Mitsubishi has brought one of its most recognizable off-road names back from retirement, and the new Pajero is being positioned as much more than a nostalgia project. The fully redesigned SUV will begin its comeback in Thailand before reaching Japan and Australia, with Mitsubishi planning an expansion to roughly 100 countries from fiscal 2027.
The scale of that rollout makes one omission particularly noticeable for Canadian enthusiasts. Canada has not been named among the confirmed launch markets, and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada says no decision has been made about bringing the revived Pajero here. That leaves the door open, but it also means Canadians watching the return of Mitsubishi’s Dakar-winning nameplate have no local launch commitment yet.
The Pajero Is Back After a Five-Year Global Absence
Mitsubishi officially unveiled the new-generation Pajero on September 2, 2026, marking the global return of a model whose overseas production ended in 2021. The original Pajero arrived in 1982 and eventually became one of Mitsubishi’s defining vehicles, combining serious four-wheel-drive hardware with the kind of passenger comfort that helped make SUVs increasingly mainstream. Across four generations, Mitsubishi says Pajero production exceeded 3.29 million vehicles, with the nameplate building a presence in more than 170 countries and regions.
The comeback therefore carries more weight than the revival of an obscure badge. Mitsubishi is calling the vehicle a new-generation flagship and says it will represent the direction of the wider brand. That positioning is important because the company’s current lineup in many markets is dominated by crossovers such as the Outlander. Bringing back a body-on-frame, three-row off-roader gives Mitsubishi a highly recognizable halo product at a time when rugged SUVs remain a major part of the global vehicle market.
Mitsubishi Is Planning a Rollout Across Roughly 100 Countries
The Pajero will not appear everywhere at once. Production is based in Thailand, and Mitsubishi says the Thai market will receive the vehicle first. Japan and Australia are scheduled to follow during fiscal 2026. Beginning in fiscal 2027, Mitsubishi intends to expand sales to approximately 100 countries, specifically identifying ASEAN markets, Latin America and the Middle East among the regions targeted for the wider rollout.
That strategy reflects the Pajero’s traditional strength outside North America. Rugged utility vehicles remain particularly important in markets where drivers regularly encounter rough roads, remote travel or heavy recreational use. Thailand also gives Mitsubishi an established manufacturing base for trucks and utility vehicles. A phased launch reduces the complexity of introducing a completely redesigned flagship across dozens of regulatory environments at the same time, while allowing the company to prioritize regions where diesel-powered, ladder-frame SUVs already have substantial customer bases.
Canada Has Not Been Confirmed — but It Has Not Been Ruled Out
For Canadian buyers, Mitsubishi’s rollout language requires an important distinction. Canada is not among the markets Mitsubishi has publicly confirmed for the first stages of the launch. However, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada has gone further than simply remaining silent: the Canadian division recently stated that no decision has been made regarding a Canadian introduction of the Pajero. That means the absence of Canada from the announced launch schedule should not be treated as a permanent rejection.
There is reason Canadian dealers and enthusiasts would pay attention. Mitsubishi sold 37,335 vehicles in Canada during calendar 2025, its second-best annual result on record. The Outlander alone accounted for 12,688 units, while the Outlander PHEV added 8,899. During the first half of 2026, Mitsubishi recorded another 18,159 Canadian sales. The company therefore has an established SUV customer base here, although adding a large diesel off-roader would require a separate business case involving certification, pricing, expected volume and emissions requirements.
This Is a Genuine Ladder-Frame Off-Roader
The revived Pajero is not simply an Outlander wearing a historic badge. Mitsubishi has retained a ladder-frame structure, a layout commonly associated with pickups and traditional off-road SUVs because the separate frame can provide the durability and articulation needed for demanding terrain. Mitsubishi says extensive use of high-tensile steel helps control weight while increased frame cross-sections improve torsional and bending rigidity.
Suspension hardware reinforces that mission. The Pajero uses an independent double-wishbone arrangement at the front and a newly developed five-link rigid rear axle. Mitsubishi says maintaining tire contact over uneven ground was a central development priority, while engineers also worked to avoid the rough, unsettled ride that can accompany heavy-duty off-road hardware. The company has even described “off-road comfort” as a development benchmark. That combination suggests Mitsubishi wants the Pajero to compete as both an expedition-capable SUV and a comfortable daily vehicle rather than forcing owners to choose between the two roles.
A 2.4-Litre Diesel Produces 480 Nm of Torque
Under the hood is a specially developed 2.4-litre clean-diesel engine using a variable-geometry turbocharger. Mitsubishi has announced maximum torque of 480 Nm, or roughly 354 lb-ft. Instead of pairing the engine with an older transmission design, the company has developed a new eight-speed automatic with a sport mode. Mitsubishi says the combination was tuned for controllable acceleration at low speeds as well as smoother, quieter highway operation.
The powertrain also reveals something about the geographic priorities behind the initial rollout. Diesel remains an established choice for larger off-road vehicles in Australia, Southeast Asia and numerous other international markets because of its low-rpm torque and suitability for long-distance travel. Mitsubishi has not announced a gasoline, hybrid or plug-in-hybrid Pajero in the September 2 launch material. That could become an important question for Canada, where Mitsubishi has built much of its recent brand momentum around the Outlander and Outlander PHEV rather than diesel passenger vehicles.
Super Select 4WD and S-AWC Give It Serious Hardware
One of the strongest connections to older Pajeros is Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II system. Drivers can select rear-wheel-drive 2H, full-time four-wheel-drive 4H, 4HLc with the centre differential locked, or 4LLc, which adds low-range gearing for difficult terrain. That provides considerably more mechanical flexibility than the basic all-wheel-drive arrangements fitted to many road-focused crossovers.
The new model adds Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control, or S-AWC, which integrates several chassis-control systems. Active Yaw Control can use braking to influence left-to-right torque behaviour, while stability, traction and anti-lock braking systems work together to manage grip. Mitsubishi also provides seven selectable terrain settings: Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock. Snow mode will attract obvious attention in Canada, but the broader importance is that Mitsubishi is combining traditional off-road hardware such as low-range gearing with electronic control systems designed to make that capability more approachable for ordinary drivers.
It Is a Large Three-Row SUV, but Not an Oversized One
The new Pajero measures 4,920 millimetres long, 1,925 mm wide and approximately 1,910 mm high, riding on a 2,870-mm wheelbase. Ground clearance is listed at 230 mm. Mitsubishi also publishes an approach angle of 30.4 degrees, a 22.6-degree breakover angle and a 25.8-degree departure angle, numbers that help explain how readily a vehicle can tackle steep changes in terrain without contacting the body or undercarriage.
Inside, Mitsubishi has configured the Pajero for seven occupants across three rows. The second row can slide through a 150-mm range and tumble forward to improve third-row access. Mitsubishi says engineers paid particular attention to adult headroom and foot space in the rear-most seats. Those details matter because the vehicle is being sold as a flagship rather than a stripped-down utility machine. For families, the Pajero’s appeal could rest as much on passenger space and road-trip comfort as its ability to crawl across rocks.
Mitsubishi Is Pushing the Pajero Further Upmarket
The exterior may draw heavily on rugged heritage, but Mitsubishi wants the new Pajero to feel considerably more premium than a basic workhorse. Its design theme is called “Grand Charisma,” with upright proportions, pronounced fenders and several references to earlier generations. The C-pillar recalls the first Pajero’s roll-bar shape, while the rear incorporates a hexagonal design intended to evoke the externally mounted spare wheels found on older versions.
The cabin takes an equally deliberate approach. Two 14.3-inch displays are incorporated into a wide dashboard arrangement, while Mitsubishi has digitally recreated the Pajero’s familiar multi-meter concept. It can display information including altitude, compass direction, temperature, pitch and roll angles and vehicle-control status. Acoustic glass is used not only for the windshield but also for front and rear door windows. The result is a vehicle Mitsubishi hopes can deliver an unusual combination: traditional 4×4 capability outside and flagship-level refinement inside.
The Dakar Connection Still Matters to the Pajero Story
Few mainstream SUV names have a competition history as closely tied to their reputation as the Pajero. Mitsubishi entered the Dakar Rally with the vehicle beginning in 1983, only a year after the original model appeared. The company ultimately recorded 12 overall Pajero victories, including a run of seven consecutive wins. Mitsubishi says knowledge developed through competition helped improve durability, handling and four-wheel-drive technology used in its production vehicles.
That history gives the revived Pajero something difficult to manufacture through marketing alone: an established off-road identity. Modern buyers may never enter a rally or cross a desert, but the reputation attached to the badge helps distinguish the model in an increasingly crowded SUV market. Mitsubishi has deliberately kept those historical references visible in the new vehicle, from its four-wheel-drive systems to the digital recreation of the old triple-meter display. The strategy is clearly about continuity as much as reinvention.
A Canadian Launch Would Fill a Very Different Role From the Outlander
Mitsubishi’s Canadian business has recently been built around relatively accessible crossovers. In 2025, the Outlander, Outlander PHEV, RVR and Eclipse Cross accounted for nearly all of the company’s Canadian volume. A Pajero would occupy a different position: larger, more specialized, body-on-frame and likely more expensive than Mitsubishi’s mainstream Canadian offerings.
That could make it valuable even if sales volumes were modest. Flagship vehicles can attract shoppers to a brand while reinforcing an image that carries over to cheaper models. At the same time, the diesel powertrain and global-market positioning mean Canadian availability cannot simply be assumed because Mitsubishi plans to sell the Pajero in approximately 100 countries. The strongest conclusion available today is narrower: Mitsubishi Canada has not committed to selling it here, but it has explicitly stopped short of ruling it out. For Canadian Pajero fans, the comeback is real; the local invitation is still pending.
