Pajero Returns as the Backbone of a Rugged SUV Family
Mitsubishi’s Pajero SUV lineup expansion is a strategic move to create a family of rugged SUV models that target budget-conscious off-road buyers with ladder-frame and compact off-road SUV offerings wearing the same heritage-rich nameplate. Instead of treating the Pajero revival as a nostalgia play, Mitsubishi is turning it into the core of a multi-model off-road brand that sits apart from its softer passenger SUVs. The company has confirmed that the Pajero SUV will return to showrooms by the end of 2026, and that this reborn model will be the first in a broader Pajero lineup of more off-road-focused SUVs. In May 2026, Mitsubishi stated that the Pajero nameplate would spearhead a range of rugged SUVs, clearly separating them from its existing passenger models. This is not a half-hearted trim package; it is an attempt to carve out a dedicated off-road sub-brand at a time when SUV buyers are flocking toward taller, tougher vehicles. That decision is bold because it pushes against the prevailing narrative that electrification and fuel economy are the only priorities for new SUVs. Mitsubishi is instead betting that there is still a meaningful slice of the market that will accept a traditional, gas-focused SUV so long as it delivers genuine off-road capability, modern comfort and a familiar name.
A RAV4-Sized Pajero to Tempt Family Off-Roaders
The heart of Mitsubishi’s strategy is the mid-size Pajero, aimed squarely at drivers shopping in the Toyota RAV4 class but wanting more dirt-road confidence than the typical crossover provides. Reports indicate this RAV4-sized SUV will arrive around 2028 or 2029 as a more off-road-capable alternative to Mitsubishi’s own Outlander. With the current Outlander measuring 4720mm long, 1862mm wide and 1745mm tall on a 2706mm wheelbase, the new Pajero variant is clearly targeting the same practical, family-friendly footprint. Crucially, this model is expected to use components from the Outlander to speed development and cut costs, but ride on a dedicated Mitsubishi-developed platform rather than being a rebadged partner product. In other words, Mitsubishi wants the efficiency of shared parts without sacrificing the Pajero’s identity as an off-road specialist. The brand has already promised that the new ladder-frame Pajero will retain its capabilities while offering a more modern driving experience, including advanced systems such as S-AWC with selectable drive modes for different surfaces. For families who spend their weekends on gravel, sand or muddy tracks, that is far more enticing than another commuter-focused crossover. According to one product plan, the Pajero range expansion sits inside Mitsubishi’s roadmap of 16 new global models by the end of 2028, nine of which will be electrified. That leaves room for the mid-size Pajero to potentially borrow plug-in hybrid or hybrid powertrains from the Outlander while still centering its image on ruggedness rather than efficiency.
A Compact Baby Pajero as a Suzuki Jimny Competitor
At the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi is working on a compact off-road SUV that will carry the Pajero badge into kei-class territory and serve as a Suzuki Jimny competitor. Expected around 2030, this third Pajero model may revive the Pajero Mini name once used in Japan, tying modern hardware to a familiar small-SUV badge. Historically, Mitsubishi sold tiny Pajero variants such as the 3710mm-long Pajero iO, so building a pint-sized off-roader is very much in character. The new baby Pajero is anticipated to feature all-wheel drive and high ground clearance, aligning it with the rest of the off-road-focused Pajero family even if it uses car-like unibody construction instead of a ladder frame. That choice hints at a vehicle positioned as more liveable day-to-day than a hardcore, body-on-frame rock crawler, yet still capable enough to join the weekend trail crowd. It would land directly in the segment dominated by the ladder-frame Suzuki Jimny, a model that has become the top-selling vehicle for its brand locally and earned a cult following. If Mitsubishi can capture buyers who want Jimny-style character but prefer a slightly more civilised ride and modern tech, the smallest Pajero could become the gateway drug to the wider Pajero SUV lineup expansion, hooking compact adventure seekers before they trade up into larger models.
Multi-Tier Pajero Strategy: One Name, Several Buyers
The multi-tier Pajero strategy is carefully structured to address different buyer profiles, all under one rugged banner. At the top sits the ladder-frame Pajero, a traditional off-road model equipped with modern systems like S-AWC, where drivers can switch between rear-wheel drive, full-time four-wheel drive, a locked centre differential and low range for tough conditions. Below it, the RAV4-sized Pajero variant targets family off-roaders who want more capability than a regular crossover without losing everyday practicality. Then, the baby Pajero speaks directly to compact adventure seekers who value manoeuvrability and personality in a small footprint. Mitsubishi is effectively building a Pajero-branded staircase: start with a small, affordable off-roader, move up to a mid-size family SUV, and graduate to the full-size ladder-frame model as needs and budgets grow. This approach also addresses Mitsubishi’s sliding sales, which were down 27.4 per cent year-on-year between January and July 2026, with only the Triton posting an increase in volume. By turning the Pajero into a flexible, multi-model range instead of a single halo vehicle, the brand is trying to spread its off-road appeal across several segments and pull customers back into its showrooms.
What This Means for Everyday Drivers
For ordinary drivers, the Pajero SUV lineup expansion is less about brand nostalgia and more about choice. Instead of being nudged toward generic crossovers, shoppers will have multiple rugged SUV models that are tailored to how they actually live: a compact off-road SUV with high ground clearance and all-wheel drive for city dwellers who escape to the trails on weekends, a mid-size Pajero that offers RAV4-like practicality with real off-road intent, and a full-fat ladder-frame Pajero for serious touring. Mitsubishi’s modern Pajero will not be a bare-bones relic. The S-AWC system, with its range of drive modes from Eco and Gravel to Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock, is designed to give drivers better control on different surfaces, not just marketing bragging rights. Combined with a suspension engineered for high road-holding performance, the new Pajero aims to be as approachable on the school run as it is competent on a remote track. The real test will be whether buyers still care more about that capability than about cutting every possible litre of fuel usage. If they do, Mitsubishi’s bet on a Pajero family that prizes ruggedness first could mark a turning point: a reminder that in the SUV world, character and capability still matter as much as efficiency. For anyone researching, comparing and buying their next car with off-road adventures in mind, this expanding Pajero lineup will be hard to ignore.
