Mitsubishi is once again putting an emphasis on off-road prowess. Mitsubishi has unveiled the 2028 Mitsubishi Outlander Diamond Trail Edition, a new take on the Outlander SUV that is adventure oriented and will have its world premiere at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Mitsubishi touts the Diamond Trail as the most able of any Outlander it has put forward, thanks to a more assertive look, all-terrain tires, better ground clearance angles and a Rock driving mode.
There is more to the 2028 Diamond Trail than its rugged styling. Mitsubishi has put some work into the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system with the addition of a Rock mode for better traction on hard ground. The new setting is quicker to react to wheelspin via enhanced brake control so the SUV can hold its line on rocks or an uneven trail. It is an earlier intervention than the existing S-AWC modes to curb wheel slip.
Put it in Rock mode and Hill Descent Control is automatically engaged to keep speed in check on a rough downhill run. The driver can set the target speed and need not be on the brake pedal as much. An off-road display has been added to the instrument cluster to put front-wheel steering angle, wheel slip and traction-control activity in plain view. The Multi-View Camera System is another area of improvement; it will stay on up to 18.6 mph rather than the 6.2 mph limit of the regular Outlander, which should aid in watching one’s wheel placement and obstacles.
To match the capability, the exterior has been upgraded. New bumpers put the approach angle at 20.5 degrees and the departure at 23.1, up from 18.3 and 22.2 respectively. The Diamond Trail features 18-inch black alloy wheels and Nexen Roadian ATX all-terrain tires. A matte-black grille with blacked-out Dynamic Shield trim, raised roof rails and fender flares help it stand out. Darkened headlights and a new Trail Green Metallic paint job are part of the package, with the option of a white roof to contrast the green.
The 2028 interior has been upgraded for an active way of life. The seats are in an exclusive dark gray with khaki stitching and a water-repellent material. Some of the usual finishes have given way to textured matte-black and dark chrome and satin. Seatbacks, floor mats and door trim are marked with a Diamond Trail Edition logo.
Three 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Editions to be shown at SEMA
Mitsubishi intends to put on display three variations of the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition at this year’s SEMA Show in 2026 to show what the new SUV can do, with each one a study in a different degree of customization.
The first is essentially a stock Diamond Trail Edition with the addition of some Mitsubishi Genuine Accessories and a Thule roof box to match the paint. It is meant to give an idea of how an owner might set up the vehicle for the week or a weekend outing.
The second is more heavily done up. There are 265/65R18 BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A tires, a 1.5-inch lift from Anderson Design & Fabrication and some Rough Country lighting to go with it. A Thule Caprock roof rack is home to a pair of Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bikes and a custom-painted Gulf Stream Trail Boss 1090K trailer finishes off the adventure-ready package.
Then there is the third Outlander, the most extreme of the lot. This one has 18-inch Method Race Wheels and 265/65R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3s, as well as a 2.5-inch suspension lift from Flatout Suspension’s GR Lite strut kit. Up top, a Thule Caprock holds a Thule Approach 2M tent. With Rough Country traction boards and auxiliary lighting thrown in, it is an Outlander made for camping and the kind of off-road work that is a bit more demanding. The trio will all be in Trail Green Metallic with white roofs.
