The Mitsubishi Pajero is back as the flagship model after a seven-year hiatus.
Mitsubishi Pajero | Mitsubishi Pajero
Mitsubishi Motors has fully redesigned its cross-country SUV, the "Pajero," and unveiled it to the world. It is scheduled to go on sale in Japan within fiscal year 2026.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Enhanced with off-road capability, comfort, and a premium feel
The Pajero is back after a seven-year absence. Born in 1982 as a cross-country 4WD, it has also been active in events like the Dakar Rally. Total production of the first through fourth generation models exceeded 3.29 million units, and it has been loved in over 170 countries and regions.
The fifth generation, revived to combine the off-road capability and reliability of the Pajero with enhanced comfort, is positioned as Mitsubishi's flagship model with an added touch of premium quality.
The exterior measures 4,920mm in length, 1,925mm in width, and 1,910mm in height, befitting its flagship status. The design inherits the horizontal proportion from the first generation, evolving into a powerful fender that expresses performance and a three-dimensional body.
The front face is said to express inner strength, reminiscent of Japanese Kendo, and comes with two types of grilles. The headlights feature a distinctive T-shape.
The interior also follows a horizontal theme. "Rarity" is incorporated throughout, such as the multi-meter, a modern evolution of the Pajero's traditional triple meter.
Furthermore, the instrument panel and door trims are adorned with soft materials finished using a sewing technique inspired by "Kimekomi," a traditional Japanese craft, giving them a three-dimensional feel and premium quality worthy of a flagship model.
The infotainment system is an intuitive and user-friendly advanced system designed to offer new value to the travel time itself. It features a premium audio system co-developed with Yamaha, incorporating functions that enrich the travel experience, such as a sound correction feature that automatically adjusts volume and sound quality based on vehicle speed to reduce the impact of road noise.
The seating accommodates three rows for seven occupants, with ample headroom even for adults in the third row. Comfort is enhanced for all seats, including a three-zone independent climate control system.
Under the hood is a 2.4-liter diesel engine producing a maximum torque of 480Nm. Combined with a newly developed 8-speed automatic transmission with a sport mode, it reportedly achieves smooth gear changes and responsive acceleration.
The vehicle dynamics control system is "S-AWC." The 4WD system offers four selectable modes: 2H (rear-wheel drive), 4H (full-time 4WD), 4HLc (center differential lock), and 4LLc (low gear + center differential lock), which can be chosen according to driving conditions. It also features "SS4-II," which combines high off-road capability with excellent on-road handling stability.
In addition, by integrating AYC (Active Yaw Control) which controls torque between the left and right wheels through the front brakes, ASTC (Active Stability & Traction Control) which optimizes driving force on slippery surfaces for enhanced stability, and ABS which prevents tire lock-up and skidding during braking, the system optimizes the drive and braking force of all four wheels according to the driver's input and road conditions.
The chassis uses the traditional high-rigidity ladder frame. However, Mitsubishi claims that the driving quality has been enhanced with the goal of not only off-road capability but also allowing occupants to travel comfortably on long journeys and rough roads.
The new Pajero begins accepting orders in Japan on October 1st. It will be sold in Japan and Australia, starting with the production base in Thailand in fiscal year 2026, and will be sequentially rolled out to 100 countries including ASEAN, Central and South America, and the Middle East from fiscal year 2027 onwards.
Contact Information
Mitsubishi Motors Customer Relations Center
Tel. 0120-324-860 (9:30-12:30, 13:30-17:00)
Learn more about the [Mitsubishi Pajero]
Q. What kind of model is the Pajero for Mitsubishi?
The "Pajero" was born in 1982 as a cross-country 4WD vehicle that fuses off-road capability and reliability with passenger car-like comfort, and has become a representative model of Mitsubishi Motors, loved in over 170 countries and regions. Mitsubishi Motors' mid-to-long-term vision towards the 2030s is themed around "Enhancing customer satisfaction and corporate value by strengthening distinctive products and brands." The new "Pajero" is positioned as the first in this initiative, a flagship model that will lead the "Pajero" series and all Mitsubishi vehicles that follow. Mr. Keisuke Kishiura, President, COO, and Representative Director of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, describes the new "Pajero" as "a prestige cross-country SUV that has evolved with a premium feel, reliable in all situations."
Q. What are its off-road capabilities in numerical terms?
The new "Pajero" maintains a minimum ground clearance of 230mm (on models with 20-inch tires) and achieves an approach angle of 30.4 degrees, a ramp breakover angle of 22.6 degrees, and a departure angle of 25.8 degrees. The front-to-rear weight distribution is optimized at 52:48. By combining a highly rigid and durable ladder frame with a suspension that has a large stroke and excellent road tracking, it realizes outstanding off-road capability.
Q. What new technologies are incorporated for safety and driving assistance?
Preventive safety features include a Forward Collision Mitigation braking system [FCM], Forward Collision Warning [FCW], and Misacceleration Prevention System [EAPM], along with the first-time adoption of an Emergency Lane Keeping Assist function [ELA]. This function uses a front camera and radar to detect the risk of lane departure and provides support through warnings and steering control. It also includes a Forward Intersection Traffic Alert system [FCTA] that detects approaching vehicles at intersections. For driving assistance, it is equipped with the "MI-PILOT" (Multi-Intelligent Brake Assist) highway driving support system, which supports maintaining distance from the vehicle ahead and staying within the lane on highways through integrated control of the Radar Cruise Control System [ACC] and Lane Keeping Assist [LKA]. Furthermore, it is equipped with eight airbags, including an SRS center airbag, which is a first for Mitsubishi Motors.