New Delhi: Mitsubishi is bringing back one of its most iconic nameplates. The Pajero, absent from showrooms since 2021, returns as a fifth-generation, ladder-frame SUV built to go head-to-head with the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Nissan Patrol, and other serious off-roaders.
Key Takeaways
- The fifth-generation Mitsubishi Pajero returns after a five-year absence, reviving a nameplate retired in 2021.
- It uses a Triton-derived ladder-frame chassis with Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system.
- Seven drive modes are expected to support both on-road comfort and off-road capability.
- Global reveal is set for September 2, 2026, with a market launch expected by the end of 2026 in some regions.
- Pricing and powertrain details remain unconfirmed, though five- and seven-seat variants are expected.
Table of Contents
A Genuine Body-on-Frame Return
Mitsubishi has confirmed the new Pajero rides on a ladder-frame chassis borrowed from the Triton pickup, the same underlying architecture used by the closely related Nissan Navara. This marks a shift back to the Pajero’s traditional off-road-focused engineering, after the previous Pajero Sport had already used Triton-derived underpinnings for years.
The centerpiece of the new SUV’s capability is Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, a torque-vectoring four-wheel-drive setup that optimizes power distribution between the front and rear axles for both on-road stability and off-road traction. The new Pajero reportedly offers seven distinct drive modes to tailor that system to different terrain.
Filling a Real Gap in the Lineup
The previous-generation Pajero ended production in 2021 after a 15-year run, and Mitsubishi has been without a proper large SUV flagship since. The new Pajero will also effectively replace the Pajero Sport nameplate in several markets, consolidating Mitsubishi’s off-road SUV lineup under one iconic name rather than two related models.
Mitsubishi confirmed a global reveal date of September 2, 2026, with the SUV expected to reach Australian and other global showrooms before the end of 2026. Local pricing and full specifications, including exact powertrain details, have not yet been disclosed, though homologation filings suggest six variants across four grades — GLX, GLS, Exceed, and GSR — with both five- and seven-seat configurations planned.
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Serious Competition Ahead
The new Pajero enters a crowded and increasingly modern segment. Rivals include the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and full-size 300 Series, the Nissan Patrol, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, Land Rover Defender, and newer Chinese entrants like the Denza B5 and GWM Tank 500. To be competitive, the Pajero will likely need towing capacity in the region of 3.5 tonnes along with genuinely upmarket cabin materials and tech, a bar that has risen sharply since the previous generation went out of production.
AutoAkhbar Verdict
Reviving the Pajero name on proper body-on-frame underpinnings is a smart move for Mitsubishi, tapping decades of off-road credibility rather than launching an unfamiliar nameplate. Whether it can genuinely trouble the Land Cruiser Prado, though, will come down to pricing and the powertrain details Mitsubishi is still keeping under wraps.
Source Name : Autoweek
FAQ
When is the new Mitsubishi Pajero being revealed?
Mitsubishi has confirmed a global reveal date of September 2, 2026, with market launches expected to follow before the end of the year in some regions.
What platform does the 2027 Pajero use?
The new Pajero rides on a ladder-frame chassis derived from the Mitsubishi Triton pickup, the same underpinnings shared with the Nissan Navara.
What will the new Pajero compete against?
Key rivals include the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and 300 Series, Nissan Patrol, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, Land Rover Defender, and newer Chinese SUVs like the Denza B5 and GWM Tank 500.
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