The original Airtrek name was chosen to "describe the vehicle's ability to transport its passengers on adventure-packed journeys in a 'free-as-a-bird' manner",[1] and was "coined from Air and Trek to express the idea of footloose, adventure-filled motoring pleasure.

"[1] The second generation of the vehicle was introduced in 2006 and all markets including Japan adopted the Outlander name, although production of the older version continued in parallel.

PSA's Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007, which were manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan, are badge engineered versions of the second generation Outlander.

[4] As part of the third generation line-up, Mitsubishi launched in January 2013 a plug-in hybrid model called Outlander PHEV.

[6] The first-generation Outlander/Airtrek was based on the Mitsubishi ASX concept vehicle exhibited at the 2001 North American International Auto Show.

[7] The Airtrek was first introduced to the Japanese market on 20 June 2001, and was sold at Mitsubishi Japan dealership chain called Car Plaza.

The Outlander arrived in 2003 in North America, replacing the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, with a modified front grille and headlights which increased the overall length by approximately 130 millimetres (5.1 in), and the two models were manufactured in parallel thereafter.

The North American version, powered by a newly designed 6B31 3.0 L V6 SOHC MIVEC was shown in April 2006 at the New York International Auto Show prior to its release in October the same year.

Mitsubishi chose to purchase Volkswagen's 2.0-litre Pumpe-Düse unit with 140 PS (103 kW), as also installed in the European market Grandis.

Along with a major facelift for the 2010 model year, the top end Outlander XLS (GT in the US) introduced a new colour multi-function display and the Mitsubishi S-AWC AWD system.

Likewise, the interior was also slightly revised to incorporate leather into the dashboard trim and doors.Mitsubishi unveiled the third-generation Outlander at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

However, the third generation Outlander are not sold in the Philippine market due to poor sales, in favor of the third-row Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

[35] Inside, the dashboard and front doors are covered with soft touch material, the seats are redesigned, and there is good sound insulation.

[36] Electric Power Steering reduces load on the engine compared to a hydraulic system and helps to improve fuel economy.

[35] In crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Outlander received a top score of "Good" in every category.

[37] When equipped with the optional Forward Collision Mitigation system, the car received the Institute's Top Safety Pick+ award.

The vehicle also received full five star overall ratings in the United States, Japanese, and European New Car Assessment Programs.

Inside the cabin, Mitsubishi made refinements to the steering wheel, headliner, rear folding seats, and door controls.

Changes included a new twin blade grille that contains black inserts, revised front and rear bumper design, and new 18-inch alloy wheels.

[47] The third generation includes a plug-in hybrid variant, called PHEV, and its production version was unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

[33][51] The Outlander PHEV has a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack capable of delivering an all-electric range of 52.3 km (32.5 mi) under the New European Driving Cycle.

In addition, the plug-in hybrid has a set-up that allows the driver to control the strength of the engine braking with paddles behind the steering wheel.

The European version is similar to the Japanese model except for minor adjustments to comply with EU requirements, and Mitsubishi expected an emission rating of 44 g/km.

[53][65] Due to California's regulations that require a battery-monitoring unit (BMU), Mitsubishi delayed the market launch in the U.S. to mid-2017 as model year 2017.

[66] The BMU conducts onboard diagnosis of the Outlander's lithium-ion battery capacity and output, and it alerts the driver to possible degradation, which might affect the vehicle's emissions.

New interior features include an available 9.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

[122] The North American market 2022 Outlander SE Launch Edition adds features such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure prevention.

[124] It retains the 4B12 engine used by the previous generation Outlander PHEV, coupled with a more powerful motor and a larger 20 kWh battery.

The revised setup means an increased power output on the front and rear motors, combining for a total driving range of 87 km (54.1 mi) in electric-only mode.

Contrary to its predecessor, the PHEV model is available in a 7-seat configuration which made possible by unifying the rear motor with the control unit.