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The Mitsubishi Pajero Is Back To Take On The Toyota Land Cruiser

Mitsubishi’s legendary off-roader returns with a truck-based platform, seven seats, and serious 4WD hardware.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

Photo by: Mitsubishi

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Sep 2, at 12:15am ET

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Update:

It's Official: Reborn Mitsubishi Pajero Will Add Compact And Small SUVs

It’s been a minute since the last Mitsubishi Pajero. The global model bowed out five years ago, but the United States said goodbye to the Montero way back in 2006. Originally launched in 1982, the off-roader racked up cumulative sales of more than 3.3 million units in over 170 countries. But the company pulled the plug in 2021 without an immediate successor.

Now, it’s finally back.

Entering its fifth generation, the Pajero (aka Montero in certain markets) makes its long-awaited return. Mitsubishi is still undecided about whether to bring it to the United States, but it does intend to sell the reborn off-roader in around 100 countries worldwide. It will launch initially in Thailand, followed by Japan and Australia by the end of March 2027.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero Key Facts

What’s New? Well, everything. The frame from the Triton pickup has been heavily adapted for the three-row SUV while maintaining the truck’s off-road chops.
What’s With The Design? Predictably boxy, the new Pajero has an imposing stance with massive ground clearance, suitable for a Toyota Land Cruiser rival.
What About The Engine? For now, Mitsubishi has confirmed a turbocharged 2.4-liter diesel engine borrowed from the Triton. It makes 204 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.
What About Off-Road Goodies? The fifth-gen Pajero gets the company’s signature Super Select 4WD-II (SS4-II) four-wheel-drive system with four selectable modes.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

Photo by: Mitsubishi

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero: A Clean-Sheet Redesign

Although Mitsubishi points to past generations as an inspiration for the design, truthfully, the Pajero has little in common with its ancestors. Instead, the resurrected SUV supersizes a design language we’ve seen on regional models like the Destinator and Xforce, but with bulging fenders and a more imposing front grille. The sculpted body combines a generous greenhouse with a flat roofline and generous underbody protection at both ends.

The chunky mud flaps and side steps, along with the generous suspension travel, point to a serious off-roader rather than one merely impersonating an SUV capable of going off the beaten path. Depending on the version, the new Pajero rides on Toyo Open Country H/T tires, while others have Bridgestone Dueler H/T rubber, both measuring 255/55 R20. Sadly, the fifth door is gone, making way for a conventional tailgate with the spare wheel mounted underneath.

The all-new Pajero is big enough to feel at home on the highway but has the hardware to venture well beyond the pavement. It stretches 193.7 inches (4,920 millimeters) from bumper to bumper, is 75.8 in (1,925 mm) wide, and stands 75.2 in (1,910 mm) tall. The wheelbase measures 113 in (2,870 mm), while both axles have a 64.2-in (1,630-mm) track.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero interior

Photo by: Mitsubishi

The Interior Is A Major Upgrade

While the exterior says the new Pajero doesn’t mind getting dirty, the cabin is one of the nicest we’ve seen lately in a Mitsubishi. The three-row layout seats seven, with a second row that slides 5.9 inches (150 millimeters) and a tumble mechanism for extra cargo space or easier ingress for third-row occupants. Since the roof is flat, we’re told there’s plenty of headroom even for rearmost passengers.

The interior is surprisingly luxurious for a Mitsubishi, with leather covering nearly all surfaces on the top trim level. The soft padding on the dashboard gives it a lounge-like vibe, while the grab handles remind you this is a proper off-roader. Given its positioning in the range, the new Pajero is loaded with features, including double-glazed windows for all doors and an acoustic windshield for a quieter cabin.

It also gets a cooled storage area underneath the armrest, a 12-speaker Yamaha sound system, tri-zone automatic climate control, manual rear shades, and second-row heated seats. While dual 14.3-inch screens dominate the dashboard, plenty of physical controls still let drivers quickly access often-used functions such as climate settings. The rotary knob lets drivers switch between the various 4WD settings on the fly, while USB ports are available across all three rows.

Already revealed in the teaser campaign leading up to today’s big debut, the Multi Meter is back. It’s not a separate gauge as in the old days, but rather a digital layout built into the center screen. Beyond the pitch and roll angles, it also shows altitude, compass heading, and left-right torque distribution. We should mention that the cheaper Pajero trim levels will have slightly smaller screens, measuring 12.3 inches.

The New Pajero Is A Truck-Based SUV

The new Pajero is built on a ladder-frame platform shared with the Triton pickup, but Mitsubishi claims it is considerably stiffer, thanks to increased use of high-tensile steel. The extra rigidity should make a noticeable difference both on the road and off it, with the added benefit of improved durability and reliability.

Mitsubishi has also fitted the SUV with a high-mounted double-wishbone front suspension and a new five-link rigid rear axle. The setup aims to give the Pajero a good balance between road manners and off-road capability, while keeping the steering natural and the ride relatively flat and composed. In other words, it should be just as happy cruising on the highway as it is crawling over rough terrain.

The new Pajero also gets Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, which brings together several electronic systems to manage how much drive and braking force is sent to each wheel. It ties together the four-wheel-drive system, Active Yaw Control, Active Stability and Traction Control, and ABS to keep the Pajero stable while making its handling feel more predictable and natural. The system continuously adjusts its intervention based on driver inputs and the conditions underneath the wheels.

When the road runs out, the Pajero has 9.1 inches (230 millimeters) of ground clearance and respectable off-road angles: 30.4 degrees up front, 22.6 degrees at the breakover, and 25.8 degrees at the rear. Mitsubishi has also given it a 52:48 front-to-rear weight distribution and long-travel suspension designed to keep the tires planted over rough terrain.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero Key Specs Engine / Transmission Turbocharged 2.4L Four-Cylinder Diesel / Eight-Speed Automatic Platform

Body-On-Frame, Double-Wishbone Front Suspension, Five-Link Rigid Rear Axle

Drivetrain

Four-Wheel Drive With 2WD Mode, Locking Center Diff, Low-Range Gearing

Drive Modes Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Rock

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

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2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

Source: Mitsubishi

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Pajero Family

The new Pajero is just the start, as Mitsubishi wants to turn the venerable name into a series of models. At least two smaller off-roaders are on the way, following a strategy we’ve seen at Toyota with its ever-growing Land Cruiser lineup. Similarly, Land Rover offers multiple flavors of the Defender, while Mercedes is about to launch a smaller G-Class.

Motor1’s Take: The new Pajero is long overdue, especially since the last one was canceled at a time when off-road SUVs were gaining traction. Hopefully, Mitsubishi will offer an equivalent Montero or something to that effect in North America in the not-too-distant future as part of its plan to lure customers back into dealerships.

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