- Mitsubishi announced the return of the iconic Pajero off-roader.
- New flagship SUV rides on a Triton-derived ladder-frame chassis.
- It will debut in autumn 2026, sold as the Montero in certain markets.
Mitsubishi has finally put years of rumors to rest, officially confirming the global return of its most iconic off-roader. The Japanese automaker dropped a teaser for a new Pajero, which it says will also wear the Montero badge in some markets. Market availability hasn’t been spelled out yet, but the fact that the Montero name is back on the table is a strong hint that North America could be in Mitsubishi’s plans this time around.
The new Pajero rides on the ladder-frame platform underpinning the Triton pickup, which puts it in line with the aging Pajero Sport rather than the original Pajero. Mitsubishi is pitching it differently, though, promising “model-specific development of the cabin and front and rear suspension” along with “outstanding off-road capability” and a “refined and comfortable ride.” That language points somewhere closer to the full-fat Pajero in terms of where it sits in the market.
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The teaser itself focuses on lighting, with elongated T-shaped LEDs framing the Mitsubishi emblem. The headlight design doesn’t match the model teased in January 2026, though that gap could come down to camouflage or different trim levels rather than anything more significant.
Earlier spy shots show an upright, boxy SUV with muscular fenders, the kind of proportions that invite direct comparison to the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Mitsubishi is calling it a “cross-country SUV” and its new flagship, which puts it above the unibody Outlander in the hierarchy. The reveal is scheduled for autumn 2026, five years after the previous generation was put down.
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Historically, Mitsubishi sold the Pajero as the Montero in North America, South America, Spain, and the Philippines, so those markets have a reasonable claim on the new generation.
The original Pajero was introduced in 1982, with the goal of combining the off-road performance of a 4WD with the comfort of a passenger car. The model has sold over 3.25 million units in over 170 countries across four generations, and has secured a total of 12 victories at the Dakar Rally.
