Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Join us as we adjust our focus on the updated Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV... Then, we'll see where it all began with our own Model T moment... We'll skip a few decades for a nostalgic Ferrari road test... And round things up with a thoroughly modern Jeep Grand Cherokee... So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: Mitsubishi has been in the headlines more than usual as of late, with talks of the revived Pajero slash Montero, and a potential mid-size truck in the pipeline but the here and now has us driving the Outlander plug-in hybrid once again, which has received some exciting news of its own.

♪ ♪ Whether, you're talking about 2010's i-MiEV or this Outlander PHEV which first arrived for 2018, Mitsubishi has been ahead of the game when it comes to electrification.

For 2026, all Outlanders are now electrified in some form, whether as a mild-hybrid or this plug-in which has just received some big updates.

That starts with the battery; first increasing capacity from 20 to 22.7 kilowatt hour, then adding a new cooling system to boost the all-electric driving range from 38 to up to 45 miles.

At the same time, they upped electric motor output, which when combined with the same 2.4 liter 4-cylinder gas engine as before, now produces a total of 297 horsepower, up 49 from last year.

With the larger battery taking up more under vehicle space, Mitsubishi did reduce the size of the fuel tank to 14.0 gallons, but overall range stays around 420 miles.

And, full packaging under the vehicle means there's no intrusion into the cabin, which allows them to still make 3-rows of seating available, a rarity in the compact crossover segment.

Super-All Wheel Control AWD comes standard with all PHEVs as they feature both a front and a rear electric motor.

Mitsubishi lists the transmission as a CVT, though technically-- it is a single-speed transaxle; meaning it can operate as a series or parallel hybrid based on the situation, with the electric motors primarily driving the vehicle, while the gasoline engine keeps the battery charged and provides assistance when needed.

We appreciated the Super-All Wheel Control through the cones of our Mason Dixon Dragway handling course, as it manages both motor torque distribution as well as selective braking to deliver very neutral behavior with no notable oversteer or understeer.

Suspension and steering were retuned for '26.

The ride is compliant and the steering effort light.

More feel would be nice, but like the 2025 non-hybrid Outlander we tested, steering precision is direct and tight.

In straight-line testing, it eased off the line, building power smoothly on the way to 60 in 7.2 seconds, over 2.0 seconds quicker than that '25 test.

With the exception of high engine RPMs, things were very calm and collected throughout the good 15.5 second quarter-mile ending at 93 miles per hour.

In panic braking, we expected some nosedive.

Still stability was solid, as was the 119 foot average on stops from 60 miles per hour.

When it comes to the exterior and interior, other 4th gen Outlanders got extensive upgrades to both last year.

For 2026, those improvements find their way onto this PHEV.

Inside, that means improved materials, additional sound deadening, better implementation of controls, and more usable cupholders and wireless phone chargers in the revised console.

From there, the SEL Premium package really cranks it up a notch with quilted leather upholstery, a large head-up display, and a Yamaha Ultimate 12-speaker sound system.

The front seats are immensely comfortable and well-bolstered, feeling more luxury brand than mainstream.

Second row passengers don't fair quite as well as there's not as much room as some competitors due to the 3rd row.

While, great to have, it remains strictly for the kiddos.

Exterior updates include a freshened face with a new grille and bumper, revised tail lights, and upgraded wheel designs.

SEL includes 20 inch wheels, roof rails, panoramic sunroof, and full LED lighting.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 27-Combined and 73-Combined for the MPGe; with minimal plug-in time, we averaged 29.7 miles per gallon of Regular.

Which is a much better than average Energy Impact Score, using 3.3 Barrels of Oil Yearly, while emitting 1.6 Tons of CO2.

Outlander PHEV pricing starts with ES trim at $45,240; about 10-grand over a standard ES with all-wheel-drive.

Our SEL tester starts at $50,940, with a special Black Edition topping the lineup at $55,690.

Though, not the trailblazer it was when it first arrived back in 2018, the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV remains a highly-relevant, efficient, and feature packed compact crossover.

Mitsubishi has now just made it more appealing than ever.

♪ ♪ JOHN: Before modern cars as we know them, one vehicle changed everything: the Ford Model T. It's simple and durable design caught on quickly, and soon driving became something almost anyone could do and even today, people are still driving them.

Now, it helps that the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania encourages it, teaching people how to safely get behind the wheel.

Well, our Stephanie Hart got a crash course in Model T driving, and shows us how it's done.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: Getting behind the wheel and driving a Ford Model T, like this one, is a bucket list kind of thing for so many people, including myself, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity here today at the AACA museum.

As part of this drive experience, you can drive up to five different types of models.

Alright let's do this.

Model T driving 101 comes first.

After all, these are totally different than the cars we drive today.

In 1908, The Model T was the first automobile to be mass-produced, making cars affordable for everyone.

As a result, it paved the way for the automotive industry as we know it today.

As I learned, Model T's are three pedal cars.

There's one for going forward, one for reverse, and one for braking.

Henry Ford wanted to keep it simple.

There's no gas pedal.

The throttle is actually a lever that looks like a turn signal stalk.

That may take a second to get used to, but as we know, what better way to learn than by doing?

(horn beeps) Sorry I had to do that.

♪ ♪ This is so much fun.

♪ ♪ As far as steering, just a quarter of a turn you really have to be careful because it's equal to a full turn on a regular car today.

And as far as speed, when I was going only 10 miles an hour it actually did feel like I was going 60 mph, so you have to get used to that.

STANLEY SIPKO: There is suspension.

It's not very good.

STEPHANIE: Yeah, I would figure.

STANLEY: It's a step up from riding a horse.

STEPHANIE: Okay, that's a good way to put it.

And backing up the Model T was interesting.

STANLEY: Now, take your foot off the reverse and put your foot on the clutch.

(engine chokes out) STEPHANIE: Too fast, yeah.

Let's run that back, practice makes perfect.

It's heavy, but you have to ease it ever so slightly.

Alright, you gotta really finesse it there.

They did that to see if they could trip me up.

It didn't work, it did not work.

STANLEY: I'm glad.

(Stephanie laughs) STEPHANIE: Feeling pretty confident, it's time to really recreate the feeling of early road travel.

(laughs) This is wild...wow.

It feels very at home in this grass I got to say.

STANLEY: It does.

STEPHANIE: That's because driving on the grass simulates what roads were like in the early 1900s before they were paved.

Twenty museum volunteers essentially run this program.

They maintain the cars, prep them for class and teach people how to drive them, so thank you for that.

A sense of humor goes a long way here.

It keeps things fun and the students love it.

BRETT DAGNALL: The biggest thing was remembering how to manipulate the throttle.

Other than that, it bounces around a lot.

A lot more noise than you get on our newer cars and things like that but it's definitely an experience.

STEPHANIE: Available roughly eight times a year, this driving experience transports you back in time, which turns out to be more rewarding than you'd expect.

Coming in hot.

Alright, I'm ready to own one of these things one day.

That was fun, that was really fun.

Alright, it's official, I graduated.

I am officially a licensed Ford Model T driver.

Whoo-hoo, I'm official...I love it.

I love it.

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: Believe it or not, we are quickly approaching the holiday season, and if going over hill and through the woods to Grandma's house is on your to do list, this Subaru Outback is a great choice with plenty of room for gifts and groceries.

Plus, it's equipped with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive with X-Mode Traction Management should the weather go sideways.

Even though, we wouldn't put it in the "must have" category, we're very much enjoying our Touring XT's energetic 260 horsepower 2.4 liter turbo engine; and our 26.6 miles per gallon average is almost equal to the 27 Combined rating of the standard 180 horsepower naturally aspirated 2.5 liter.

We don't try to hypermile this Outback, but we do like to keep an eye on fuel economy using the digital instrument panel, which is standard on all Outback's.

It adds a nice little upscale touch which is sometimes lacking in Subaru's.

It's also customizable, so if you do get lost on the way to grandma's house, you can use the map display to help get you through the woods.

After 5-months and 9,000 miles of seat time, we're actually looking forward to heading into winter weather in our Subaru Outback.

But first, we'll check in with our Kia Sportage Hybrid on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: Crime shows, arcades and wedge-shaped cars all helped define the 1980s.

Whether, you were dropping coins into Sega's "out run" or catching reruns of "Miami Vice," you became very familiar with Ferrari's Testarossa.

So, let's play a rerun of our own with this week's "road test by request."

♪ ♪ The Ferrari Testarossa came the way of most wishes with an aura brighter than its flawless red paint job.

Most everyone's familiar with that Testarossa aura thanks in part to the smoke, light, and bullets of Friday night TV.

But beneath the aura is quite another thing, Testarossa is Italian for red head.

The name was originally given to the 1950s Ferrari race cars that had red painted four valve cylinder heads and this 5.0 liter flat 12 red head with its 48 valves at full chat pumps out 380 horsepower at 345 pound-feet of torque.

Despite very high cornering power and high-strung breeding the benchmark Ferrari isn't out to embarrass TV test drivers.

Tight turns are meant with gentle plow at the front end.

The rear end will swing out though if you blunder on or off the throttle at the wrong time.

Entering a fast high bank turn the Testarossa gives you the feeling its rear end would like to creep around, but it doesn't and at high speed in a straight line the car just feels glued.

Ferrari claims a top speed of 177.

We had room enough for only 145.

If the Ferrari is foremost a machine its second strength is providing a good place to operate that machine.

Room is good and the surroundings pleasant if a bit bland.

A clock, oil temperature and fuel gauge are located in the central pod.

At the end of our test with the Ferrari Testarossa we've smashed all the icons.

The Testarossa isn't hard to drive.

It isn't hard to live with.

It isn't for Gods or for TV stars in silk Italian suits from the land of pink flamingos.

This Ferrari is the first exotic car from mere car loving mortals providing they have the cash and that makes the Testarossa all the more worth wishing for.

JOHN: We've got the keys if you've got the time for another QuickSpin!

♪ ♪ JESSICA RAY: It's hard to beat the smell of a new car; something we're used to catching a whiff of on every First Drive.

Our latest adventure took us to Ontario, Canada, to drive the 2027 Lexus NX, where there was more than factory-fresh scents.

Part of this facelift is a "Sensory Concierge" experience, which pumps in music, ambient lighting and different fragrances depending on the preselected mood.

But that's reserved for the Luxury and F SPORT grades, just half of the lineup.

The NX portfolio is now four main trims, each available with either the 350h hybrid powertrain or the 450h+ plug-in hybrid system.

They all use a revised 2.5 liter 4-cylinder and some arrangement of electric motors.

The 350h can be had in front- or all-wheel-drive, both rated at 244 horsepower.

Meanwhile, the 450h+ is all-wheel-drive standard; total system output is now 324 horsepower, 20 more than before.

Also, the suspension, the steering, the braking all see little tweaks as well to improve this driving experience.

Really, one of the first things I noticed was that the steering felt even more precise than before.

The steering wheel also feels really nice in my hands.

An excellent size.

Other interior updates include a larger 14 inch infotainment screen, paired with some physical controls and plenty of plush materials.

And the cabin is quieter than before thanks to extra sound insulation.

The 2027 Lexus NX is slated to arrive early next year, and we suspect a starting price of around $50,000.

GREG: Part two of our Colorado First Drive was spent behind the wheel of the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS.

If you recall our recent GLE experience, this might sound familiar.

The GLS was given its own makeover, including a hood ornament akin to the S Class sedan.

Under the GLS 450's large hood is a 3.0 liter inline-6 engine, satisfying to rev out toward its peak 375 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque.

The GLS 580 crams a 4.0 liter V8 into the engine bay; updated too, a flat-plane crankshaft the worthiest of note.

At 429 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, it gets this 3-row SUV moving.

And at speed, the standard AIRMATIC air suspension is appreciated, as is available e ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, working in tandem at each corner to level out the suspension during cornering, braking, and acceleration.

So, I got in this thing about an hour ago, and I knew it had the system, so driving it around it felt unnatural.

It didn't feel normal because when I went into corners, it didn't roll like a normal 3-row SUV would.

When I would hit the brakes, it wouldn't pitch forward like a vehicle with this much weight would.

As I drove it more, I started to get more comfortable.

I realized what it was doing and then it just became impressive.

And, as always, top aspirations point towards AMG; the GLS 63 puts out 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet from its biturbo V8, complete with a performance exhaust system, AMG-tuned all-wheel-drive and SPEEDSHIFT 9-speed automatic transmission.

The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS is arriving at dealers now; expect a starting price just over $90,000.

And we'll have more QuickSpins soon!

JOHN: As sort of an Americanized Range Rover, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has perfectly bridged the gap between the Wrangler's off-road prowess and Grand Wagoneer's poshness.

Well, now well into its 5th generation, the GC gets some nicely-timed TLC in the ICE department.

So, let's get the 411 on its new 2.0.

♪ ♪ This 5th gen Jeep Grand Cherokee has been on the road since 2022, though its classic looks seemingly never go out of style.

So, while there are some subtle appearance tweaks for 2026, much bigger news lies under the hood.

Here, we find a new member of the Stellantis Hurricane engine family, an all-new 4-cylinder turbo displacing 2.0 liters.

This inline-4 cranks out 324 horsepower, 332 pound-feet of torque, and comes with a stout 6,200 pounds tow rating.

Its unique Turbulent Jet Ignition uses a cup-shaped pre-chamber of fuel to trigger a faster and cleaner burn in the combustion chamber, improving performance while also lowering emissions.

Fans of the long-running Pentastar V6 need not worry, as it remains the standard engine, putting out 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

Each engine is paired with a unique 8-speed automatic transmission, and while most will come with 4-wheel drive, rear-drive is still available.

In addition to the new powerplant, there are some other updates for the GC, most notable inside where a tech upgrade required a reworking of the dash.

The central touchscreen expands horizontally, and there's a new set of climate controls just below it.

It does trade in knobs and actual switches for a slim touch-sensitive surface, but with real tactile feel.

Our tester also came with the front passenger-only 10.25 inch entertainment display.

No major departures outside, but things have gotten a slight freshening.

In the new front fascia, the lower grille gets a more substantial bar running through it, while the corner vent-like trim pieces have been enlarged.

The seven-slot grille also gets a subtle reshaping, as do the headlights.

As before, there is both this standard 5-passenger version as well as a stretched wheelbase 6 or 7 passenger Grand Cherokee L. Both follow the same trim structure which has been slimmed down to three core models: Laredo, Limited, and Summit, with various packages available to outfit each to meet your specific needs.

The Grand Cherokee arrived on the automotive scene in 1993 as the first new Jeep vehicle under Chrysler ownership, though its chief designer, Larry Shinoda, is much better known for his work on sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford's Boss 302 Mustang.

Based on the amount of "get up and go" this Hurricane displayed on the street, we were expecting some good results at the track and were not disappointed as the we shot to 60 in 7.0 seconds.

That's more than a second quicker than we achieved with the last Pentastar GC we tested.

The engine was working hard to get this thing down the track, but it did have a nice little growl to it throughout the 15.3 second quarter-mile, finished at 91 miles per hour.

We did find the typical braking experience we've come to expect from the Grand Cherokee: Some nosedive, but smooth and steady stops averaging a fine 115 feet from 60 miles per hour.

Jeep's latest Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System uses multiple sensors, cameras, and GPS data to allow for true hands-free driving on the highway.

We like the fact that it's a standalone option instead of lumped into a package, but know that a subscription to Jeep Connect is also required.

Two levels of Quadra-Trac 4-wheel-drive are available, our top Limited coming with Quadra-Trac 2, which features a 2-speed transfer case with more drive mode options for the Selec-Terrain traction management.

Pricing for a standard 4X2 Laredo starts at $40,915; both Limited, which starts at $46,315 and top Summit at $62,595, come with the Hurricane-4.

After selling a low of just 50,000 units here in the U.S.

in 2009, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has been on a steady resurgence, selling over 200,000 every year since 2016.

A more efficient and modern powertrain option for 2026 is just what the Grand Cherokee needed to keep that momentum surging forward.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK and I hope you'll join us next time when we'll preview the new face of Chrysler on the updated Pacifica.

Plus, a countdown of America's top selling compact SUVs.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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