Pajero’s Return: A Deliberate Pivot Back to Rugged Gas SUVs
The Mitsubishi Pajero revival is the automaker’s plan to bring back its iconic off-road SUV as a whole family of rugged gas SUVs, stretching from a ladder-frame flagship to compact off-road vehicles, in order to capture buyers who still value durability and mechanical capability over the higher pricing and complexity of hybrid-focused alternatives.
Mitsubishi will reintroduce the Pajero SUV to showrooms by the end of 2026, and it will be the first in a broader Pajero lineup. That is not a nostalgic one-off; it is a strategic reset toward off-road SUV models that feel more like tools than tech gadgets. The company has confirmed it will use the Pajero nameplate to spearhead a range of more rugged, off-road-focused SUVs distinct from its road-biased passenger models. In a market where many brands talk electrification first and capability second, Mitsubishi is doing the opposite: rebuilding its identity around toughness and gas-powered confidence.
From Flagship to RAV4 Rival: A Three-Tier Pajero Family
The headline grabber is the new ladder-frame Pajero, but the real story is the multi-model ecosystem around it. After the flagship arrives, Mitsubishi plans two additional Pajero-branded SUVs, including a Toyota RAV4-sized model positioned as a more off-road-capable alternative to the Outlander. By borrowing key components from the Outlander to reduce cost and accelerate development while still riding on a dedicated Mitsubishi-developed platform, the brand is signaling that capability does not have to be priced as a luxury.
For context, the current Outlander measures 4720mm long, 1862mm wide and 1745mm tall on a 2706mm wheelbase, so a Pajero-badged rival in that footprint directly targets the most hotly contested SUV bracket. Below that, a third Pajero SUV is expected around 2030 as a compact kei-class-inspired model that could revive the Pajero Mini name. Together, this creates a ladder of off-road SUV models designed to keep buyers in the Pajero ecosystem as their needs and budgets change.
Chasing the Jimny Crowd with Compact Off-Road Vehicles
The most revealing move is the planned baby Pajero, aimed squarely at the cult following built by the Suzuki Jimny. Mitsubishi wants in on that enthusiasm for small, honest 4x4s by offering a compact off-road vehicle with all-wheel drive, high ground clearance and Pajero-family styling. Even if it ends up using car-like unibody construction, the intent is clear: make something affordable, maneuverable and tough enough for light trails rather than a soft, city-only crossover.
Mitsubishi is already considering a drivetrain that blends known, naturally aspirated petrol hardware with electrified assistance. The powertrain used in the Xforce pairs a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor and a CVT driving the front wheels. That setup, or a variation of it, would keep the character of a gas engine while adding some efficiency and traction benefits. In a segment where buyers care less about outright speed and more about simplicity and reliability, this is a pragmatic compromise.
Drivetrain, Construction and the Return to Real-World Capability
Where many crossovers chase sleek styling and app-laden cabins, the new Pajero is being engineered from the chassis up to work hard. The flagship model uses ladder-frame construction, aligning it with serious off-roaders and signaling intent around towing and durability. On top of that, Mitsubishi is fitting its S-AWC system, which allows drivers to select rear-wheel drive, full-time four-wheel drive, a locked centre differential and even low range for demanding conditions. That menu of modes, plus seven selectable Terrain Drive Modes including Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock, shows a focus on control over a wide spread of surfaces.
Mitsubishi has also stated that the new Pajero will feature suspension “engineered to deliver high road-holding performance,” marrying its off-road brief with more composed on-road manners. This is not an old-school truck grudgingly adapted for daily use; it is an off-road SUV rebuilt for drivers who want to tow, travel and commute in the same vehicle. For buyers skeptical of delicate, complex hybrid systems in rough use, these drivetrain and construction choices are a direct pitch to their priorities.
Why Mitsubishi’s Pajero Bet Makes Sense Now
Mitsubishi’s decision to double down on rugged gas SUVs is not nostalgia; it is survival. Sales between January and July 2026 fell 27.4 per cent year on year, with the Triton the only model to grow. In that context, leaning into a nameplate with genuine off-road credibility is a sensible way to stand out instead of chasing crowded, premium-leaning hybrid niches. At the same time, the company is not ignoring electrification: the Pajero expansion sits inside a 2023 plan for 16 new global models by the end of 2028, nine of them electrified.
The smart part of the Mitsubishi Pajero revival is its flexibility. The flagship leans into traditional ladder-frame strength and advanced four-wheel-drive systems, while mid-size and compact Pajero variants can borrow hybrid or plug-in hybrid hardware from the Outlander and Xforce where it makes sense. That allows Mitsubishi to keep faith with buyers who still prefer the feel and familiarity of gas power while leaving the door open to more electrified versions. In a market polarized between soft crossovers and expensive hybrid flagships, the Pajero family could become the go-to choice for buyers who want capable, budget-conscious off-road SUV models rather than tech statements on wheels.
