PHEV remains the alternative, and Mitsubishi has run-out incentives currently in market on the previous-generation PHEV stock.
What dealers will not say
Three things to watch when negotiating an Outlander Black Edition deal. First, premium paint is included in the price for the four offered colours, but check whether the dealer is trying to add 'paint protection' as a separate $1500 to $2500 line item. Premium paint and paint protection are not the same thing.
Second, the seven-seat capability on the Black Edition uses Mitsubishi's standard third-row layout, which is suitable for kids on shorter trips but cramped for adults. Test the seats with the actual occupants who will use them before committing.
Third, the FWD switch means the Black Edition will not be your best Outlander choice if you live somewhere that gets winter snow, regularly tows, or drives unsealed roads frequently. For those buyers, the Aspire AWD or Exceed AWD remain the right grade choice.
EOFY context: should you buy now?
The MY26 Outlander arrives in showrooms in June. Mitsubishi is currently running EOFY drive-away offers on MY25 stock, including a $2000 fuel card on remaining MY25 Outlanders (excluding ES grades) and three years of complimentary servicing on MY26 examples (excluding all ES grades). The Black Edition FWD is currently $47,490 drive-away, against the $45,490 before-on-roads RRP.
If you have been waiting for an Outlander Black Edition and the FWD switch does not bother you, the MY26 deal is competitive. If you wanted the AWD Black Edition, the outgoing MY25 LS Black Edition AWD is the version to chase before stocks run out.
For Carseekers buyers cross-shopping seven-seat mid-size SUVs at this price point, the Outlander Black Edition is a clean styling pick from a reliable brand with a solid five-year warranty. The next generation of Outlander is not due until 2027 with hybrid power, so there is no obvious reason to wait further if a current Outlander suits your needs.
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
How much is the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Black Edition?
The 2026 Outlander Black Edition is $45,490 before on-road costs, $2500 less than the outgoing MY25 LS Black Edition AWD it replaces. Drive-away pricing is currently $47,490 under the EOFY campaign, which includes premium paint in your choice of White Diamond, Black Diamond, Red Diamond or Graphite Grey.
Is the new Outlander Black Edition front-wheel drive only?
Yes. For MY26, the Black Edition is now front-wheel drive only, replacing the previous AWD version. The change improves fuel economy from 8.1L/100km to 7.7L/100km but means buyers who need AWD for snow, towing or unsealed roads should look at the Aspire AWD or Exceed AWD grades instead.
Does the Outlander Black Edition seat seven?
Yes. The Black Edition FWD comes standard with seven-seat capability. The third row is suitable for kids on shorter trips but cramped for adults. The Exceed and Exceed Tourer grades, by contrast, are five-seat only with standard AWD, so cross-shop carefully if seven seats are a hard requirement.
What engine does the 2026 Outlander Black Edition use?
The Black Edition uses Mitsubishi's 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine making 135kW and 244Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission. It is not a hybrid. Buyers who want a plug-in hybrid Outlander need to step up to the Outlander PHEV, which currently has $10,000 cash bonuses on MY24 run-out stock.
What rivals does the Outlander Black Edition face?
At $45,490 plus on-roads, the Outlander Black Edition competes with the Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Elite Hybrid and Mazda CX-5 Touring. None of those are seven-seaters at this price, which is the Outlander's main appeal. Step up to a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe for genuinely usable adult third-row seating.
When does the 2026 Outlander arrive in Australia?
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander arrives in Australian showrooms in June. The next-generation Outlander, expected to bring hybrid power to the range, is not due until 2027 according to recent reporting. There is no compelling reason to wait further if a current Outlander suits your needs and budget.
