Las Vegas, NV — There’s more than one eye-catcher at the Mitsubishi stand at SEMA this year. But of the three green-and-white Outlanders Mitsubishi is exhibiting this week at the 2026 edition of the SEMA Show, the one carrying a simple roof box deserves the most attention from Canadian buyers. Beneath the accessories lies the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition, a new variant of the compact SUV that will arrive here in the spring of 2027.
The other two examples of this Outlander, including one lifted 2.5 inches and topped with a tent, give an idea of what enthusiasts will be able to do with it down the road.
Auto123 is in Las Vegas to cover the SEMA Show, where Mitsubishi is giving the Diamond Trail its world premiere. The Japanese automaker had not participated in this automotive aftermarket gathering since 2012. For its return, it chose to unveil a production model that fits into its North American Momentum 2030 plan. As part of that plan, Mitsubishi intends to give off-road-oriented vehicles a larger role in its lineup.
An SE trim as a starting point
Mitsubishi started with the SE trim of the Outlander when developing the Diamond Trail. That choice stems partly from the price point the manufacturer wants to attain for this new model. The idea is to allow buyers interested in the vehicle's off-road capabilities to access them without first having to step up to a top-tier trim. It remains to be seen just how much will be added to the price of an SE to obtain the all-terrain tires, new bumpers and the drive mode exclusive to the Diamond Trail. Mitsubishi Canada says to expect a pricing announcement in the coming months.
For now, the automaker also hasn’t shared its projections regarding sales volume for the new Diamond Trail.
At launch, the Diamond Trail will be offered exclusively with the gas engine. Mitsubishi is evaluating the possibility of applying the same treatment to the plug-in hybrid Outlander, but that won’t be happening at first launch. Tough luck, those wanting to combine the features of the Diamond Trail with daily electric driving will have to wait.
The manufacturer also declined to confirm it will actually produce a Diamond Trail PHEV, much less a timeline for its commercialization.
What changes beyond the tires
The Outlander Diamond Trail wears Nexen Roadian ATX all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch black alloy wheels. Mitsubishi also redesigned both bumpers, which certainly has a measurable effect on the vehicle’s appearance. At the front, the approach angle increases from 18.3 to 20.5 degrees, which allows this Outlander to tackle a slightly steeper slope before the lower bumper touches the ground. The gain is more modest at the rear, where the departure angle increases from 22.2 to 23.1 degrees.
The Outlander's S-AWC all-wheel drive system here gets a Rock mode dedicated to rocky passages. When a wheel begins to slip, the system applies the brakes more quickly than in other drive modes to preserve traction. Selecting Rock mode also activates hill descent control, allowing the driver to set the desired speed to maintain while navigating a rough incline.
Behind the wheel, a new display indicates front-wheel steering orientation, which can prove useful after manoeuvring around an obstacle. The driver can also identify which wheel is slipping and see when traction control intervenes. Another difference from the regular Outlander: the surround-view camera image can remain on screen at speeds up to 30 km/h.
Three Outlanders, three degrees of preparation
The three examples presented in Las Vegas introduce a shade dubbed Trail Green Metallic, which Mitsubishi pairs here with a white roof. The Diamond Trail is also recognizable by its fender flares, matte black grille and raised roof rails.
On board, the most relevant difference for anyone returning from a rainy hike involves the seats: their dark grey upholstery with khaki stitching is water-resistant and easier to clean, according to Mitsubishi.
The first Outlander at the booth retains its factory suspension and tires. Mitsubishi simply added a few genuine accessories along with a Thule roof box painted in body colour. Its neighbour, on the other hand, is lifted 1.5 inches and rides on BFGoodrich tires. Two mountain bikes sit on the roof, while at the rear, a small colour-matched Gulf Stream trailer completes the look.
The third model receives the 2.5-inch suspension lift, Method wheels and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires. It also carries a roof tent and traction boards. For Canada, Don Ulmer and Mitsubishi's product planning team are examining which accessories could be offered at dealerships; nothing has been finalized for Canada as of yet.
An RVR Trail for Canada?
A smaller vehicle shares the booth with the three Outlanders: the Outlander Sport Trail Edition, a U.S. variant of the crossover known in Canada as the RVR. The display vehicle is equipped with genuine accessories that American customers can order at their dealership upon vehicle purchase or later.
Mitsubishi told us it’s studying the possibility of bringing an RVR Trail to Canada soon, though unlike the Outlander Diamond Trail, its Canadian arrival remains to be confirmed.
Two vehicles rarely seen on this side of the Pacific round out the automaker's presentation for the show. The first is the Ralliart division Triton that won the Asia Cross Country Rally. The second is the Delica D:5 Ultimate Gear, a modified Japanese van Mitsubishi exhibited in Tokyo earlier this year. This marks the first time the manufacturer has officially presented a current-generation Delica D:5 in North America.