2026 Mitsubishi Pajero lining up plug-in hybrid power for a fifth-generation return bout with Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series: Reports

We already know the rumoured all-new fifth-generation Mitsubishi Pajero is set to shift a little further upmarket (to ‘Japanese Range Rover’ status) when it makes its scheduled debut in 2026.

But now, fresh reports from Japanese outlet BestCarWeb point to the fifth-generation, full-size 4WD flagship using an evolved version of the Outlander’s 2.4-litre, in-line four-cylinder powertrain.

Pajero production for domestic sale ceased in 2018 and for overseas markets in 2021, with the much-loved nameplate likely to remerge after a five-year hiatus, pushing the needle further towards premium SUV status without any reduction in its hardcore 4x4 off-road performance.

And a shift from the previous model’s 3.2-litre, turbo-diesel, four-cylinder engine to a new-generation petrol-electric hybrid combination adds up for multiple reasons.

For a start, latest reports out of Japan point to the new Pajero riding on the same Renault-Nissan ‘CMF-CD’ platform as the Outlander.

And with global emissions regulations, including Australia’s New Vehicle Emissions Scheme (NVES), continuing to tighten, a shift away from diesel power is not surprising.

At the same time, even in its current form, the Outlander’s hybrid set-up comfortably out-performs the fourth-gen Pajero’s 141kW/441Nm, with a combined 185kW/450Nm from its 2.4L petrol engine and twin electric motors. 

The soon-to-arrive 2026 Outlander update is destined to boost those outputs, with strong fuel-efficiency and the ability to drive in excess of 80km (likely more) on pure-EV power as icing on the cake.

BestCarWeb also reports the new Pajero will use an updated version of Mitsubishi’s ‘Super-All Wheel Control’ (S-AWC) system, also used in the Outlander.

And in late 2024 Mitsubishi Australia boss Shaun Westcott told CarsGuide a “large SUV” is coming and that it’s going to be a “halo model”.

“I cannot tell you what it is, what it looks like, what the powertrain is, whether there’s a ladder frame, whether there’s monocoque. I cannot give you any of that information other than to say that Mitsubishi has announced that we are working on a large SUV,” said Westcott.

"I have put up my hand and said we would love to have one because it's a very valuable nameplate, because it is a fantastic product, because it's a halo product.

"For all of the above reasons, we would love to have one here," he said.