Mitsubishi has revealed the fifth-generation Pajero, its first new one in 20 years, and the nameplate’s first appearance anywhere since production stopped in 2021. The reveal took place in Tokyo. The new SUV goes on sale in Thailand first, then Japan and Australia by March 2027, followed by roughly 100 more countries across Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In Australia, prices start at $68,490 before on-road costs. One region is missing from that list entirely: neither Europe nor North America is getting the new Pajero at launch.
Why the Pajero Disappeared in the First Place
Back in July 2020, Mitsubishi shut down its Pajero factory and froze new model launches in Europe on the same day. The company was reporting a 140 billion yen operating loss at the time and chose to refocus on Southeast Asia and Oceania instead. Six years later, it has reversed one half of that decision and left the other alone.
What’s Actually New
The new Pajero keeps its body-on-frame construction and shares its underlying platform with Mitsubishi’s Triton pickup, though the company says the chassis has been heavily reworked, with a thicker frame, extra cross-bracing, and new five-link rear suspension.
Power comes from a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. In Australia, it’s rated at 150kW and 480Nm of torque, though torque figures shift slightly between 470 and 480Nm depending on the market. Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II system carries over, and for the first time on a Pajero, it’s paired with S-AWC, the torque-vectoring technology the brand built for the Lancer Evolution. Ground clearance sits at 230mm, with a 30.4-degree approach angle.
