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Rain-soaked pavement, slick crosswalk paint and puddles hiding in the curve of a road all test how well an SUV holds its line. The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV handles those conditions with Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) as standard equipment on every one of its seven trims, from the ES to the GT NOIR.
In the Outlander PHEV, S-AWC works with twin electric motors and a set of driver-selectable modes. Here is a closer look at how the system works, what the drive modes do, and which features help you see and stay alert when the weather turns wet.
What Super All-Wheel Control Does
Super All-Wheel Control uses real-time data from sensors around the vehicle. It brings all of that information together and sends instructions to each wheel, all the time. The goal is simple: the Outlander PHEV should go forward, turn and brake the way the driver intends.
On a wet road, that constant monitoring matters. Grip can change from one metre of pavement to the next, and S-AWC keeps adjusting its instructions to every wheel as conditions shift. The goal is smooth handling and control, two things every driver wants when visibility drops and the pavement shines.
Twin Motors, One Front and One Rear
The 2026 Outlander PHEV drives both axles with its own electric motor. The front motor produces 114 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and the rear motor produces 134 hp and 144 lb-ft. In POWER mode, total output reaches 248 hp and 332 lb-ft.
With a dedicated motor at each axle, the Outlander PHEV sends electric power to both the front and rear wheels on every trim. A 2.4 L 4-cylinder engine with 131 hp and 144 lb-ft supports the electric system, and the 22.7 kWh lithium-ion battery delivers 72 km of electric-only range on its own.
- Front motor: 114 hp / 188 lb-ft
- Rear motor: 134 hp / 144 lb-ft
- Total in POWER mode: 248 hp / 332 lb-ft
- 72 km electric range and 690 km total driving range
Drive Modes for Changing Conditions
The drive mode selector lets the driver tailor S-AWC to the road ahead. Several modes help when the pavement is wet or slick:
- NORMAL offers balanced all-wheel drive dynamics, with traction, high-speed stability and predictable handling across a variety of road conditions.
- SNOW provides improved traction and stability on slippery roads.
- TARMAC sharpens agility and performance once the pavement is dry again.
The PHEV also offers POWER, ECO, GRAVEL and MUD modes. For most rainy commutes, NORMAL handles the job, and S-AWC keeps working in the background whichever mode is selected.
Stability and Braking Support
Active Stability Control (ASC) and Traction Control Logic (TCL) are standard on every 2026 Outlander PHEV. These systems work alongside S-AWC to help counteract wheel slip and keep the vehicle moving in the intended direction.
Paddle shifters let the driver adjust the strength of regenerative braking, and the Innovative Pedal allows one-pedal driving. Every trim also includes ventilated disc brakes at both the front and rear, plus a tire pressure monitoring system with tire fill notification.
Seeing Clearly in the Rain
Grip is only part of driving in wet weather. The ES S-AWC comes standard with Auto High Grade LED headlights, auto LED high beams and headlight washers that clear road spray from the lenses. A windshield wiper de-icer is standard too.
Moving up the lineup adds more help. The SE S-AWC brings LED fog lights and heated, power-folding side-view mirrors. The LE S-AWC adds the Multi View Camera System, and the SEL S-AWC adds rain-sensing windshield wipers that respond to changing conditions without driver input.
Driver Assistance on Every Trim
Wet roads and low visibility call for an extra set of eyes. Every 2026 Outlander PHEV includes Forward Collision Mitigation, Rear Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, rear parking sensors and Driver Attention Alert. Eleven airbags, including driver and passenger knee airbags, are standard on the ES.
Key Takeaways
|
Topic |
2026 Outlander PHEV |
|
All-wheel drive |
S-AWC standard on all seven trims |
|
Electric motors |
Front 114 hp, rear 134 hp |
|
Total output (POWER mode) |
248 hp / 332 lb-ft |
|
Drive modes |
NORMAL, ECO, POWER, TARMAC, GRAVEL, SNOW, MUD |
|
Stability systems |
ASC and TCL standard |
|
Rain-sensing wipers |
SEL S-AWC and above |
|
Headlight washers |
Standard on ES S-AWC |
|
Electric range |
72 km |
Learn More at Victoria Mitsubishi
Want to feel how S-AWC handles a rainy day? Drop by Victoria Mitsubishi in Victoria to learn more about the 2026 Outlander PHEV and take one out on the road with our team.
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