It’s been a while since we last talked about Mitsubishi in glowing terms, but the facts can’t be denied. The popularity of the once-beleaguered Japanese automaker is trending up in the US on the shoulders of a crossover and SUV lineup that’s hitting record sales growth.

Spearheading this growth are the Outlander and Outlander Sport, two models that posted impressive sales growths in 2017. Sales of the Outlander reached 35,310 units in the year-that-was, resulting in a sales growth of 32.9 percent from the previous year. Likewise, the Outlander Sport also saw a huge bump in sales, ending the year with 33,160 units sold. That figure was aided by a massive sales period in December, in which sales volume for the SUV increased by 47.1 percent compared to its figures in the last month of 2016. The success of both models spurred Mitsubishi’s crossover and SUV sales to shoot up by 15 percent compared to 2016. That’s impressive on its own, and even more so considering that it outpaced the popular segment by a wide margin.

Moving forward, Mitsubishi is set to release two new models to complement the two Outlander models. One of these models is the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), which takes elements from the Outlander and combines it with hybrid and electric capabilities. That model’s already out on the market. The other model is the all-new Eclipse Cross, a compact SUV that will be positioned between the Outlander Sport and the Outlander once it makes its debut in March. These two new models make up a part of Mitsubishi’s ambitious expansion plan that will have 11 new models, including six all-new models, hit dealerships in the course of the next three years.

In addition to the model expansion, the Japanese automaker will also expand its dealership network in the US, invest heavily in research and development, and leverage its recent inclusion in the Renault-Nissan Alliance to become a player in the growing segment of future mobility. In other words, don’t write Mitsubishi’s obituary just yet. The Japanese automaker appears to still be alive and kicking.

References

Read more Mitsubishi news.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Read our full review on the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Read our full review on the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.