Reviews
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed Tourer
Price
Starting at $57,000 (excl. on road costs)
3 Things We Love
* Brick-Brown Leather Interior * Loaded With Features * Premium Layout & Materials
3 Things We Hate
* The Enormous Sunvisor * The Fake Carbon Fibre Trim * The Overly Sensitive Driver Monitoring System
Intro
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed Tourer arrives as the top-spec petrol variant in the Outlander range, bringing updated styling, improved technology, and Australian-specific ride and handling tuning. Priced at just over $57,000 before on-road costs, the Exceed Tourer sits firmly in the affordable mid-size SUV segment, but it aims to feel more premium than its badge and price might suggest. The petrol variants have seen a price increase, but Mitsubishi has also made meaningful improvements under the skin. This version is offered as a five-seater only, which suits the buyer demographic Mitsubishi is targeting with the higher grades. The rest of the range can be had with seven seats, but the Exceed and Exceed Tourer focus more on comfort, features, and premium presentation. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing 135 kW and 244 Nm. It sends power through a CVT automatic with 8-step simulation and all-wheel drive. Performance is not the main event, with 0–100 km/h taking 9.6 seconds, but the Outlander counters that with a relatively modest 1,695 kg weight and a 1,600 kg braked towing capacity.
Exterior
The Outlander Exceed Tourer has a mature and confident exterior design. It is not wild or overly aggressive, but it has enough presence to look more expensive than many buyers may expect from an affordable mid-size SUV. The front end works well, with LED headlights, a blacked-out grille, additional lighting lower down, and Mitsubishi’s bold front-end styling giving it a strong face. The overall look is mature and slightly premium, without going too far into flashy territory. The Exceed Tourer adds unique touches, including exclusive colour options, a black roof, black window surrounds, and 20-inch alloy wheels. The Moonstone paint gives the car a grey-blue tone, which suits the more upscale personality of this variant. At the rear, the design stays clean, with LED tail-lights, Exceed badging, Outlander badging, and no fake diffuser. Overall, the Outlander is a good-looking mid-size SUV that manages to feel mature, modern, and slightly premium without looking overdone.
Salvatore Gerace
MotorMarvel Journalist
Interior
The interior is one of the Outlander Exceed Tourer’s biggest strengths. It strikes a strong balance between premium materials, build quality, and ergonomic design, which helps it stand out in the affordable mid-size SUV space. At first glance, the cabin feels more premium than expected for the price. There are still scratchy plastics lower down, but the areas you touch and lean against most often are covered in leather or softer materials. Build quality is also excellent, with the cabin feeling solid and well assembled. The Exceed Tourer’s brick brown leather seats and matching trim on the dashboard and doors help make the cabin feel more special than lower grades. The leather steering wheel feels good in hand, and the physical switches, buttons, and knobs make the car easy to operate while driving. Technology is strong. The Outlander includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, a digital rear-view mirror, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera, and a Yamaha sound system that adds to the premium feel. Comfort equipment is excellent for the segment. The front seats are heated, ventilated, electronically adjustable, and include massage functionality. There is also dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, USB-C charging, a 12-volt socket, and drive modes including Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud. Practicality is strong up front, with a large centre console, good cup holders, big door bins, and a usable glovebox. There are a few complaints, though. The piano black centre console trim smudges easily, the fake carbon fibre on the doors feels out of place, and the oversized sun visors can block too much vision. The second row is also very practical. There is plenty of knee room, a nearly flat floor, good foot space under the front seats, and enough width for three adults. Taller passengers may find headroom tight because of the roof shape, but most passengers will be comfortable. Family features are well covered, with ISOFIX points on the outboard seats, three top tether points, integrated blinds, heated outboard rear seats, rear climate controls, directional air vents, USB-C charging, large door bins, seatback pockets, and a centre armrest with cup holders and through-loading access. Boot space is good for a five-seat SUV. With the second row up, there is 485 litres of space. Folding the second row increases capacity to just over 1,400 litres. The boot also includes a space-saver spare, extra storage nooks, a 12-volt socket, and the Yamaha subwoofer. The parcel shelf setup is awkward, though, with an odd fabric section that hangs down between the shelf and the second row.
Specifications
Engine
2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol
Power
135 kW
Torque
244 Nm
0 - 100 kph
9.6 seconds
Transmission
CVT automatic with 8-step simulation
Drive Type
All-wheel drive
Fuel Economy (Claimed)
7.8 to 8.1 L/100 km
Fuel Economy (As Tested)
10.5 L/100 km
CO2 Emissions (Claimed)
N/A
Fuel Tank
55 L
Weight
1,695 kg
Vehicle Dimensions
Length
4,710 mm
Width
1,862 mm
Height
1,745 mm
Wheelbase
2,705 mm
On the Road
On the road, the Outlander Exceed Tourer is much more impressive as a comfort-focused SUV than as a performance SUV. The Australian road tuning makes a noticeable difference, helping the car feel smoother and more settled than before. Ride comfort is a major strength. Even on 20-inch wheels, the Outlander does a good job of soaking up bumps, and the seats are extremely comfortable. The massage function adds to the premium feel and makes the car especially pleasant for everyday driving. Visibility is strong, and the digital rear-view mirror is genuinely useful, especially when the second row is full or rear visibility is blocked by passengers. Steering is easy and confidence-inspiring, the brake feel is good, and the Outlander feels simple to live with day to day. Fuel consumption is not its strongest point. Mitsubishi claims between 7.8 and 8.1 L/100 km, but real-world driving sits closer to 9.8 to 10.5 L/100 km. With a 55-litre fuel tank, total range is around 630 to 670 km when full. The powertrain is the biggest weakness. The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is reliable and simple, but it feels underpowered for a top-spec mid-size SUV. It makes noise without delivering much urgency, and a stronger engine would suit the Exceed Tourer’s premium positioning much better. The CVT is better than expected. It does not drone badly, and in normal driving it behaves more like a conventional automatic than many CVTs. Manual mode is available, but there is not much point using it because the car is clearly tuned for relaxed driving rather than enthusiasm. Handling is acceptable for the type of SUV this is. It is not designed to be sporty, and it does understeer when pushed, but the Outlander is comfortable, quiet, easy to drive, and well suited to school runs, commuting, and family duties.
Safety Tech
The Outlander Exceed Tourer comes loaded with safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, hill descent control, intelligent speed assist, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, 360-degree camera, traffic sign recognition, and Mi-Pilot. Mi-Pilot combines adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and traffic jam assist, giving the Outlander a more complete driver assistance package for highway and stop-start traffic use. The 360-degree camera is one of the more useful features, especially in tight parking spaces. Front and rear parking sensors also help make the Outlander easier to place, which is important in a family SUV. The biggest frustration is how intrusive some of the safety systems can be. Driver attention monitoring is especially annoying, and turning systems off requires digging through menus. The emergency braking system can also react too aggressively in certain situations, such as approaching sharper corners, which makes the safety package feel more irritating than it should. Warranty coverage is strong. Mitsubishi offers five years of standard warranty, with the ability to extend coverage to 10 years if the vehicle is serviced through Mitsubishi dealerships. Roadside assistance is included for 12 months, and average annual servicing over 10 years is around $434.
Our Verdict
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed Tourer is a very well-rounded mid-size SUV, especially for buyers who want comfort, premium features, and strong practicality without moving into luxury-brand money. The interior is the standout. It feels premium, it is well built, the seats are excellent, and the feature list is generous. The second row is practical, the boot is useful, and the five-seat layout makes sense for buyers who do not need the extra seats available elsewhere in the range. The Australian ride and handling tune has also made a clear difference. The Outlander is comfortable, quiet, easy to drive, and well suited to daily life. It feels like a much more polished SUV than older versions. There are still weaknesses. The engine is underwhelming, fuel consumption is not brilliant, the safety systems can be frustrating, and the top-spec petrol variants no longer offer seven seats. But the broader package is strong enough that those flaws do not ruin the car. For buyers who want a comfortable, premium-feeling, feature-packed five-seat mid-size SUV, the Outlander Exceed Tourer deserves a spot on the shortlist. It may not be exciting, but it does the family SUV job extremely well.
Overall Rating
