Mitsubishi Pajero News

Mitsubishi will soon reveal its new Pajero off-road SUV, but there is a whole family of Pajero models coming.The Japanese carmaker first announced this intention as part of its ‘Mid-Long Term Vision’ presentation in May 2026. All three Pajero models were teased with their boxy, upright silhouettes revealed.Broadening the Pajero nameplate follows a similar ethos to what Toyota is currently doing with the LandCruiser. There is the full-size LandCruiser 300 Series, the iconic LandCruiser 70 Series, the LandCruiser Prado and now the smaller LandCruiser FJ. Even more LandCruisers are planned in the future, including an electric one.Mitsubishi has historically offered many versions of the Pajero to supplement the full-size version.Up until recently it offered the Pajero Sport/Challenger as a Thai-produced SUV counterpart to the Triton ute. There has also been the Pajero Mini kei car, as well as the Pajero Junior and Pajero iO small SUVs.As reported by Nikkei Asia, the second Pajero model will be a mid-size model to rival the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, or possibly the new FJ LandCruiser.Sales are reportedly due to begin in Japan around late 2028 or early 2029. It’s unclear if it will be exported to other countries yet, but mid-size SUVs are incredibly popular in Australia.This mid-size Pajero will reportedly be manufactured in Japan and be built on a dedicated platform, while sharing componentry with the Outlander. It’s unclear if this means it’ll be built on a more rugged ladder-frame or road-going monocoque platform.It will reportedly be differentiated from its rivals by offering electronically controlled four-wheel drive. There will also reportedly be a hybrid powertrain.Tougher exterior styling is expected to differentiate it from the Outlander.Mitsubishi has teased a third Pajero model is in the pipeline and it will reportedly be a compact version that may slot into kei car regulations in Japan.If this is the case, this means the compact Pajero will need to be no longer than 3400mm, no wider than 1480mm and no taller than 2000mm. It must also have an engine no larger than 660cc that can produce up to 47kW.This compact Pajero will reportedly be produced in Japan and be a key rival to the likes of the Suzuki Jimny, among others.It won’t be the first Mitsubishi model to also spawn a kei-car version. The Japanese carmaker currently offers the Delica Mini as a smaller companion to the Delica D:5, plus it historically offered the Pajero Mini from 1994 to 2012.It’s unlikely this compact Pajero will be offered in other markets outside of Japan. Mitsubishi has previously explored introducing kei car-sized vehicles in Australia but found the required engineering work to pass local design and safety regulations would make them too costly.The new, full-size Mitsubishi Pajero is reportedly set to be unveiled on September 2 and will be on sale in Australia before the end of 2026. This comes roughly five years after the previous model was discontinued locally.Unlike previous Pajeros, this new model will be produced in Thailand and adopt its ladder-frame chassis from the Triton ute. This is more like the previous Pajero Sport/Challenger as the Pajero has historically been its own model.It’s expected the new Pajero will share a version of the 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine with the current Triton.However, recent investment in Mitsubishi’s Thai manufacturing facility hinted that a hybrid version of both could be fast-tracked.

Mitsubishi has at last confirmed a critical chassis detail for its incoming next-generation Pajero, with the off-road icon readying for its return to take on the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Y63 Nissan Patrol.The brand has revealed the new Pajero will ride on a ute-like ladder-frame chassis – rather than adopt a monocoque platform like its third- and fourth-generation predecessors – seemingly confirming the Triton's chassis as the underpinnings for the reborn icon.In a post to its dedicated Pajero page in Japan, the brand wrote that the model will "lead you to your destination in any environment" courtesy of the "addition of S-AWC to the strong ladder-frame structure".S-AWC is Mitsubishi's Super All Wheel Control – its name for its AWD system which combines torque vectoring, torque distribution and four-wheel braking. In vehicles like the Outlander PHEV, the system also deploys electric motors at each axle to control the functionality.It is not to be confused with the Triton's Super Select II 4WD system, which will presumably also feature.September 2 firms as the reveal date for the new Pajero, suggesting we're getting very close to the final mysteries being solved.One remaining question is what will be powering it. Given its ute-based chassis the likelihood of Triton power seems likely, meaning it will deploy the same 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, producing around 150kW and 470Nm."In the development of the new Pajero, we aimed to inherit and evolve the (capability) and comfort that successive Pajeros have been about," Takaaki Matsumoto, the new Pajero's Chief Vehicle Engineer, has said about the project."This is the embodiment of Pajero, which developed the 4WD, which was for working cars until now, as an all-round 4WD that anyone can run comfortably on any road. On top of that, we worked together to make a big jump in how to make this Mitsubishi Motors' flagship."Stay tuned as more information comes to light about Mitsubishi's highly anticipated new 4WD.

Is Mitsubishi cooking up one of the great automotive surprises with the launch of its new Pajero? Reports make that a distinct possibility, with news the brand is rushing a hybrid powertrain to market for its Triton ute.The brand has kept tight-lipped on the specifics of the Pajero's powertrain, but solid reporting has long pointed to the reborn icon sharing its engine and gearbox with the Triton ute.That would mean hybrid power is coming to the Pajero, too. The only question is when. And with the new Pajero set for its global unveiling as soon as next month, we'll soon find out whether it is to be equipped with the current Triton's 150kW, 470Nm four-cylinder diesel engine, or with something a little more spicy.The plan was announced by Mitsubishi Motors chairman and CEO, Takao Kato, who told the Thai prime minister the brand would be investing the equivalent of $681m in turning its manufacturing facilities into electrified vehicle hubs, with a core focus on the Triton and Pajero Sport.Ostensibly the investment will focus on upcoming Triton models, with the brand already producing some hybrids there, like the XForce and Xpander, both pair a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a small electric motor – a powertrain solution that's no chance of making it into a Pajero anytime soon.Will the new Pajero launch with a hybrid option, or introduce one down the track. Unless the brand has a real surprise coming up, the latter is still far more likely. But that would see the new halo vehicle launch with a smaller diesel engine that wouldn't match the outputs of LC300 Hybrid (341kW/790Nm), the Nissan Patrol Y63 (317kW/700Nm), or the Denza B8 (425kW/760Nm). That would suggest a new hybrid powertrain would be a matter of urgency for both the Triton and the Pajero.A matter of when, not if. The only question is exactly when.

Buyers still love 4WDs in Australia. It remains a big-selling segment, but some of its biggest hitters are suffering losses.China is starting to get a foothold in the market with budget offerings posing a serious threat to established regulars.Emissions-heavy vehicles such as 4WDs are also coming under fire from increasingly stringent rules in Australia.Here is the rundown of the best-selling 4WDs up to June 2026. The Ford Everest large SUV is up front with more than 11,000 sales in 2026 so far, despite a near 10 per cent year-on-year drop. It is based on the Ford Ranger, which is the best-selling ute in Australia.The Toyota Prado takes second place with more than 9000 sales so far this year, but it has experienced an even sharper drop of nearly 42 per cent year-on-year.The Prado is a scaled down version of the LandCruiser 300 Series, using a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, as opposed to the more powerful V6. Isuzu’s MU-X is third, making 7564 sales up to June, but it too experienced a more minor slump of 3.2 per cent. The LandCruiser 300 Series is currently fourth on the standings, and is the only car in the top five to have experienced a substantial growth in sales. Its 6451 sales constitutes a 26.3 per cent rise compared to first six months of 2025.Toyota also released a performance petrol hybrid V6 variant earlier this year.The Suzuki Jimny rounds out the top five as a much smaller and cheaper competitor to those above it. Priced from $31,990, before on-road costs, the Jimny is down 11.1 per cent compared to this time last year, while still amassing 3882 sales. The Nissan Patrol is down nearly 25 per cent compared to its sales result up to June 2025, with 2843 sales so far in 2026. The current Y62 petrol V8 Patrol will cease production next month, and order books for a new twin-turbo V6 will open later. GWM’s Tank 300 mid-size SUV off-roader has continued to surge up the sales charts in 2026, with 2759 sales so far.The Tank 300 is available in petrol, diesel, plug-less hybrid and plug-in hybrid set-ups - more varied than any of its competitors. BYD’s Denza sub-brand is another Chinese rival experiencing a solid sales return in Australia.Its B5 plug-in hybrid SUV has already accumulated 1445 sales this year, having only gone on sale in December 2025.Its bigger sibling the B8 is also approaching the 1000-unit mark midway through this year. The ultra-luxury GMC Yukon Denali from the United States is starting to pick up momentum in Australia. The V8-powered eight-seater Yukon Denali went on sale in the middle of last year, but 2026 has seen sales explode by nearly 190 per cent. It remains a low-volume model with only 202 sales, as it carries a $174,990 price tag. The 4WD segment is about undergo some serious changes in the next few months, including an influx of new models.The Mitsubishi Pajero will return to Australia, along with several new Chinese competitors likely to join it over the next 18 months.The anticipated Geely Galaxy Cruiser is slated for a UK launch, meaning Australia could its next step, while the GAC Yue 7 also seems to be on the way. 

Mitsubishi could be planning an all-out hybrid assault with its new Pajero 4WD and Triton ute.The Japanese brand is reportedly planning to make its Thai manufacturing facility a production and export hub for electrified vehicles. Mitsubishi builds the Triton ute in Thailand and will produce the coming Pajero there, too.Mitsubishi Motors Chairman and CEO Takao Kato made the announcement on a recent visit with the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, according to Nikkei Asia.The Japanese carmaker’s Thai production facility will reportedly be focusing on producing electrified versions of the Triton ute, as well as the forthcoming Pajero SUV.This indicates that Mitsubishi could be fast-tracking electrified versions of both the Triton and Pajero. The former vehicle is currently only available with diesel engines and the latter hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’s expected to share componentry.Around the reveal of the current, sixth-generation Triton ute in 2023, Mitsubishi had claimed it was developing an electric version.In October 2025, Mitsubishi Engineering Fellow Kaoru Sawase told CarsGuide the Japanese carmaker is still looking to make an electrified version of the Triton, but it’ll now more likely have a hybrid powertrain.“Of course there’s a need to reduce CO2 emissions,” said Sawase.“So along with the flow of the times, there is a need to develop Triton HEV, so we are working on that.”“So first we have to work on hybrid, not the way of plug-in hybrid.“In the past, we have announced to launch the battery electric vehicle Triton. But now the reaction has shifted a little bit.“We are now trying to quickly launch the electrified vehicle.”It’s worth noting that Mitsubishi already makes electrified vehicles at its Thai manufacturing plant. These include the Xforce Hybrid, Xpander Hybrid and Xpander Cross Hybrid.There are currently no Mitsubishi plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or electric vehicles (EVs) made in Thailand.Globally the Japanese carmaker has already committed to introducing 13 new models, including five hybrid and PHEV models, over the next five years.It’s unclear how many of these new electrified models will be produced in Thailand.Although diesel-powered vehicles are still incredibly popular in Thailand, the local government is looking to boost and incentivise the production of electric vehicles (EVs).This has already caught the attention of many Chinese carmakers who have set up Thai production hubs for export markets. Examples include BYD, Chery, GWM and MG.This pressure from the Thai government and the investment from Mitsubishi to introduce more Thai-made electrified vehicles may benefit its Australian arm if the vehicles produced launch locally.Mitsubishi did receive credits last year from the recently instated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia for beating its fleet CO2 targets, however these targets are tightening every year.One of the few ways of reducing the company’s fleet CO2 emissions, besides buying credits from other carmakers, is by introducing more low-emissions vehicles, like hybrids and EVs.Mitsubishi already offers the Outlander PHEV and has remaining stock of the discontinued Eclipse Cross PHEV in Australia.The Japanese carmaker has also confirmed it will be launching an EV that has been co-developed with Taiwanese carmaker Foxtron in Australia before the end of 2026.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed any other electrified vehicle launches in Australia yet.

The Mitsubishi Pajero is getting closer to Aussie buyers.The highly-anticipated 4WD will be officially revealed in Japan on the 2nd of September 2026, according to Japanese magazine BestCar via a dealer source.This sets it up to land on Australian shores not long after.The Pajero’s price in Japan should be revealed as part of this announcement, which will indicate how much it could cost in Australia. The returning Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser competitor is expected to arrive Down Under by November, with it already approved for sale. It will be based on Mitsubishi’s Triton ute.It will employ the same 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, making 150kW and 470Nm.The car will have a six-speed automatic transmission as well as a rugged four-wheel drive system. The Pajero will be available in four different trim levels. The GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR, mirroring elements of the Triton’s lineup.  It will also feature a digital recreation of its iconic triple analogue instrument meters that were found on previous generations of the Pajero called a ‘Multi Meter’.Mitsubishi’s Chief Vehicle Engineer Takaaki Matsumoto recently told CarsGuide that there are high hopes for its new model. "In the development of the new Pajero, we aimed to inherit and evolve the vulnerability and comfort that successive Pajeros have been about," Takaaki said. "This is the embodiment of Pajero, which developed the 4WD, which was for working cars until now, as an all-round 4WD that anyone can run comfortably on any road. On top of that, we worked together to make a big jump up in how to make this Mitsubishi Motors' flagship.”"I can confidently say that the new Pajero has been able to raise both static and dynamic quality to a very high level. If you open the door and get into the car, you should want to stay in this car forever, drive forever, and own it forever."

The Mitsubishi Pajero has got an official launch window, with the brand promising the model will make its global debut in the Japanese autumn, so between September and November this year.That sets the clock officially ticking for the hugely anticipated model's arrival, as its chief engineer vows "this project will be successful".That's the word from Takaaki Matsumoto, the new Pajero's Chief Vehicle Engineer, who has published a series of statements in the lead-up to the Pajero's launch.In them, he promises the new model will be "amazing", and has already silenced doubters inside the company."When it was decided to take on this heavy responsibility as the person in charge of development, it was a strange feeling of a mixture of expectations and anxiety," he says. "You can design a model that symbolises Mitsubishi Motors. There is no more rewarding a job than this. At the same time, can it create something that exceeds the weight of Pajero's history, the thoughts of employees in various positions, and above all, the expectations of fans who are eager to revive around the world? I still remember well that various emotions were intertwined."The most difficult thing for the development was that all the staff involved in the development shared 'what Pajero should be like' and put it into a specific plan. Since you call yourself Pajero, there is a performance that must be achieved."Where do I need to rebuild to do that? It is a (difficult) process to check them one by one and move forward step by step while absorbing the company's policies. At first, some staff members would have been hesitant."However, as the skeleton of the design was decided and it was dropped into the parts, I felt that the development team was making something amazing. And when I felt that the development team was full of confidence when I saw the first prototype car, I was also able to be convinced that this project will be successful."The chief engineer went on to describe the feeling he wanted the Pajero to deliver, promising a car that blends comfort with capability, and that allows anyone to tackle off-road tracks. "In the development of the new Pajero, we aimed to inherit and evolve the vulnerability and comfort that successive Pajeros have been about," he says."This is the embodiment of Pajero, which developed the 4WD, which was for working cars until now, as an all-round 4WD that anyone can run comfortably on any road. On top of that, we worked together to make a big jump up in how to make this Mitsubishi Motors' flagship."In order to shape the designer's commitment to the interior, we considered various construction methods with the design and production departments. And with the skills of craftsmen, we were able to embody an elaborate design that is difficult for mass-produced cars."I can confidently say that the new Pajero has been able to raise both static and dynamic quality to a very high level. If you open the door and get into the car, you should want to stay in this car forever, drive forever, and own it forever."It's a thought echoed by Mitsubishi's chief product specialist, Kunitoshi Itagaki, who says the new Pajero will be ready for adventure."A sense of high-quality quality, as a Mitsubishi Motors SUV, the driving performance and reliability that anyone can go anywhere with confidence, and the fact that all occupants can enjoy moving comfortably. Each of these leads to a sense of security that this car is fine, and it boosts the desire to go with adventure and challenge, just like the Pajero so far," he says.Finally, Norihiko Yoshimine, the Pajero program design director, promises that the Pajero blends history with evolution, and will pull the brand from now on. "I aimed not only to inherit Pajero's design philosophy, but also to evolve it to lead to the future," he says."Since the start of development, we have accumulated inheritance and innovation, and we were finally able to put it together into one package called the new Pajero."The new Pajero will definitely be the one who will pull Mitsubishi Motors from now on. We would like not only those who know the successive Pajero, but also the younger generation to experience the new Pajero."

Mitsubishi is preparing to launch its new Pajero 4WD in the coming months, and a steady drip feed of information is starting to appear.The latest dispatches from the Japanese brand show the new Mitsubishi Pajero will be ready to rumble off-road when it arrives in Australia later this year.It will feature what Mitsubishi calls a Multi Meter, which is a modern, digital version of the old triple meters from previous generations.The new digital readouts will show altitude, compass heading, ambient temperature, vehicle pitch and roll angles and left and right torque distribution. The latter points to advanced torque vectoring and yaw control, which are two crucial elements of Mitsubishi's Super Select-II 4WD set-up that is available on top-spec Triton GSR.The digital readout also points to a hi-tech cabin, which will likely surpass anything Mitsubishi currently offers.Mitsubishi Australia’s GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel previously told CarsGuide the Pajero will be the brand's premium flagship, which fits into the hi-tech classy cabin that is teased.Details of the new Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol rival are scarce, but we now it will be based on the Triton ute.This means a 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, which makes 150kW and 470Nm. This is matched to a six-speed auto driving all four wheels.Australian government homologation documents, which confirm a vehicle is approved for sale and often appear several months before models land in dealerships, have shown the Pajero will be available in GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR trims.The GLX and GLS will be simple affairs, while the Exceed will likely have a plush cabin. The GSR should be the toughest looking, with the latter potentially mirroring the Triton GSR with blacked-out styling.The Pajero hasn’t been revealed in full, with a debut pencilled in for later this year, but it has been spied undergoing testing in Australia numerous times.The camouflage cars wear blocky, hard-edged styling that is popular with 4WD buyers, and synonymous with Pajeroes of old.Mitsubishi is also planning a range of Pajero models. There is no official word on what they might be yet, but speculation out of Japan points to a mini Pajero and possibly a shortened three-door version. Those models likely won't be seen in public until next decade.

The new Mitsubishi Pajero is coming in hot, with its Australian launch closing in.Details of the Japanese brand’s rough-and-tumble four-wheel drive are starting to surface ahead of the vehicle’s launch before the end of the year.Australia has already been confirmed as one of the first markets in the world to get the new Pajero, but now it has been revealed there will be four Pajeroes to choose from.Government homologation documents, which confirm a vehicle is approved for sale and often appear several months before models land in dealerships, show the Pajero will be available in GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR trims.This will give the fifth-generation Pajero the firepower to take on the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol.Mitsubishi is keeping information close to its chest, with all other details usually found in the approval documents missing.If we look at Mitsubishi's other models we can get an idea of what each grade may represent.The GLX and GLS will be workman like off-roaders, focusing on capability with less of the showy pampering of higher-end variants.Exceed versions will likely be the most luxe of the bunch with premium finishes throughout.  The GSR should be the toughest looking, with the latter potentially mirroring the Triton GSR with blacked-out styling and even increased 4WD capabilities.Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed what the Pajero will look like, but it has been spotted testing in Australia wearing beefy, blocky styling similar to the incoming Nissan Patrol.We do know it will be based on the current Mitsubishi Triton ute, which means it will use a rugged ladder frame that is also found underneath the LandCruiser and Patrol 4WDs.More recent Pajero generations have used a unibody structure, which is used in SUVs and passenger cars. This means it is often not as sturdy off-road, but is lighter, more fuel efficient and composed on the road than conventional ladder-framed 4WDs.Technical details haven’t been revealed, but it is odds on to use the same set-up as the Triton.This means a 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, which makes 150kW and 470Nm. This is matched to a six-speed auto driving all four wheels.All or several grades are likely to be fitted with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II tech, which brings selectable drive modes for different road surfaces and active yaw control. A rear differential lock is near certainty, too.Mitsubishi is also planning a range of Pajero models. There is no official word on what they might be yet, but speculation out of Japan points to a mini Pajero and possibly a shortened three-door version. Those models likely won't be seen in public until next decade.

Mitsubishi has confirmed its new Pajero 4WD will spawn a whole line-up of new vehicles, but what they will be has been a mystery… until now.Japanese motoring magazine Best Car, which is known for its well-placed sources within the local car industry, has pointed to a new baby Pajero or ‘Pajero Junior’.The outlet speculates that based on the information it has received, the new baby Pajero could be based on a familiar model, which is forbidden from being sold in Australia.Best Car also speculates the new little rugged SUV could revive the Pajero iO or Pajero Junior names.Car-buying Australians from the turn of the century are likely to remember the Pajero iO, which was sold in three- and five-door layouts. It was properly compact, measuring about 4000mm long in the larger five-door body shape.There are only a handful of cars currently shorter than that on sale right now, including the Suzuki Swift, Kia Picanto and Mini Cooper three-door.Best Car suggests it will be based on something much bigger, the XForce SUV sold in South-East Asian markets and is similar to the old ASX SUV. The current Outlander and Delica platforms are deemed too large for a new Pajero iO.The XForce ticks a few boxes, it uses hybrid power and is already produced in right-hand drive. Unfortunately it is only front-wheel drive and it doesn’t meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs), which makes it a non-starter for our market.This means unless there is some serious engineering work done, it is unlikely any baby Pajero based on the XForce would be made available in Australia.To rub salt in the wounds, the XForce is sold across the ditch in New Zealand, where new cars don’t have to meet our extremely stringent ADRs.And the brand won't stop at one Pajero variant either it seems.The official transcript from the brand's future strategy presentation read: “In addition to the "Pajero" to be launched this year as a model that embodies the DNA of Mitsubishi Motors-ness, we will introduce additional new models going forward as part of the 'Pajero' series.”For now Australians will have to settle for the full-sized Pajero, which will arrive before the end of the year.It hasn’t been revealed in full yet, but CarsGuide has spotted the Pajero undergoing testing in Victoria around Christmas time last year.The new Pajero has blocky proportions similar to the incoming Nissan Patrol. It is based on the Triton ute, so it has a rugged ladder frame ideal for off-roading. You can expect it to tow 3500kg.Odds on it will use the same 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine that powers the Triton and makes 150kW and 470Nm.It will be the brand’s flagship product, so expect a classy interior.