2027 Mitsubishi Pajero: Iconic nameplate returning on new body-on-frame SUV

After much speculation and a slew of spy shots, Mitsubishi has confirmed its new off-road SUV will indeed be called the Pajero, with a global debut scheduled for the second half of 2026.

It'll return as a body-on-frame SUV based on the Triton ute, effectively replacing the discontinued Pajero Sport while dropping the 'Sport' suffix, and marking the return of one of the Japanese brand's most iconic nameplates.

In fact, the Pajero's return to ladder-frame construction harks back to the SUV's original 1982 debut, when it was launched as a rugged off-road rival to the contemporary Toyota LandCruiser and Isuzu Trooper (aka Holden Jackaroo).

It'll be the first new Pajero iteration since the fourth-generation model launched in 2006, and the first to appear in Australian showrooms since 2022. It's expected to arrive in Australia in late 2026.

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Mitsubishi says the Pajero will feature "model-specific development of the cabin and front and rear suspension" to set it apart dynamically from the Triton, which features rear leaf springs; the previous Pajero Sport, in contrast, had a coil-sprung rear.

The brand's sole teaser image also shows an entirely different LED headlight signature to the Triton.

However, the new Pajero will likely borrow the Triton's powertrain. That would give it a 2.4-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel producing 150kW of power and 470Nm of torque.

It may also have Mitsubishi's 'Super Select II' full-time four-wheel drive system, which allows vehicles to be driven in four-wheel drive on sealed surfaces. This would place it in contention with other ladder-frame SUVs that can do the same, including the Toyota Prado and Ford Everest.

Indeed, those two SUVs will be the most direct rivals to the new Pajero, which should also give us an early idea of pricing, given that no prices have been set.

The Prado starts at $73,200 before on-roads and is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with 150kW and 500Nm. The Everest, meanwhile, starts at $58,990 before on-roads for part-time 4×4 models which use a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four with 125kW and 405Nm, or $66,990 before on-roads for variants with a full-time system and a 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

For context, the outgoing Pajero Sport starts at $51,540 before on-roads, and was fitted with a less powerful 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 133kW and 430Nm. Therefore, we'd predict the new Pajero could start at between $60,000 and $65,000 before on-road costs in Australia.

That prediction accounts for a substantial upgrade in safety systems and interior tech compared to the Pajero Sport, which is practically guaranteed.

It may have similarities to the Triton's interior setup, which is headlined by a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system (up from 8.0 inches) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These were wired-only in the old Pajero Sport.

The new Pajero could also receive a digital instrument display similar to that of the Outlander.

It'll no doubt have the latest in Mitsubishi's safety tech, including the most modern versions of its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and driver monitoring systems. After all, outdated AEB technology led to the discontinuation of the outgoing Pajero Sport in Australia in 2025.

The new Pajero is one of two models slated to arrive before the end of 2026 from Mitsubishi Australia. It'll launch at a similar time to Mitsubishi's second-ever electric vehicle (EV) in our market, an SUV co-developed with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxtron.

That'll take the Japanese brand's local model count from three to five, with the Outlander, Triton, and Pajero all Mitsubishi's own. The Renault Captur-based ASX and incoming Foxtron EV are, of course, borrowed from other brands.

Mitsubishi has also launched the Australian-developed Triton Raider, a new off-road-focused flagship ute. All will be important in the brand's efforts to pull itself out of a current sales rut, with figures down 25.5 per cent year-on-year.

Sales for the ASX and Outlander are down 88.6 per cent and 10.3 per cent year-on-year, respectively, while the Triton, and very interestingly, the dealer-stock-only Pajero Sport, are both up.

MORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Pajero showroom