Mitsubishi has brought the Pajero back, and one of the first things longtime fans will notice is hiding right in front of the driver.
The new-generation SUV revives the familiar triple-meter concept associated with older Pajero and Montero models. But instead of three traditional analogue gauges, the feature has been reworked into a modern digital display that can show information ranging from compass direction and altitude to the vehicle’s pitch and roll angles.
It is a small detail, but it says a lot about the new Pajero.
Mitsubishi has not attempted to recreate its famous SUV exactly as it was. Instead, the company is taking some of the ideas that made the original useful and giving them a contemporary interpretation.
And underneath the new body, there is plenty of evidence that this is intended to be a serious off-road SUV rather than another crossover carrying a famous name.
The New Mitsubishi Pajero Is Back With a Familiar Idea
The fifth-generation Mitsubishi Pajero was unveiled in Tokyo on September 2, 2026.
After the previous Pajero ended production in 2021, the name disappeared from Mitsubishi’s lineup. Its return therefore represents more than a routine model change. The company is bringing back a nameplate with a long association with long-distance travel and off-road driving.
The new model has been developed as a three-row, seven-seat SUV and uses a ladder-frame chassis. It is based on Mitsubishi’s modern truck platform, but the company says substantial work has gone into adapting the architecture for the Pajero.
That distinction matters.
The Pajero is not simply a larger version of an existing crossover. It has been engineered around the requirements of a vehicle that needs to cope with difficult terrain while remaining comfortable enough for everyday family use.
The Triple Meter Returns, But It Is No Longer Analogue
For enthusiasts, the most interesting detail may be the new Multi Meter.
Older Pajeros and Montero models became known for their unusual triple-gauge arrangement. The gauges provided useful information for drivers venturing beyond paved roads, including details that ordinary passenger cars generally did not display.
Mitsubishi has retained that basic three-part concept for the new SUV.
The modern version is digital and can provide information including altitude, compass heading, outside temperature, pitch and roll angles, as well as information related to the vehicle’s Active Yaw Control system.
That makes the feature more than a retro design cue.
On a steep trail, for example, pitch and roll information can give the driver a better understanding of how the vehicle is positioned. The system also gives Mitsubishi an easy way to acknowledge the Pajero’s history without filling the cabin with old-fashioned instruments.
It is exactly the sort of heritage feature that works because it still has a practical purpose.
A Ladder Frame Keeps the Pajero’s Off-Road Credentials Intact
The biggest story, however, is beneath the body.
The new Pajero uses a ladder-frame construction with a body designed around the platform. Mitsubishi has increased structural rigidity and used high-strength steel in key areas while working to keep the vehicle comfortable on normal roads.
The suspension uses a double-wishbone setup at the front and a five-link rigid axle at the rear.
That combination reflects the Pajero’s intended role. Mitsubishi wants the SUV to be capable away from asphalt without turning every highway trip into a compromise.
The company has also focused heavily on keeping the tires in contact with uneven surfaces, an important factor when negotiating rocks, deep ruts or steep changes in terrain.
For buyers who remember the old Pajero primarily as an off-road machine, this is probably more significant than the styling.
Four-Wheel Drive Remains at the Heart of It
Mitsubishi has equipped the new Pajero with Super Select 4WD-II.
The system offers 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc modes. The latter two introduce a locked center differential, while 4LLc also brings low-range gearing into play.
That gives the Pajero hardware designed for situations where traction and controlled wheel speed matter more than outright acceleration.
There are also seven drive modes covering different surfaces and conditions: Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock.
The vehicle’s Super All-Wheel Control system adds electronic assistance, including Active Yaw Control, traction control and stability systems.
In other words, Mitsubishi has combined traditional four-wheel-drive hardware with the electronic systems expected in a modern SUV.
That combination could become one of the Pajero’s biggest selling points.
Mitsubishi Uses a 2.4-Liter Turbo-Diesel
Power comes from a 2.4-liter clean-diesel engine equipped with a variable-geometry turbocharger.
Mitsubishi has confirmed maximum torque of 480 Nm and pairs the engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The company has not yet provided a global horsepower figure in its launch information, so it would be unwise to attach an unconfirmed output number to the SUV.
The torque figure is more revealing in the context of the Pajero’s mission. Strong low- and mid-range pulling power is useful when the vehicle is carrying passengers, climbing steep sections or travelling over loose surfaces.
The eight-speed automatic should also make the SUV more relaxed during highway driving.
Official fuel-economy figures have not yet been released. That means comparisons with rival SUVs on consumption will have to wait for market-specific certification.
The Pajero Is a Big SUV
The new Pajero measures 4,920 mm in length, 1,925 mm in width and 1,910 mm in height.
Its wheelbase stretches to 2,870 mm.
Ground clearance is listed at 230 mm on versions fitted with 20-inch wheels. Mitsubishi also gives the SUV an approach angle of 30.4 degrees, a breakover angle of 22.6 degrees and a departure angle of 25.8 degrees.
Those numbers help explain the vehicle’s proportions.
It is large enough to provide genuine three-row space, but the body has also been shaped to provide useful clearance and approach geometry when the pavement ends.
Mitsubishi says the new Pajero has a 52:48 front-to-rear weight distribution, another factor intended to contribute to predictable handling.
Seven Seats Make It More Than a Weekend Off-Roader
The new Pajero has three rows and seven seats.
Mitsubishi has paid particular attention to second- and third-row access. The second row can slide through a 150-mm range, while its tumble function provides access to the rear seats.
The third row has also been designed with improved headroom and foot space.
That matters because the new Pajero is being asked to serve two very different purposes.
It needs to be tough enough for difficult trails, but it also needs to function as a family SUV during the rest of the week.
Mitsubishi has added three-zone climate control, seat ventilation and additional sound insulation to make that transition easier.
Acoustic glass is used in several areas of the cabin, while additional insulation has been applied to reduce road and powertrain noise.
The result is a Pajero that appears much more focused on long-distance comfort than some of its predecessors.
The Cabin Mixes Heritage With Modern Technology
The triple meter is the obvious nod to the past, but almost everything surrounding it is contemporary.
Depending on specification, the Pajero gets a large display setup incorporating screens up to 14.3 inches, while a 12.3-inch display is also offered on some versions.
Wireless smartphone connectivity is available, and the SUV gets a multi-camera system designed to make manoeuvring easier.
One particularly useful feature is the ability to display an under-floor view through the camera system. It can help drivers see terrain immediately in front of or beneath the vehicle where the bodywork would otherwise block their view.
For serious off-road driving, that could prove considerably more useful than another large entertainment screen.
Safety Technology Has Moved Forward
The new Pajero also reflects how much safety technology has changed since the previous generation was introduced.
Mitsubishi has equipped the SUV with a range of driver-assistance systems, including forward collision mitigation, pedestrian and cyclist detection, front cross-traffic alert and assistance designed to reduce the consequences of pedal misapplication.
Its MI-PILOT system combines adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance for highway driving.
The SUV also has eight airbags, including a center airbag intended to reduce the risk of contact between occupants during certain collisions.
These features will be particularly relevant to buyers who want the Pajero’s traditional off-road ability without giving up the electronic safety systems now common in premium family SUVs.
The Styling Is New Without Forgetting the Old Pajero
Mitsubishi has taken a similar approach with the exterior.
The new SUV is upright and deliberately substantial, but it does not attempt to reproduce the previous Pajero’s shape.
There are small references to earlier generations throughout the design.
The C-pillar, for example, draws inspiration from the roll-bar appearance of the original Pajero. At the rear, Mitsubishi has incorporated a hexagonal design element inspired by the spare wheel carried by earlier models.
The traditional external spare wheel itself is gone.
That is an important change because it gives the rear a cleaner appearance and reflects the move toward a more contemporary family SUV.
The front end uses Mitsubishi’s modern T-shaped lighting signature and updated Dynamic Shield styling.
It is recognizably a Mitsubishi, but it is not simply an old Pajero wearing new headlights.
When Will the New Pajero Go on Sale?
Mitsubishi’s initial rollout begins in Thailand, with Japan and Australia scheduled to follow during the company’s fiscal 2026.
From fiscal 2027, the company plans to introduce the Pajero in roughly 100 countries, including markets across ASEAN, Latin America and the Middle East.
That rollout means specifications and equipment are likely to differ between countries.
For buyers waiting for the Pajero in their own market, the most important information will therefore come with the local launch announcement rather than the global reveal.
Mitsubishi has not announced a single worldwide price, and official fuel-economy figures are also not yet available.
That makes early online price claims difficult to judge.
What the New Pajero Means for Buyers
The return of the Pajero gives Mitsubishi something it has been missing for several years: a flagship SUV with genuine off-road hardware and a name that already means something to enthusiasts.
The competition will not be easy.
The new Pajero enters a segment populated by established body-on-frame SUVs, including the Toyota Land Cruiser family and Ford Everest in markets where they are sold.
Mitsubishi’s response is a mixture of traditional and modern thinking.
There is a ladder frame, low-range four-wheel drive and a diesel engine with 480 Nm of torque. At the same time, there is a digital cockpit, extensive driver assistance, seven seats and a much stronger emphasis on refinement.
Perhaps the smartest part is the way Mitsubishi has handled the heritage.
The triple meter has returned, but it has not been brought back simply because it looks nostalgic. The company has turned it into something that remains useful.
That is a good summary of the new Pajero itself.
It remembers what made the original special, but it does not try to live in the past.
For buyers considering a large SUV with serious off-road capability, the new Pajero will be one to watch as Mitsubishi reveals local pricing, specifications and availability. Until then, the mechanical package already makes clear that this is a much more substantial comeback than simply reviving a familiar badge.