2027 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: FWD Returns, Price Drops, but the Model Still Feels Its Age

Mitsubishi has found a simple way to make the Outlander Sport cheaper: it brought front-wheel drive back. In the US, the 2027 model year crossover now starts at $25,505, which is $1,500 below last year’s entry point.

The base S trim comes with FWD, while the cheapest Outlander Sport with all-wheel drive now starts at the $28,605 ES grade. The other AWD-free versions land roughly between $27,105 and $29,595, with the top-spec SEL going from $32,210. Only the Ralliart and Trail Edition stay AWD-exclusive — priced at $31,620 and $31,965. The mechanical recipe is familiar: a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated 148-hp engine across most trims, a 2.4-liter 168-hp unit in the SEL, and a CVT with no alternative.

The savings are real, but they come with a trade-off. Front-wheel drive lowers price, fuel use and service complexity, but the Outlander Sport loses some of the appeal Mitsubishi is usually loved for in regions with snow, gravel roads and rough surfaces. If the car is mainly for the city, FWD makes sense. For buyers banking on winter confidence and the occasional off-pavement trip, those savings get harder to defend.

The Outlander Sport’s real problem runs deeper than the sticker. The model is aging, and rivals like the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda CX-30 and Chevrolet Trax keep the pressure on. Mazda offers more power, Subaru includes AWD as standard, and the Trax brings a fresher cabin feel and a more aggressive price. Mitsubishi answers with its warranty, simple naturally aspirated engines and now a lower starting point.

This isn’t the kind of update that makes the Outlander Sport feel modern. It’s more about keeping it in the game for as long as buyers still want a cheap new crossover without extra complexity.