Mitsubishi Pajero 2026 News

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.

In the car world, Australians are often forced to wait towards the end of the queue. Mitsubishi has just changed that.The Japanese carmaker has locked in its rough-and-tumble new Pajero four-wheel drive for this year.Mitsubishi hasn’t even revealed the car yet, but the brand’s local arm has confirmed it will be in showrooms and on our roads before 2026 is in the rear-view mirror.This puts us firmly at the front of the line to grab one of the most hotly anticipated models of this year.Drivers in the US on the other hand will have to wait until 2030, according to the latest reports from US auto industry bible, Automotive News.In the US the Pajero is called the Montero, but it has been pushed to the back of the list to prioritise other vehicles.This Australia-first - or near first - mentality is a refreshing change for fans. In contrast, Nissan launched its new Y63 Patrol at the end of 2024 in the Middle East and US, but Australians are still waiting. Nissan said the Y63 Patrol will arrive locally towards the end of this year.This means Aussies could get their hands on a new Pajero before a Patrol.Australians waited years for a Toyota Corolla Cross, and there is no sign of the Ford Bronco 4WD despite the brand's boss Jim Farley leaving the door open to its arrival years ago.“We can do Bronco and Bronco Sport for the globe for sure,” he said to CarsGuide in 2022.“But we have, like, a year or two order bank so we have a lot of work to do on our capacity before we can even consider something like that.”There is still a lot left to know about the incoming Pajero, but we have spied it testing in Australia and some information has started to trickle in.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.Mitsubishi Australia’s GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel previously told CarsGuide the Pajero will be the brand's premium flagship.So expect a classy interior with the latest tech and premium finishes.Rumours out of Japan suggest the new Pajero will be available in at least three trim levels. A return of the Exceed grade is likely, which is a throwback to the previous-generation model that ceased production in 2021.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 performance ambitions for the Triton - and perhaps even its upcoming Pajero - won’t end with the locally-tuned Triton Raider, as it gears up for a long-teased Ralliart revival.Mitsubishi’s local GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel said: “We’ve got aspirations to go a step higher again in the future if this thing proves to be successful.”Hampel said that “step higher” would be for both price and capability, and would “bring back some of that more emotional brand heritage”.He’s likely talking about Mitsubishi’s long-dormant Ralliart performance name, which may hinge on the success of a car like the Triton Raider. The company’s Japanese HQ had a close interest in the Triton Raider to gage the taste for a higher-priced Triton.“There are a lot of eyes in Japan that are eagerly following the progress of this program, or have been following it since we started. But now that we’re at the point where we’re on sale, they’ll be reviewing what’s happening with an eye to understand whether this type of model, which is new for Mitsubishi using a second stage modification process, is something that they can entrust their distributorships with to deliver successfully with local expertise.“When it’s successful, there are going to be opportunities to go further and expand more, both within Australia and potentially into other global markets as well,” Hampel said.The first port-of-call for the Premcar tuned Raider could be New Zealand with an eye to going even further in the future.The Premcar-tuned Triton Raider is a significant overhaul and the new flagship for the ute’s range in Australia. It includes beefed-up suspension with custom-developed shock absorbers, an increase in ride height, a larger profile all-terrain wheel and tyre package, a 20mm overall increase in width, and various genuine accessories added on to increase the visual appeal.It costs from $74,990, moving Triton into unforeseen pricing territory, a $9400 step-up from the previously range-topping GSR trim level.So what would it take for a Ralliart model to earn its place at an even higher price-point than that? Hampel has some thoughts.“We stopped short of putting the Ralliart badge on this vehicle because we were mindful of what customer expectations are of the Ralliart brand," he said.“And the Raider, while we expect it to resonate very well with customers, it’s more typical of what customers do with typical aftermarket modifications to create the style of vehicle they will then go and modify further.“We didn’t feel it was quite worthy of the Ralliart branding. But we do have alignment with Mitsubishi Motors to continue the study and to reinstate the Ralliart brand in Australia and re-install it, properly, globally as well.“So we’re in constant discussion with them and working on those next-level programs but we’ve got to prove what we can do, and what we’ve done so far.”One thing Hampel confirmed was there would be no Ralliart without more power than is currently on offer from the Triton’s 2.4-litre turbo diesel (150kW/470Nm).“Ralliart needs more uniqueness to the vehicle in terms of its appearance, higher levels of suspension sophistication, and ideally more performance from the powertrain,” he said.“The engine is the most difficult one to not have fully done by the manufacturer, with the extensive durability testing, and it’s very expensive to go through that whole process.“Yes, Premcar can do it, but it comes at a significant cost, so to do that you really need global behind us with their view to a global market with that kind of product.”As to what that could look like? Hampel pointed to a potential hybrid solution.“With the change to electrified options as well, that opens up a different path to having a step-up in performance level,” he said.“As we transition into HEVs, PHEVs, and ultimately BEVs and these types of vehicles we could use electrification as the differentiator.”Next for Mitsubishi in Australia will be the long-awaited arrival of the next-generation ground-up Pajero 4WD, and a fully electric small SUV from its joint-venture with Taiwan’s Foxconn, both due to be on-sale before the end of 2026.

Mitsubishi has confirmed its new flagship 4WD SUV will be called Pajero and it will hit Australian dealerships before the end of 2026.After months of hype and frequent sightings of camouflaged test cars in the wild, the new large off-road flagship will take its place atop Mitsubishi’s range as a new-generation 4WD in the fourth quarter of 2026.While the brand has not revealed details such as dimensions or powertrain and has only revealed a teaser image, it has told CarsGuide that it is a ground-up offering designed specifically to live up to the nameplate’s history, and will be a step beyond the outgoing Triton-based Pajero Sport in terms of its positioning.The Pajero will be manufactured in Thailand alongside the new-generation Triton. It is confirmed it will share its underpinnings with the brand’s best-selling ute, like the Pajero Sport that came before it.Mitsubishi Australia’s GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel said the company was expecting to run out of stock of the outgoing Pajero Sport before the new full-fat Pajero arrives as a replacement.He also said Australia won’t be the launch market for the new-generation Pajero, with it likely to debut in the Thai market first. Previous reports said the model is intended to be as global as possible for Mitsubishi, with the brand seeking to export the 4WD to Japan and other important markets.Hampel said the Pajero will be the brand's premium flagship.Previous information from Japan suggest the new Pajero will be available in at least three trim levels, likely with familiar naming conventions to the current Triton range, as well as the opportunity for the top-spec grade to be dubbed the Exceed as a throwback to the previous-generation model, which ended production in 2021.Don’t expect a return of the previous model’s 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine (141kW/441Nm), with the most likely powertrain being the same updated 2.4-litre diesel engine that powers the current Triton range (150kW/470Nm).The new Pajero won’t be Mitsubishi’s only radical new offering in Australia in 2026, with the brand also confirming its upcoming joint-venture electric small SUV with Taiwan’s Foxconn is also set to arrive before the end of the year.Mitsubishi will no doubt be hoping the addition of these two key new models will arrest its sales slide of over 25 per cent in Australia this year, off the back of reduced stock of the Pajero Sport and the discontinuation of the previously-popular Japan-sourced ASX small SUV, which has been replaced by a more expensive Euro-sourced model based on the Renault Captur.In better news for Mitsubishi, Triton is up a healthy 18.7 per cent for 4x4 variants and 36.3 per cent for 4x2 variants, as its full range of commercial and private buyer offerings come online and recent MY26 updates continue to improve the key ute model.The just-launched Premcar-tuned Raider also now tops out the range at $79,990 as Mitsubishi experiments with a new price-point ahead of a long-rumored Ralliart revival in the future.Expect to learn more about the new-generation Pajero closer to its on-sale date later this year.