Mitsubishi has officially confirmed the Pajero nameplate is returning as a body-on-frame flagship SUV, built on the Triton ute platform and due in Australian showrooms before the end of 2026 — potentially ahead of the rival Nissan Patrol Y63. Expect a 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel making 150kW/470Nm, GLX/GLS/Exceed trim levels, and a starting price forecast between A$60,000 and A$65,000 before on-road costs.
2027 Mitsubishi Pajero is no longer a rumor — Mitsubishi’s Japanese head office has confirmed the name, the underpinnings, and a Southern Hemisphere spring reveal window. For Australian buyers who watched the previous Pajero Sport pulled from sale and the full-size Pajero wound down back in 2021, this is the clearest signal yet that the badge is coming home.
What Mitsubishi Has Confirmed So Far
The new Pajero drops the “Sport” suffix and returns to a proper ladder-frame construction, a deliberate callback to the nameplate’s rugged 1982 origins. It rides on the same body-on-frame platform as the current Triton ute and will be built at Mitsubishi’s Thai factory alongside it.
Mitsubishi Australia’s GM of Product Strategy and PR, Bruce Hampel, has told local outlets the Pajero will sit as the brand’s new premium flagship — a step up from the outgoing Triton-based Pajero Sport in both positioning and finish. A single teaser image so far shows an LED headlight signature distinct from the Triton’s.
Global debut is pencilled in for Q3 2026, with Australian pre-orders expected shortly after and first deliveries landing in December.
Powertrain: What’s Under the Bonnet
Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed final powertrain specs, but every independent report points the same direction: a carryover of the Triton’s 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel, producing 150kW and 470Nm, paired with Mitsubishi’s Super Select II full-time four-wheel-drive system.
That’s a notable jump from the previous-generation full-size Pajero’s 3.2-litre single-turbo diesel, which topped out at 141kW/441Nm. Expected towing capacity sits around 3,500kg, putting it in line with the segment’s ladder-frame benchmarks.
A plug-in hybrid variant, using the “P2” petrol-electric system reportedly in development for the Triton, has also been flagged as a longer-term possibility — though not confirmed for Pajero’s initial launch.
Trim Levels and Local Pricing Expectations
Australian government homologation filings, lodged months ahead of the official reveal, confirm four grades — understood to be GLX, GLS, and a range-topping Exceed, echoing the previous Pajero Sport lineup — across six approved variants.
Set against its closest rivals, current pricing benchmarks suggest the new Pajero will land well below the Toyota Prado 250 Series (from over A$73,000 before on-roads) and roughly in step with the updated Ford Everest (from A$60,000 drive-away). The outgoing Pajero Sport started at A$51,540 before on-roads, so a A$60,000–$65,000 opening price for the new model would represent a meaningful but expected step up given the added tech and safety hardware.
The Isuzu MU-X, from A$55,900 plus on-roads, is likely the Pajero’s most direct dollar-for-dollar rival.
Timing: Australia Ahead of the Global Queue
Australia, alongside Thailand, is positioned as one of the first markets globally to receive the new Pajero — potentially arriving before the also-new Nissan Patrol Y63, which Nissan has confirmed for “late this year” locally after already launching in the Middle East and US back in 2024.
The contrast sharpens further out: in the United States, where the model is badged Montero, Automotive News reports local buyers won’t see it until 2030, as Mitsubishi prioritizes other nameplates there. New Zealand is expected to follow Australia’s launch shortly after, though Mitsubishi NZ hasn’t locked in a date.
ORIGINAL ANGLE: An Australia-First Launch Is a Deliberate Bet, Not a Fluke
Mitsubishi putting Australia ahead of its home-adjacent priority markets — and years ahead of the US — is a meaningful strategic signal, not scheduling coincidence. Australia is one of the few markets globally where body-on-frame, ute-based SUVs (Prado, Everest, MU-X, and soon Patrol) still sell in genuine volume, making it the highest-value proving ground for a nameplate relaunch. Landing before the Patrol Y63, rather than after, also lets Mitsubishi set the pricing conversation instead of reacting to it — a rare position for a brand that has historically trailed Toyota and Nissan on cadence in this segment. Pairing that timing advantage with Mitsubishi’s class-leading 10-year warranty could be the sharper competitive weapon here than the spec sheet itself, particularly against a Prado that already carries a A$73,000-plus starting point. The risk is that early-adopter Australian buyers are effectively signing up for a vehicle whose final powertrain and pricing aren’t yet locked — Mitsubishi is trading certainty for first-mover advantage.
What’s Still Unclear
Mitsubishi has not confirmed final dimensions, interior specification, or pricing — all of that is expected closer to the Q3 2026 reveal. Whether the hybrid “P2” powertrain arrives at launch or later in the model’s life also remains unconfirmed.
Longer-term, Japanese sources have floated the idea of a smaller, shorter-wheelbase Pajero variant and even a three-door body style, though Mitsubishi has given no official timeline and these are not expected before the next decade.
Global Spec Comparison
| Spec | 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero (expected) | Toyota Prado (250 Series) | Ford Everest | Isuzu MU-X | Nissan Patrol (Y63) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (AUD / USD, from) | A$60,000–65,000* / ~US$39,500–42,800* | A$73,000+ / ~US$48,000+ | A$60,000 drive-away / ~US$39,500 | A$55,900+ / ~US$36,800+ | TBC (AU) |
| Power/Torque | 150kW / 470Nm (est.) | 150kW / 500Nm (diesel) | 154kW / 500Nm (V6 diesel) | 140kW / 450Nm | 298kW / 560Nm (petrol V6) |
| Top Speed | Not yet disclosed | Not yet disclosed | Not yet disclosed | Not yet disclosed | Not yet disclosed |
| Towing Capacity | ~3,500kg (est.) | 3,500kg | 3,500kg | 3,500kg | 3,500kg |
| Primary Global Competitors | Toyota Prado, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, Nissan Patrol | — | — | — | — |
Pajero pricing is a pre-launch estimate based on analyst forecasts and outgoing Pajero Sport pricing, not confirmed by Mitsubishi. USD conversion approximate at time of writing. Top speed figures are not typically published for this SUV class.
Dhanush H M is a passionate automotive journalist, rider, and tech analyst specializing in global motorcycle developments, electric mobility (e-2W), and two-wheeler engineering. At Motospoke.com, Dhanush leads coverage on major global launches, motorcycle safety technology, performance specs, and EV battery advancements across North American, European, and Asian markets.
With years of track, road, and technical testing experience, Dhanush focuses on stripping away marketing hype to deliver honest, data-backed insights for everyday commuters, adventure riders, and track enthusiasts alike.