EXCLUSIVE: New Pajero spied in Oz

While this camouflaged prototype may look like the new Nissan Patrol Y63, this is something else entirely.

Instead CarsGuide has spied the forthcoming successor to the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport for the first time in Australia.

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It’s likely here for local tuning and testing ahead of its expected reveal at some point during 2026.

This particular prototype was spied in Beaufort, Victoria, which is almost two hours west of Melbourne.

It has a very boxy and upright design, which doesn’t look too far from the Patrol Y63, especially towards the rear. There’s a bluff front end with what appears to be a slotted grille and LED headlights with a cascading daytime running light (DRL) set-up.

While there are no overt design features that label this as a Mitsubishi, a license plate search reveals it as one. Interestingly it only lists the spied prototype’s make and not the model name.

It’s understood this new SUV could be called just the Pajero, dropping the Sport suffix altogether.

This could see the iconic and original Pajero nameplate being revived for the first time since it was retired in 2021.

There is still a lot of speculation surrounding what this new SUV is based on. The Pajero has historically been its own vehicle, however the Pajero Sport (formerly known as the Challenger) has always been based on the Triton ute.

Previous reports have stipulated the new Pajero will be based on the new-generation Triton ute, which launched locally in 2024. This means a body-on-frame chassis is likely.

Historically, the Pajero was built on a ladder-frame chassis, but later versions from the 2000s onward were built on a monocoque platform, like the current Land Rover Defender.

If this new-generation Pajero is based on the Triton, this likely means it will share a version of its 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine. It produces 150kW and 470Nm in the Australian-specification Triton.

It’ll likely also receive Mitsubishi’s latest version of its Super-Select four-wheel drive system which allows for full-time four-wheel drive on sealed surfaces.

Locally the Triton is only offered with a six-speed automatic transmission, however the outgoing Pajero Sport was offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It’s unclear if Mitsubishi will offer this new-generation Pajero with a similar eight-speed automatic transmission.

This new Mitsubishi large SUV can’t come soon enough as the Japanese carmaker axed a considerable portion of its line-up, including the Pajero Sport, earlier this year due to them not meeting new Australian Design Rule (ADR) standards which stipulated specific requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.

As a result Mitsubishi’s largest SUV is currently the mid-sized Outlander, which is also its best-seller by far. Certain trims can be had in seven-seat form.