Meet Mitsi: A road trip through Quebec’s wild side in the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander GT
Jami Savage, Adventure Awaits
From a luxury geodesic dome in the boreal forest to a “Wild” retreat in the heart of the Laurentians, a week-long road trip across two very different regions in Quebec proves that eco-tourism and adventure don’t have to be mutually exclusive — and that the right travel companion makes all the difference.
There’s a moment every road tripper knows: the first time you sit in a vehicle that’s about to become your home for the week, and you just know. For me, that moment happened in a Montreal parking lot on a Monday morning, sliding into the driver’s seat of a Sterling Silver 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC.
I didn’t know her name yet. I didn’t know she’d carry me through a week of rain, lakes, boreal forest and two of the most distinct corners of Quebec I’ve ever explored. But I knew within ten minutes that this was going to be a good week.
My mission: cover roughly 1,500 kilometres across Quebec’s eco-tourism landscape, starting in the polished, accessible wild of the Laurentians and ending deep in the boreal vastness of Abitibi-Témiscamingue — sleeping under transparent domes, floating on lakes, and putting the latest edition of the Mitsubishi Outlander GT through its paces along the way.
There’s a moment every road tripper knows: the first time you sit in a vehicle that’s about to become your home for the week, and you just know. For me, that moment happened in a Montreal parking lot on a Monday morning, sliding into the driver’s seat of a Sterling Silver 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC.
I didn’t know her name yet. I didn’t know she’d carry me through a week of rain, lakes, boreal forest and two of the most distinct corners of Quebec I’ve ever explored. But I knew within ten minutes that this was going to be a good week.
My mission: cover roughly 1,500 kilometres across Quebec’s eco-tourism landscape, starting in the polished, accessible wild of the Laurentians and ending deep in the boreal vastness of Abitibi-Témiscamingue — sleeping under transparent domes, floating on lakes, and putting the latest edition of the Mitsubishi Outlander GT through its paces along the way.
First Impressions: Settling into the Outlander GT
My first reaction when I saw her? Slick grandeur. The Outlander GT has presence — a substantial stance without feeling unwieldy. But it was the interior (where I’d be spending all my time) that won me over immediately. The seats are padded, embroidered and genuinely cozy; luxury comfort made for long hauls.
The cabin is sized perfectly for my frame, with heated and ventilated seats and — my favourite detail — actual knobs to control the dashboard! In a world of touchscreen-everything, I appreciated that I wasn’t hunting through menus while merging onto the highway. This is a vehicle built to be driven, not deciphered.
Pulling out of Montreal, I cracked the moonroof all the way back and let the cabin fill with light and fresh air. The whole vehicle felt bright, airy and surprisingly aerodynamic as the city gave way to highway. My mirrors adjusted easily, my sightlines were excellent, and within the first hour I’d already started talking to her like she had a personality.
By the time we hit the Laurentians, she had one. My readers, when polled, landed on a name: Mitsi — short for Mitsubishi, and frankly, perfect for a road trip companion who turned out to be equal parts capable and comfortable.
The cabin is sized perfectly for my frame, with heated and ventilated seats and — my favourite detail — actual knobs to control the dashboard! In a world of touchscreen-everything, I appreciated that I wasn’t hunting through menus while merging onto the highway. This is a vehicle built to be driven, not deciphered.
Pulling out of Montreal, I cracked the moonroof all the way back and let the cabin fill with light and fresh air. The whole vehicle felt bright, airy and surprisingly aerodynamic as the city gave way to highway. My mirrors adjusted easily, my sightlines were excellent, and within the first hour I’d already started talking to her like she had a personality.
By the time we hit the Laurentians, she had one. My readers, when polled, landed on a name: Mitsi — short for Mitsubishi, and frankly, perfect for a road trip companion who turned out to be equal parts capable and comfortable.
The Laurentians: Farouche and the art of slowing down
Our first stop was at Farouche (the word means “wild” in French), which sits on 135 acres of forest, river and mountain just outside Mont-Tremblant National Park, about 1.5 hours from Montreal. This is one of Canada’s most beautiful eco retreats: a farm store and welcoming hub at the entrance, and seven A-frame cabins tucked into the riverside, each with its own picnic table, barbecue, cooktop, and campfire.
Mitsi made the arrival effortless. Plenty of room in the cargo area meant I could pop the hatchback, grab my gear and head straight to my A-Frame cabin without any of the usual road-trip shuffle. It’s a small thing, but after a long drive, small things matter.
The cabins themselves strike a balance I didn’t expect: elevated comfort paired with total immersion. At night, with the windows open, I could hear frogs croaking, crickets, owls hooting — the kind of soundscape that makes you remember why you left the city in the first place.
The signature experience at Farouche is the rooftop Nordic bath, perched on a second storey overlooking the farm store and the river below. I waited until nine o’clock, when I had the whole place to myself. I watched the sun go down, and then the moon rise as I soaked. Being so close to Mont-Tremblant National Park means the night sky here is genuinely dark — I found myself quoting Coldplay under a sky full of stars, which tells you everything about how it felt.
Who Farouche is for: Solo travellers and couples craving a true reset — think morning yoga on the dock, an afternoon paddleboarding down the river, a book and a nap in a hammock. It’s a place for an unplugged, cozy, reconnect kind of weekend.
The cabins themselves strike a balance I didn’t expect: elevated comfort paired with total immersion. At night, with the windows open, I could hear frogs croaking, crickets, owls hooting — the kind of soundscape that makes you remember why you left the city in the first place.
The signature experience at Farouche is the rooftop Nordic bath, perched on a second storey overlooking the farm store and the river below. I waited until nine o’clock, when I had the whole place to myself. I watched the sun go down, and then the moon rise as I soaked. Being so close to Mont-Tremblant National Park means the night sky here is genuinely dark — I found myself quoting Coldplay under a sky full of stars, which tells you everything about how it felt.
Who Farouche is for: Solo travellers and couples craving a true reset — think morning yoga on the dock, an afternoon paddleboarding down the river, a book and a nap in a hammock. It’s a place for an unplugged, cozy, reconnect kind of weekend.
The Long Drive North: Through the rain and lakes
Here’s where I’ll be honest with you: the five-to-six-hour drive from the Laurentians up to Abitibi-Témiscamingue was not the scenic highway fantasy I’d pictured. I hit somewhere in the range of 30 to 40 millimetres of rain in about four hours — a genuine downpour, the kind Quebec’s roads (built for a drier climate than what I’m used to on the coast) don’t drain as efficiently as I’d like.
And yet, I felt confident the entire way. The automatic windshield wipers kept pace with the deluge, visibility through the mirrors stayed strong even in low light, and the Outlander’s Super All-Wheel Control system did exactly what it needed to do through standing water and unpredictable puddles.
What struck me most, though, was the landscape underneath all that rain. We drove through lake after lake — past La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, where I detoured for an afternoon on Grand Lac Victoria, paddleboard in hand, before the rain caught up to us. On a sunny day, I have no doubt this would rank among the most beautiful drives in the country. Even soaked, it was stunning.
It was also the drive where my relationship with Mitsi shifted. There’s a particular feeling that happens a few days into a road trip with a new vehicle — you stop being precious about the pristine new-car feeling, your snacks end up on the passenger seat, and the car stops being a new car with rules and starts being your road trip bestie. Mitsi became exactly that: an adventure seeker who doesn’t mind getting her wheels a little dirty, but still wants you comfortable while she does it. Glamping on wheels, basically.
And yet, I felt confident the entire way. The automatic windshield wipers kept pace with the deluge, visibility through the mirrors stayed strong even in low light, and the Outlander’s Super All-Wheel Control system did exactly what it needed to do through standing water and unpredictable puddles.
What struck me most, though, was the landscape underneath all that rain. We drove through lake after lake — past La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, where I detoured for an afternoon on Grand Lac Victoria, paddleboard in hand, before the rain caught up to us. On a sunny day, I have no doubt this would rank among the most beautiful drives in the country. Even soaked, it was stunning.
It was also the drive where my relationship with Mitsi shifted. There’s a particular feeling that happens a few days into a road trip with a new vehicle — you stop being precious about the pristine new-car feeling, your snacks end up on the passenger seat, and the car stops being a new car with rules and starts being your road trip bestie. Mitsi became exactly that: an adventure seeker who doesn’t mind getting her wheels a little dirty, but still wants you comfortable while she does it. Glamping on wheels, basically.
Station Boréale: Sleeping under a storm, not the stars
Ten minutes outside Val-d’Or, on the grounds of the Club de golf Siscoe overlooking Lac De Montigny, Station Boréale is the first property of its kind in Abitibi-Témiscamingue: eight geodesic domes designed for exactly the kind of reconnect-with-nature experience this region does so well.
Inside, the dome delivered on its promise of being the best of both worlds — the immersive feeling of camping with none of the discomfort. Heated floors, luxury linens, a climate-controlled interior, and yes, an outlet for my phone charger so the alarm actually worked the next morning.
I’d love to tell you I spent the night counting stars through that transparent dome ceiling. The truth is, a storm rolled in, and stargazing wasn’t in the cards this time. I’ll admit to a flicker of disappointment — but travel has a way of reminding you that an imperfect visit just means there’s a reason to come back. I have a feeling Station Boréale on a clear night is something special, and I intend to find out.
I’d love to tell you I spent the night counting stars through that transparent dome ceiling. The truth is, a storm rolled in, and stargazing wasn’t in the cards this time. I’ll admit to a flicker of disappointment — but travel has a way of reminding you that an imperfect visit just means there’s a reason to come back. I have a feeling Station Boréale on a clear night is something special, and I intend to find out.
Audacieuses Évasions: Rocked to sleep on Lac Preissac
If Station Boréale is glamping in the forest, Audacieuses Évasions is glamping on the water. I stayed in the NANOVASION, the smallest and most agile of their floating chalets — reached via a genuinely authentic 10-minute ATV ride, with my luggage towed in on a trailer behind it.
The NANOVASION is a private waterfront rustic floating home complete with a hammock bed suspended directly over the water. I grew up a 90s kid with a waterbed, and I’ve always loved sleeping on boats — there’s something about being rocked gently by the water that gives me the best sleep of any trip. I slept with the window open and let the lake do the rest: water lapping, crickets going, the occasional owl.
The NANOVASION is a private waterfront rustic floating home complete with a hammock bed suspended directly over the water. I grew up a 90s kid with a waterbed, and I’ve always loved sleeping on boats — there’s something about being rocked gently by the water that gives me the best sleep of any trip. I slept with the window open and let the lake do the rest: water lapping, crickets going, the occasional owl.
The weather had other plans for my paddleboard trip across to the Twin Islands just off the chalet’s window. Instead, my favourite moment ended up being an unplanned one: curled up with the windows open, watching a storm roll across the lake. Sometimes the best travel moments are the ones you didn’t put on the itinerary.
Aiguebelle National Park: Where the waters divide
If there’s one stop on this trip that demands a return visit, it’s Aiguebelle National Park. The must-do here is La Traverse Trail, which crosses a suspended footbridge overlooking a striking fault lake — and crosses something else, too: the imaginary watershed divide that gives Abitibi its name. In Algonquin, Abitibi means “where the waters divide.” Walk this trail, and you’re literally straddling the line where water flowing north eventually reaches Hudson Bay, while water flowing south makes its way to the St. Lawrence.
It’s the kind of detail that turns a nice hike into something you think about for the rest of the drive.
It’s the kind of detail that turns a nice hike into something you think about for the rest of the drive.
Mitsi by the Numbers: What stood out on the road
Across the week and well over 1,500 kilometres — through city traffic, mountain roads, torrential rain and long stretches of boreal highway — a few things about the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander GT stood out enough to mention specifically:
Cargo space: Generous enough to load a week’s worth of gear, groceries for three separate stays, and still have room to spare. The hatchback access made quick stops painless.
Visibility and driver assist: Blind spot monitoring, the heads-up display, and the 360-degree camera system meant that even in pouring rain on unfamiliar roads, I felt like the vehicle was quietly making me a better driver — not just a safer one.
The new mild-hybrid powertrain: The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with Mitsubishi’s first mild-hybrid system felt responsive at highway speed, with no hesitation pulling out to pass on two-lane stretches.
The Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system: I leaned on audiobooks more than music for the early legs of this trip, so the full twelve-speaker experience is still on my list to properly stress-test — stay tuned.
Cargo space: Generous enough to load a week’s worth of gear, groceries for three separate stays, and still have room to spare. The hatchback access made quick stops painless.
Visibility and driver assist: Blind spot monitoring, the heads-up display, and the 360-degree camera system meant that even in pouring rain on unfamiliar roads, I felt like the vehicle was quietly making me a better driver — not just a safer one.
The new mild-hybrid powertrain: The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with Mitsubishi’s first mild-hybrid system felt responsive at highway speed, with no hesitation pulling out to pass on two-lane stretches.
The Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system: I leaned on audiobooks more than music for the early legs of this trip, so the full twelve-speaker experience is still on my list to properly stress-test — stay tuned.
Two Quebecs, one vehicle
What stayed with me most about this trip wasn’t a single dome or a single lake — it was the contrast. The Laurentians and Abitibi-Témiscamingue are both Quebec, both wild, both built around the idea of slowing down and reconnecting. But they couldn’t feel more different. One is an hour and a half from Montreal, polished and intimate. The other is six hours northwest, vast, remote and shaped by water in a way I’d never experienced before.
Mitsi handled both without missing a beat — mountain roads and forest trails one day, flooded highways and boreal lake country the next.
I’ll admit there’s a tension in driving a brand-new SUV to destinations built around leave-no-trace philosophy and sustainable travel. But here’s where I land on it: as a mom, safety isn’t negotiable, and the suite of modern safety features in the Outlander GT — the airbags, the lane departure assist, the blind spot monitoring, the 360-degree camera coverage — are exactly why I trust this vehicle to take my family on adventures like this one.
If you’re reading an article like this, you’re probably in the market for a vehicle regardless. Especially when it comes to road trips, I appreciate not having to plan a route around charging stations. You fill up, and you go.
There’s no guilt in a Canadian road trip. There’s only the question of what you drive while you take it. For this one, I’m glad it was Mitsi.
I’ll admit there’s a tension in driving a brand-new SUV to destinations built around leave-no-trace philosophy and sustainable travel. But here’s where I land on it: as a mom, safety isn’t negotiable, and the suite of modern safety features in the Outlander GT — the airbags, the lane departure assist, the blind spot monitoring, the 360-degree camera coverage — are exactly why I trust this vehicle to take my family on adventures like this one.
If you’re reading an article like this, you’re probably in the market for a vehicle regardless. Especially when it comes to road trips, I appreciate not having to plan a route around charging stations. You fill up, and you go.
There’s no guilt in a Canadian road trip. There’s only the question of what you drive while you take it. For this one, I’m glad it was Mitsi.
Jami Savage is the founder of Adventure Awaits and a professionally accredited travel writer with the Travel Media Association of Canada. Follow her at adventureawaits.ca
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