MITSUBISHI is set to return its iconic Pajero nameplate when its new, cross-country SUV is premiered later this year.
The decision puts an end to speculation that the four-wheel drive model will be branded as the Pajero Sport and suggest the full-size Pajero will compete once more against familiar rivals like the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.
Discontinued in 2021, the Mitsubishi Pajero was a staple of the Australian four-wheel drive scene for close to 40 years.
The original Pajero launched in 1982 combining the go-anywhere abilities of a four-wheel drive with the comfort of a passenger car. Across four generations, it became one of Mitsubishi’s best-known models, accumulating sales of over 3.25 million units in over 170 countries and regions worldwide.
Mitsubishi’s Pajero began competition in the legendary Dakar Rally – the world’s most demanding off-road rally – just a year after its launch, securing a total of 12 victories, including seven consecutive wins.
It is through these achievements, Mitsubishi says, that the Pajero earned “a reputation for unparalleled off-road performance, handling stability, and proven durability as a cross-country SUV”.
In Japan, the Pajero led the RV boom of the 1990s and played a key role in promoting outdoor and leisure lifestyle, with the series expanding to include the Pajero Mini kei-car, Pajero Junior compact SUV, and the famed Pajero iO compact SUV.
Set to make its world premiere in Q3 this year (2026), the all-new Pajero is based on the highly robust ladder frame of the Triton light commercial utility, albeit with “model specific development of the cabin and suspension”.
Mitsubishi says the new Pajero will deliver outstanding off-road capacity alongside a refined and comfortable ride, setting a new benchmark in the same way the original Pajero did over 40 years ago.
More information is available via a dedicated global website.