Mitsubishi Pajero to return this year with off-road chassis, diesel powertrain, and future hybrid plans

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Mitsubishi Global will debut its fifth-generation Pajero large off-road SUV this year, according to a recent report out of Japan. 

Speaking at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, Mitsubishi President Takao Kato triumphantly announced “We will launch a new cross-country SUV in 2026!”, according to BestCar. 

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New Mitsubishi Pajero: everything you need to know #mitsubishi #pajero #montero #4×4 #offroad #triton #4x4offroad

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The publication went on to state that the Pajero would launch into the Japanese market towards the end of 2026. 

Australia’s launch timing is likely to be very similar- if not earlier – to that of Japan, with executives from Mitsubishi’s local arm previously expressing eagerness to debut a new Pajero to serve as a new hero model. 

Recently revealed spy pictures of a Mitsubishi large SUV driving on Australian roads gives merit to this claim – when checking that car’s licence plate, it would appear that Mitsubishi has been locally testing a Pajero-like vehicle for as long as ten months. 

Teasers and spy pics hint the 2026 Pajero is not far away

The news follows a teaser video posted by Mitsubishi, which previews the appearance of a large off-road SUV starkly similar to speculative renders visualised by @Theottle. 

The high roofline and conventional proportions of the unknown car are indicative to those of a production-ready vehicle, rather than those of the recently revealed Mitsubishi Elevance plug-in hybrid SUV. 

The teased vehicle also appears to be the same as a camouflaged Mitsubishi test car recently seen driving on Australian roads. That vehicle is similar in size and proportion to the GWM Tank 500. 

A return of the Mitsubishi Pajero could see the Three Diamond brand finally have an answer to Toyota’s hugely successful Land Cruiser and Prado, as well as Nissan’s soon-to-be-updated Y62 Patrol. 

Triton to underpin the new Pajero

BestCar reports that much like the Pajero Sport – which was pulled from the Australian market in March last year – the fifth generation Pajero will be based on the Triton dual-cab ute platform, sharing its ladder chassis, 150kW / 470Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel ‘four, and parts of its four-wheel drive system.

But unlike the Pajero Sport, which made use of an eight-speed automatic transmission, the fifth generation Pajero will reportedly share the Triton’s six-speed conventional automatic. 

Reports from Bestcar and Carscoops additionally suggest that the Pajero will be “ready for electrification”, with dedicated space within the chassis for a hybrid drivetrain. 

We expect this drivetrain will be largely influenced – if not entirely based upon – the recently updated Outlander plug-in hybrid system, which blends a 2.4-litre petrol four cylinder, dual electric motors, and a 22.7kWh battery to produce an EV driving range of 86km (WLTP) and claimed combined fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km.

We expect the Pajero to measure-up a touch larger than the Triton’s 5320mm length, 1930mm width, and 1795mm height, while sharing its 3130mm wheelbase. 

Pricing should align with the likes of the LandCruiser Prado, while remaining a step above middle-spec Outlander models, and at a high premium to most Triton variants.