Mitsubishi has brought back the Pajero. Five years after the nameplate disappeared from global markets, the company pulled the covers off an all-new generation on September 2, and it is exactly the kind of vehicle the enthusiast corner of the internet has been demanding: ladder-frame construction, a diesel engine, a proper low-range transfer case, and no attempt whatsoever to pretend it is a crossover.
The Hardware
The new Pajero, sold as the Montero in some markets, sits on a highly rigid ladder frame with expanded use of high-tensile steel to keep weight in check. That is the headline decision. At a time when almost every rival has moved to unibody construction in pursuit of on-road refinement, Mitsubishi has gone the other way and committed to the architecture that made the nameplate's reputation in the first place.
Power comes from a 2.4-litre clean diesel paired with a newly developed eight-speed automatic, driving through Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD-II system. Peak torque is quoted at 480 Nm, or 470 Nm depending on specification. Super Select remains one of the more genuinely useful four-wheel-drive systems in the segment, because it allows full-time four-wheel drive on tarmac as well as a locked centre differential for serious work.
| Specification | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,920 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm |
| Height | 1,910 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,870 mm |
| Ground clearance | 230 mm |
| Engine | 2.4-litre clean diesel |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Super Select 4WD-II |
At 4,920 mm long and 1,910 mm tall on a 2,870 mm wheelbase, it is a substantial vehicle, and the 230 mm of ground clearance confirms the intent. These are Land Cruiser Prado numbers, which is plainly the point.
Where You Can Actually Buy One
Thailand gets it first, followed by Japan and Australia during fiscal 2026. From fiscal 2027, Mitsubishi plans to roll the Pajero out to roughly 100 countries, including ASEAN markets, Latin America and the Middle East.
Conspicuously absent from that list: the United States. Mitsubishi's American lineup has been built around small crossovers for years, and a body-on-frame diesel SUV does not fit that strategy, the dealer network, or US emissions rules without significant investment. Enthusiasts hoping the Montero name returns to North America should not hold their breath.
Why It Matters
The Pajero built its reputation the hard way, through more than a decade of Dakar Rally dominance, and Mitsubishi has produced over 3.29 million across four generations since 1982. When it was discontinued in overseas markets in 2021, it left a gap that the brand never really filled.
Its return also lands at an interesting moment. The rugged, body-on-frame SUV has quietly become fashionable again, helped along by the Ford Bronco, the Land Rover Defender's reinvention and the INEOS Grenadier. Buyers who want visible capability rather than implied capability have more choice than they did a decade ago, and Mitsubishi is walking back into a segment that has grown while it was away.
Buyers who want visible capability rather than implied capability have more choice than they have had in years. Mitsubishi is walking back into a segment that grew while it was gone. AutoTimegist analysis
The Catch
A 2.4-litre diesel is a sensible choice for the markets the Pajero is actually aimed at, where diesel infrastructure is strong and towing matters more than acceleration figures. It is a less comfortable fit for Europe, where diesel demand has collapsed, and it rules out the US entirely.
There is also no electrified variant announced at launch, which leaves the Pajero exposed if emissions rules in its target markets tighten faster than expected. Mitsubishi clearly judged that authenticity mattered more than hedging, and for this particular nameplate that is probably the right call.