The Mitsubishi Pajero Is Again To Take On The Toyota Land Cruiser

It’s been a minute because the final Mitsubishi Pajero. The international mannequin bowed out 5 years in the past, however the United States stated goodbye to the Montero approach again in 2006. Originally launched in 1982, the off-roader racked up cumulative gross sales of greater than 3.3 million items in over 170 international locations. But the corporate pulled the plug in 2021 with out an instantaneous successor.

Now, it’s lastly again.

Entering its fifth technology, the Pajero (aka Montero in sure markets) makes its long-awaited return. Mitsubishi remains to be undecided about whether or not to deliver it to the United States, however it does intend to promote the reborn off-roader in round 100 international locations worldwide. It will launch initially in Thailand, adopted by Japan and Australia by the top of March 2027.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero Key Facts

• What’s New? Well, every part. The body from the Triton pickup has been closely tailored for the three-row SUV whereas sustaining the truck’s off-road chops.
• What’s With The Design? Predictably boxy, the brand new Pajero has an imposing stance with huge floor clearance, appropriate for a Toyota Land Cruiser rival.
• What About The Engine? For now, Mitsubishi has confirmed a turbocharged 2.4-liter diesel engine borrowed from the Triton. It makes 354 pound-feet of torque.
• What About Off-Road Goodies? The fifth-gen Pajero will get the corporate’s signature Super Select 4WD-II (SS4-II) four-wheel-drive system with 4 selectable modes.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero: A Clean-Sheet Redesign

Although Mitsubishi factors to previous generations as an inspiration for the design, honestly, the Pajero has little in frequent with its ancestors. Instead, the resurrected SUV supersizes a design language we’ve seen on regional fashions just like the Destinator and Xforce, however with bulging fenders and a extra imposing entrance grille. The sculpted physique combines a beneficiant greenhouse with a flat roofline and beneficiant underbody safety at each ends.

The chunky mud flaps and aspect steps, together with the beneficiant suspension journey, level to a critical off-roader quite than one merely impersonating an SUV able to going off the overwhelmed path. Depending on the model, the brand new Pajero rides on Toyo Open Country H/T tires, whereas others have Bridgestone Dueler H/T rubber, each measuring 255/55 R20. Sadly, the fifth door is gone, making approach for a standard tailgate with the spare wheel mounted beneath.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero inside

Photo by: Mitsubishi

The Interior Is A Major Upgrade

While the outside says the brand new Pajero doesn’t thoughts getting soiled, the cabin is likely one of the nicest we’ve seen recently in a Mitsubishi. The three-row format seats seven, with a second row that slides 5.9 inches (150 millimeters) and a tumble mechanism for further cargo area or simpler ingress for third-row occupants. Since the roof is flat, we’re instructed there’s loads of headroom even for rearmost passengers.

The inside is surprisingly luxurious for a Mitsubishi, with leather-based masking almost all surfaces on the highest trim degree. The mushy padding on the dashboard provides it a lounge-like vibe, whereas the seize handles remind you this can be a correct off-roader. Given its positioning within the vary, the brand new Pajero is loaded with options, together with double-glazed home windows for all doorways and an acoustic windshield for a quieter cabin.

It additionally will get a cooled storage space beneath the armrest, a 12-speaker Yamaha sound system, tri-zone computerized local weather management, guide rear shades, and second-row heated seats. While twin 14.3-inch screens dominate the dashboard, loads of bodily controls nonetheless let drivers shortly entry often-used capabilities comparable to local weather settings. The rotary knob lets drivers swap between the assorted 4WD settings on the fly, whereas USB ports can be found throughout all three rows.

Already revealed within the teaser marketing campaign main as much as right this moment’s massive debut, the Multi Meter is again. It’s not a separate gauge as within the previous days, however quite a digital format constructed into the middle display screen. Beyond the pitch and roll angles, it additionally exhibits altitude, compass heading, and left-right torque distribution. We ought to point out that the cheaper Pajero trim ranges can have barely smaller screens, measuring 12.3 inches.

2027 Mitsubishi Pajero Multi Meter

Photo by: Mitsubishi

The New Pajero Is A Truck-Based SUV

The new Pajero is constructed on a ladder-frame platform shared with the Triton pickup, however Mitsubishi claims it’s significantly stiffer, because of elevated use of high-tensile metal. The further rigidity ought to make a noticeable distinction each on the street and off it, with the additional advantage of improved sturdiness and reliability.

Mitsubishi has additionally fitted the SUV with a high-mounted double-wishbone entrance suspension and a brand new five-link inflexible rear axle. The setup goals to provide the Pajero a great stability between street manners and off-road functionality, whereas preserving the steering pure and the trip comparatively flat and composed. In different phrases, it must be simply as comfortable cruising on the freeway as it’s crawling over tough terrain.

The new Pajero additionally will get Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, which brings collectively a number of digital methods to handle how a lot drive and braking power is distributed to every wheel. It ties collectively the four-wheel-drive system, Active Yaw Control, Active Stability and Traction Control, and ABS to maintain the Pajero steady whereas making its dealing with really feel extra predictable and pure. The system constantly adjusts its intervention based mostly on driver inputs and the circumstances beneath the wheels.

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Source: Mitsubishi

Pajero Family

The new Pajero is simply the beginning, as Mitsubishi needs to show the venerable identify right into a collection of fashions. At least two smaller off-roaders are on the best way, following a technique we’ve seen at Toyota with its ever-growing Land Cruiser lineup. Similarly, Land Rover presents a number of flavors of the Defender, whereas Mercedes is about to launch a smaller G-Class.

Motor1’s Take: The new Pajero is lengthy overdue, particularly because the final one was canceled at a time when off-road SUVs have been gaining traction. Hopefully, Mitsubishi will supply an equal Montero or one thing to that impact in North America within the not-too-distant future as a part of its plan to lure prospects again into dealerships.