The New Pajero Is Surprisingly Expensive Overseas. That Could Be Bad News For America

The new Pajero costs more than ever in Australia, which has us wondering: what could that mean for the US?

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero Pricing

Photo by: Mitsubishi

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Sep 4, at 10:22am ET

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The Mitsubishi Pajero is back for 2027, baby. But the legendary off-roader isn't coming back as the affordable alternative it once was. Australian pricing puts the new Pajero squarely in the territory of some of the country's most popular body-on-frame SUVs—and that could have some interesting implications if Mitsubishi eventually brings it to the US.

In Australia, the new Pajero starts at $68,490 AUD before mandatory on-road costs (as first reported by Drive). The seven-seat version bumps that up to $69,990 AUD, while the Exceed costs $79,990 AUD and the range-topping GSR checks in at $84,990 AUD.

That's a pretty big jump over the outgoing Pajero Sport, with the GSR carrying roughly a $20,000 AUD premium over its predecessor. Here's how the entire pricing structure shakes out for the Pajero in Australia:

Mitsubishi Pajero GLS Five-Seat (Base) — $68,490 AUD
Mitsubishi Pajero GLS Seven Seat — $69,990 AUD
Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed — $79,990 AUD
Mitsubishi Pajero GSR — $84,990 AUD

How The Pajero Stacks Up

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

Photo by: Mitsubishi

At $68,490 AUD, the entry-level Pajero GLS is considerably more expensive than the base Ford Everest, which starts at $58,990 AUD. Even the more powerful V6 Everest starts at just $66,990 AUD. The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, meanwhile, starts at $73,200 AUD.

That means the standard Pajero sits almost perfectly between the Everest and Prado at the bottom of the range:

Ford Everest (Base) — $58,990 AUD
Ford Everest V6 — $66,990 AUD
Mitsubishi Pajero GLS (Five Seat) — $68,490 AUD
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado — $73,200 AUD
Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed — $79,990 AUD
Mitsubishi Pajero GSR — $84,990 AUD

Move up the lineup and the $79,990 AUD Pajero Exceed is roughly in line with higher-spec Everest models, while the $84,990 AUD GSR pushes the Mitsubishi into increasingly expensive territory.

The new Pajero does have the hardware to back up its higher positioning—sort of. It uses a 2.4-liter turbodiesel making 204 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD-II system. There's also low-range gearing and a rear differential lock.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

Photo by: Mitsubishi

What Does That Mean For The US?

Mitsubishi still hasn't confirmed whether the new Pajero/Montero will be sold in America. The company said it is still evaluating how the revived nameplate could fit into its global product strategy.

If the Pajero eventually makes its way to the US, though, Australian pricing gives us a pretty good idea of where Mitsubishi could position it.

At current exchange rates, $68,490 AUD works out to roughly $49,300, while $84,990 AUD converts to about $61,100. Obviously, that's just a straight currency conversion. US pricing would also have to account for transportation, tariffs, certification, dealer costs, and Mitsubishi's positioning in the American market.

Still, it gives us a rough idea of where the Pajero could land.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser, for example, starts at $59,580 including destination. If Mitsubishi priced the Pajero similarly in the US, it would be going straight after the Land Cruiser. The Ford Bronco is cheaper to start, with the two-door model priced at $42,790 including destination. But a comparable four-door Badlands costs $50,885. The four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon starts at $51,735, while the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road comes in at $52,285.

Mitsubishi Pajero GLS Five-Seat (Base) — $49,300 USD (Converted)
Ford Bronco Badlands Four-Door — $50,885
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon — $51,735
Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road $52,285
Toyota Land Cruiser — $59,580 USD
Mitsubishi Pajero GSR — $61,100 (Converted)

What do you think?

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Of course, all of this is speculation for now. If Mitsubishi does bring the Pajero—or Montero—to America, that doesn't necessarily mean it will undercut Toyota or come in significantly above the 4Runner, Bronco, or Wrangler. We'll have to wait and see where Mitsubishi decides to slot it.

Motor1's Take: At $68,490 AUD to start, the new Pajero is already significantly more expensive than the old Pajero Sport. If Mitsubishi eventually brings the Montero to the US, we'd expect it to start somewhere around $50,000 at a minimum, with well-equipped versions potentially pushing considerably higher.

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