You might be thinking: “What? Hasn’t Mitsubishi confirmed the Pajero name already?”
Actually, no. For the past couple of years, Mitsubishi has been dancing around what it will call its next flagship SUV. The brand made it clear, though, that a new, tough SUV was coming to fill the gap left by the Pajero, which ended in 2021. But, ultimately, Mitsubishi has kept quiet about the name.
That silence, of course, sparked a lot of guessing. Some thought Mitsubishi was just updating the Montero Sport, since the new SUV would use the Triton’s ladder-frame chassis. Others figured the Pajero name was gone for good, too iconic to bring back lightly.
Now, the debate has been settled. It will not be called the Montero Sport or any other name. Australian registration records show a vehicle listed as a Mitsubishi Pajero. The paperwork, obtained by Drive, also confirms it was built in Thailand. Without any fanfare or press release, Mitsubishi has quietly brought the Pajero name back.
The details come from a Personal Property Securities Register search in Australia, which turned up a South Australia-registered “2025 Mitsubishi Pajero.” The VIN starts with “MMA,” which means it was built in Thailand. That matches Mitsubishi’s usual production setup, since the Triton and Montero Sport are all made there.
The camouflaged test vehicle spotted a few days ago looked like an early pre-production unit, and it’s reportedly the 44th to receive a VIN. The eighth digit in the VIN, which shows the engine type, isn’t the same as the Triton’s. That hints at more than just a carryover engine. It could mean a tweaked version of Mitsubishi’s 2.4-liter twin-turbo diesel, or maybe something else entirely.
At this point, all signs point to a bigger, more upscale SUV that sits above the Montero Sport. However, since the upcoming Pajero still uses the Triton’s ladder-frame base, it will not be as huge as full-size models like the Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol.
Autocar’s Take
The Pajero is a big deal for Mitsubishi right now. Thankfully, spy shots and teasers already give us a rough idea of what’s coming. The new Pajero looks boxier and more upright than the Montero Sport, borrowing design cues from newer Mitsubishi SUVs like the Destinator and Xforce but on a larger scale. Expect a ladder-frame chassis, rear-wheel-drive-based four-wheel drive, and real off-road capability.
Diesel engines are likely for many markets, especially Southeast Asia, and hybrids are still on the table. The Pajero has even appeared in recent Ralliart marketing, hinting at a wider global availability.
More importantly, the biggest hint came from Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato, who went on record at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, saying, “We will launch a new cross-country SUV in 2026.” With testing already underway and registrations appearing in Australia, more concrete details should surface before the year is out.
Frankly, we couldn’t be more excited, but we’re not entirely surprised by the recent development. Given the off-the-record statements we received last year, we’re just glad that, finally, we can report on this.
