The short answer
Outlander Sport Towing
The 2027 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds when equipped with a factory-installed towing hitch. Always account for passenger and cargo weight within the SUV, as these factors may reduce your vehicle's specific towing capacity.
Updated November 2026 by Bakersfield Mitsubishi
1,500 lb
Maximum tow rating
2.0L
Base engine size
2.4L
SEL engine size
24 mpg
City fuel economy
The 2027 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has a maximum tow rating of 1,500 pounds, and that rating applies only when the SUV is equipped with a factory-installed towing hitch. Mitsubishi publishes that single figure rather than separate ratings by engine or drivetrain, and it cautions that vehicle load, other accessories and options may reduce the maximum.
In plain terms, the Outlander Sport is a light-duty tower, suited to small, light trailers rather than campers or boats of any real size. Here in Bakersfield, where triple-digit summers and long mountain grades are part of the picture, it pays to understand exactly what that rating covers and what Mitsubishi has left unsaid.
Status check
2027 Outlander Sport towing facts: confirmed and not announced
Here is how the towing-related details for 2027 stand at a glance.
| Topic | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum tow rating | Confirmed | With a factory-installed hitch, the 2027 model carries a 1,500-pound maximum tow rating. |
| All-Wheel Control | Confirmed | RALLIART, TRAIL EDITION and 2.4 SEL get All-Wheel Control, and the 2.0 S sticks with two-wheel drive. |
| Rating by version | Not announced | Mitsubishi publishes a single maximum and does not list figures by engine or drivetrain. |
| Engines | Confirmed | Mitsubishi lists a 2.0L MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder, and the 2.4 SEL uses a 2.4L MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder. |
| Braked or unbraked trailer basis | Not announced | Not announced yet |
| Tongue weight | Not announced | Not announced yet |
| Payload and combined weight ratings | Not announced | Not announced yet |
Key details
Two conditions attached to the 1,500-pound figure
Two conditions come attached to Mitsubishi's number, and both matter:
- The hitch has to be factory installed. Mitsubishi ties the 1,500-pound maximum to a factory-installed towing hitch, so ask before assuming an add-on hitch carries the same rating.
- Your real limit can be lower. Mitsubishi notes that vehicle load, other accessories and options may reduce maximum towing capacity. Passengers, a full cargo area and a roof box all count.
Mitsubishi also reminds owners that cargo and load capacity are limited by weight and distribution, and that all cargo should be secured. When you tow, that applies twice: what you pack inside the SUV eats into your margin, and how the trailer is loaded changes how the whole rig behaves.
Capability
Does the engine or drivetrain change towing capacity?
Mitsubishi lists a 2.0-liter MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder for the Outlander Sport, and the 2.4 SEL uses a 2.4-liter MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder. Even so, Mitsubishi lists the same 1,500-pound maximum without splitting it by engine or drivetrain.
The RALLIART, TRAIL EDITION and 2.4 SEL come with All-Wheel Control, while the base 2.0 S is two-wheel drive. On versions with All-Wheel Control, Mitsubishi says the system continually monitors the road and transfers power and braking to the wheels with the most traction. That can help on a dusty turnout or a damp launch ramp, but it does not change the published tow rating.
Still open
What Mitsubishi has not announced
Mitsubishi has not published several numbers that experienced towers look for:
- Whether the rating assumes a trailer with its own brakes or one without.
- Maximum tongue weight.
- Payload, gross vehicle weight rating and gross combined weight rating.
- Which trims can be ordered with the factory-installed hitch, plus the hitch's class and receiver size.
- Horsepower and torque for the 2027 engines.
- Any trailer-assist features; none are mentioned for the Outlander Sport.
Your owner's manual is the right place to look for tongue weight and trailer-brake guidance for a specific vehicle.
Capability
Is the Outlander Sport the right tow vehicle for your trailer?
The honest way to use any tow rating is to work from the trailer's actual loaded weight, not its brochure weight. Start with the empty weight on the trailer's paperwork or VIN plate, then add everything you will put on it. Better yet, run the loaded trailer across a certified public scale; truck stops and some landscape supply yards have them.
A small utility or cargo trailer: worth evaluating
The loads worth evaluating are things like a small open utility trailer for yard cleanup or a few pieces of furniture, or a compact enclosed cargo trailer packed lightly. Leaving a healthy cushion below the maximum is smart practice anywhere, and especially here. Compare the scale ticket with the rating before the first trip, not after.
A camper, boat or car hauler: look at something bigger
Travel trailers, larger boats and car haulers generally weigh far more than a light-duty rating allows, so those are jobs for a bigger vehicle. A weekend at Lake Isabella with a ski boat calls for a tow vehicle with a much higher published rating.
The lineup
Towing in Kern County heat and on mountain grades
Bakersfield summers are hard on any vehicle pulling a load, and the climb toward Tehachapi or up into the Kern River canyon adds long, steady pulls on top of the heat. A few habits make a real difference:
- Tow early. In July and August, schedule trips for the morning, when temperatures are lower.
- Stay well under the limit on long grades. A load that feels fine on flat valley roads can feel very different on a sustained climb.
- Check tires cold. Set pressures on both the SUV and the trailer before you leave, not after an hour on hot pavement.
- Plan the descent. Follow your owner's manual for driving downhill with a load, and leave extra following distance.
- Test the lights. Confirm brake lights and turn signals work on the trailer every time you hitch up.
Capability
How does towing affect fuel economy?
Expect your mileage to drop whenever a trailer is behind you, so plan fuel stops with that in mind. For reference, here are the 2027 EPA estimates without a trailer. Mitsubishi's EPA listing uses its own trim and drivetrain labels, and 4WD there refers to All-Wheel Control versions:
- Two-wheel-drive S, ES, LE and SE: rated at 24 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway and 27 combined.
- RALLIART plus the ES, LE and SE in 4WD form: rated at 23 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway and 26 combined.
- SEL 4WD: rated at 23 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway and 25 combined.
Questions about the 2027 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport? Talk with the Bakersfield Mitsubishi team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight can the 2027 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport tow?
Mitsubishi lists a maximum tow rating of 1,500 pounds when the Outlander Sport is equipped with a factory-installed towing hitch.
Do I need a special hitch to tow with the 2027 Outlander Sport?
Mitsubishi's rating is tied to a factory-installed towing hitch. Mitsubishi has not said which trims can be ordered with it, so confirm that before you buy if towing is part of your plans.
Does the bigger engine or All-Wheel Control raise the towing capacity?
Mitsubishi publishes a single 1,500-pound maximum and does not list different figures by engine or drivetrain.
What is the tongue weight for the 2027 Outlander Sport?
Mitsubishi has not published a maximum tongue weight for the 2027 model. Check the owner's manual for your vehicle before you load a trailer.
Which 2027 Outlander Sport trims have All-Wheel Control?
All-Wheel Control comes on the RALLIART, TRAIL EDITION and 2.4 SEL, while the base 2.0 S is two-wheel drive.
Which engines are offered in the 2027 Outlander Sport?
There are two: a 2.0-liter MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder and, in the 2.4 SEL, a 2.4-liter MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder.
Can the Outlander Sport tow a small utility trailer?
It can, as long as the fully loaded trailer stays within Mitsubishi's 1,500-pound maximum, which the company notes can be reduced by vehicle load, accessories and options. Weigh the loaded trailer to be sure.
Sources
Talk towing with Bakersfield Mitsubishi
Got a scale ticket for that utility trailer and a question about the hitch? Look over the Outlander Sport models at Bakersfield Mitsubishi, then send us a message with the trailer's loaded weight and the trim you are considering.