Mitsubishi’s secret weapon: The Outlander, fueling record sales in 2024
Amid its vying comeback, Mitsubishi had a record year in sales for 2024, with every model posting gains on its way to the company's best performance since 2019. With 109,843 units sold, that makes for a 25.8 percent improvement over the previous year, with the Outlander leading the charge.
Outlander is their most popular model
The three-row crossover based loosely on the Nissan Rogue accounted for nearly half of all Mitsubishi sales with 45,253 units moved. In addition, 6,975 of the plug-in variants were moved, proving that the Outlander shows to be a compelling option.
This bodes well for the refresh of the 2025 Outlander that comes very soon. Mitsubishi is expected to show off refinements such as tweaked styling along with an updated cabin with Yamaha sound.
It's unclear if any changes are made under the hood. Currently, the Outlander uses a 2.5-liter mill for movement, while the 2024 PHEV connects a 2.4-liter engine with a 20-kilowatt-hour battery. It's good for a combined output of 248 horsepower and an EPA-certified range of 38 electric-only miles.
Related: Mazda is selling more cars than ever-all without an EV in sight
But really, every model's a winner
Outlander aside, Mitsubishi has seen an increase in sales across its lineup. The Outlander Sport saw 15,125 units (up 120) while the Eclipse Cross moved 12,724 units (up 2,800). Impressive when you consider they haven't seen new generations for years now.
But the biggest winner of 2024 is the Mirage. In 2023, it sold 13,219 small cars. The following year, 29,766 units of the Mirage were moved. That's a 100-plus percent improvement on a vehicle of which its lone asset is being cheap.
This is a shame because in the same release, Mitsubishi announced that production of the Mirage has ended.
Cheap cars are in again
It's no secret that less expensive cars have seen considerable demand as of late. More than a quarter of all U.S. sales account for compact and subcompact vehicles, including small SUVs. That's higher than before the pandemic.
The Mitsubishi Mirage was the last vehicle to sell with a transaction price of less than $20,000. Plans were announced as early as 2023 to pull it out of the U.S. market. If the decision was put off a year, we might've seen a new generation instead.
With dwindling demand of EVs and the rising acceptance of cheap cars fluctuating the buying market, Mitsubishi might have a change of heart as other companies backtrack their commitment to battery EVs in favor of hybrids and plug-ins.
Related: Tiny cars, big trend, why Americans are downsizing at record rates
Final thoughts
With a Honda-Nissan merger hanging in the balance, Mitsubishi is likely to benefit from the hypothetical agreement they reach. A boost in sales shows confidence in continuing relations with the company.
As for cheap cars? Snatch up as many Mirages as you can while supplies last.
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This story was originally published January 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM