Many small changes add up to make a big difference.Mitsubishi’s bestselling Outlander SUV has been on sale in its current fourth-gen form since 2022, and 2025 marks the arrival of its mid-cycle refresh.

We asked for more power, and we got it—in the stereo. Our first drive of the updated-for-2025 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV has us wondering if Mitsubishi has become as cynical as we are about the dreaded midcycle refresh.

We can see why Mitsu might say this when you compare the Outlander to the other vehicles the Japanese automaker sells in our market.Last redesigned for 2022, the Outlander is the only car in Mitsubishi's current stable that can be considered remotely competitive within its segment.

For those anticipating significant mechanical updates to the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander or hoping those changes would extend to the Outlander PHEV, the answer is a resounding no. The latest updates apply exclusively to the gas-powered Outlander and are largely cosmetic.

We head to L.A. to put Mitsubishi's refreshed all-wheel drive SUV to the test. But how 'big' where these changes?