Mitsubishi's New Video Suggests the Pajero Is Returning—And Soon
Mitsubishi just gave us our first real glimpse of its next flagship SUV, and it looks far more serious than a typical crossover.
www.autoblog.comHere’s the latest on the Mitsubishi Pajero as of mid-2026.
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Global revival: Multiple outlets report that Mitsubishi intends to reintroduce a Pajero-style flagship SUV by late 2026 or early 2027, with production centered in Southeast Asia (Thailand) and exports planned to various markets, including Australia. These sources also indicate the new model will ride on a ladder-frame platform linked to Mitsubishi’s Triton/Pajero Sport lineage, preserving rugged, off-road capability.[1][2]
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Design and powertrain: Early glimpses and teaser materials point to a boxier, more traditionally rugged SUV silhouette, signaling a focus on genuine off-road performance. Engine options discussed in coverage include diesel turbo variants, with hybrids and plug-in hybrids considered for future variants, though official powertrain details were not fully confirmed at the time of reporting.[2][3]
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Availability in key markets: Australia and several other markets are frequently cited in coverage as targets for the Pajero’s return, with local registrations and testing spied in regions such as Australia and Europe during 2025–2026. Expect feature sets to include a high-tech cockpit, large screens, advanced safety tech, and a potential comparison to Pajero Sport or a renamed variant depending on regional branding decisions.[6][8][1]
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Public reception and speculation: Automotive channels and news sites widely discuss the Pajero’s comeback as a significant return for Mitsubishi’s off-road flagship. Several videos and articles speculate on naming choices (whether it will drop the “Sport” suffix or revert to Pajero) and on the potential tie-in with hybrid and diesel options, while noting that official specs, pricing, and final confirmation are pending.[3][2][6]
Illustration: If helpful, I can summarize a side-by-side chart of rumored specs (engine options, drivetrain, and expected features) once you confirm you want a chart, or pull in additional regional news for a more precise picture.
Would you like a concise comparison table of the most consistently rumored specs and timelines from these sources, or a short country-specific update (e.g., Australia) with expected launch windows and pricing expectations? I can also track official announcements as they come.
Sources: Drive article on late-2026/early-2027 launch and Thai production with testing in Australia, Autoblog teaser and production plans for Thailand by late 2026 with diesel/hybrid options, YouTube/press coverage highlighting 2026 comeback and design cues, additional regional news aggregations noting Pajero return coverage.[8][1][2][3][6]