Tough new 4WD takes shape for Australia: 2025 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport spied in fresh take on Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X rival

The next-gen Mitsubishi Pajero Sport four-wheel drive has been spotted testing overseas.

The Pajero Sport is the SUV version of the Triton ute and competes against the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu MU-X.

The Triton received a big upgrade at the start of this year and the Pajero Sport is expected to mirror most of those updates.

Spy photographers snapped the new Pajero Sport testing in Europe, according to Carscoops.

It appears to bring the heavily reworked front end from the new Triton with a big bold grille and dynamic headlights.

The Pajero Sport maintains its rugged boxy silhouette and will have three row seating, too.

Off-road fans can expect the Pajero Sport to keep the same tough as nails ladder frame as the Triton which, coupled with four-wheel drive, high and low gearing and more off-road kit, will make it a proper bush-basher.

Initially, the Pajero Sport is expected to use the 2.4-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine from the Triton. 

This motor makes 150kW and 470Nm, which is slightly down on the more potent Ford Everest, but it’ll be able to lug around 3500kg. 

Mitsubishi recently showed off its roadmap for the rest of the decade, which will see it overhaul its entire range of vehicles with a mix of electric and hybrid power throughout.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation president and CEO Takao Kato said earlier this year: "We will offer not only battery-electrics but also plug-in hybrids and hybrids, and introduce appropriate products that will meet the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard."

This means there is a strong chance the next Pajero Sport — and the current Triton — could be fitted with Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid tech.

Full electrification remains an issue for utes and big four-wheel-drives as the technology isn't currently conducive to towing, carrying a load and doing large kilometres away from charging infrastructure.

You can expect much Australian testing and validation, with the model expected to undergo the same process as the Triton.

“Towing, straight-line ability, and on-centre handling was very important, and of course safety equipment”, Chief Product Specialist for the Triton range Yoshiki Masuda previously told CarsGuide about the Triton testing.

“In order to get a higher level of steering feel, we had to tune in Australia.”

“We did many tests, we used test courses, we drove on-road, off-road, and combined with MMAL (Mitsubishi Australia) to discuss what was good [for Australia]. We dispatched many engineers [from Japan] over a long time for the ride and handling test."