Revived LandCruiser rival coming this year

Mitsubishi's tough new 4WD icon will arrive this year.

The new Mitsubishi Pajero will be released towards the end of 2026, according to Japanese outlet Best Car. 

Mitsubishi Motors president Takao Kato made the announcement at the Tokyo Auto Salon this year.

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“We will launch a new cross-county SUV in 2026,” Kato said. 

It has not been confirmed what will underpin this new Pajero, but it is rumoured to be based on the current Triton ute from Mitsubishi.

The fact Kato said it would be a "cross-country SUV" could mean it would follow in the footsteps of past Pajeroes and use an SUV-like monocoque structure. Land Rover's Defender uses the same setup.

Mitsubishi Australia’s GM Product Strategy & Product PR Bruce Hampel told CarsGuide late last year both underpinnings have their pros and cons.

“The old Pajero was a monocoque as well, right? So people don't even really think of that nowadays. It was just the Pajero, this durable off-road vehicle. So what are they expecting? Are they expecting another monocoque from us, or is it a body on frame?," he asked.

“I think Land Rover has done a lot to prove that it can be achieved with a monocoque. And I guess with a monocoque you get the improvements in terms of the on-road handling, the lack of… body-on-frame shake, without really causing too many limitations off road.

“But it's a very expensive car to engineer and develop. Watch this space, which path we head.”

The off-road pedigree of the Pajero sees the car shape up as a rugged rival to Toyota’s LandCruiser and the Nissan Patrol. 

Speculation around a new Pajero has been growing in the past year.

It looks like if the new off-roader comes to Australia, it will just be called the ‘Pajero’ and drop the ‘Pajero Sport’ name of the outgoing model.

Earlier this month, the brand teased its new Pajero in a video to celebrate its Ralliart pedigree.

The video ended with footage of the 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero Evo Dakar Rally vehicle, followed by a shadowy clip of what looks likely to be the new Pajero.

CarsGuide spotted the incoming Pajero in camouflage in Western Victoria just before Christmas, likely being tested ahead of a potential local arrival.

Production on the last Pajero ceased in 2021, where it was replaced by the Pajero Sport in Australia.

The Pajero Sport was axed from Mitsubishi's Australian line-up in 2025, after it failed to meet new Australian Design Rules.

Mitsubishi Australia at the time said a replacement would head our way in the future, but was not sure it would be called the Pajero Sport. This lends support to the fact the new off-roader will be called Pajero.