New Mitsubishi Pajero 2026: Everything you need to know about the revived Toyota LandCruiser, Denza B8 rival

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Mitsubishi’s next generation of Pajero can’t be far away.

In the last few weeks, we’ve seen a swirl of spy photos capturing the fifth-generation Pajero both on Australian roads, and on the streets of Japan.

Recent images from Japanese publication Bestcar show a camouflaged fifth-generation model publicly testing alongside a 300 Series Toyota LandCruiser – the soon-to-launch model’s biggest rival alongside the new Denza B8 and forthcoming Nissan Patrol. 

The test car was similar in size to the LandCruiser, albeit a bit smaller, sporting boxy styling, six-stud axles, and an Outlander-esque front end. Peel back the camo, and Mitsubishi’s test car looks nearly identical to our renders. 

Early this year, claims from Mitsubishi President Takao Kato indicated that the Pajero would launch by the end of 2026, but since then, several test vehicles have emerged on Australian roads – usually a clear indicator of an imminent launch.

We’ve since seen the launch of the Triton Raider, too, as well as confirmation of a Triton Hybrid. Both of those cars will undoubtedly play a big role in the local launch of the Pajero, being that it’s expected to get special treatment from Premcar, and debut a plugless hybrid drivetrain. 

Local three-diamond executives have aleady confirmed a ‘P2’ plugless hybrid system destined for Triton. It will feature a transmission-integrated electric motor and is expected to be paired with a high voltage battery with a capacity of around 1kWh. We expect this system to also feature in the Pajero.

As previously reported by Chasing Cars, 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, six-speed automatic, and parts of its four-wheel drive system – meaning the hybrid will almost certainly carry over.

More information on the Triton Hybrid can be found here. 

The fifth-generation Pajero effectively replaces the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, which was pulled from the Australian market in March last year. Keen eyed readers will note that, like the Pajero Sport, the new-gen Pajero will be ladder-chassis, rather than unibodied like its forebears. 

It remains to be seen if the new Pajero can mirror the great driving dynamics of yesteryear’s unibodied cars.

We expect the new 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.