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Pajero back in 2026?
Richard Bosselman
Sept 9, 2025
NZ is among first export destinations for a large wilderness-ready Mitsubishi off-roader.
PROSPECT the new hardcore off-roader Mitsubishi on verge of production-readiness could return the famous Pajero nameplate to New Zealand has been strengthened by sharing of an interesting tidbit.
Whether the new vehicle - confirmed as a sales starter here, potentially around mid-2026 - will be called Pajero or Pajero Sport has become a matter of discussion internationally.
For its part, the brand has simply said it considers Pajero to be a “very, very valuable” nameplate.
Now it seems probable that, in New Zealand, we could well have both from next year - a continuation of the Pajero Sport we know now with the new larger alternate alongside, both based off the Triton utility.
Pajero Sport has been on the scene since 2019 - when it replaced the same-themed Challenger - and became Mitsubishi’s single hardy off-road wagon here two years later.
That’s how long it’s been since the previous fuller-sized Pajero departed, thus curtailing a remarkable run from 1982 that spanned four related generations.
Pajero Sport is well-established here and struggles to be called the latest and greatest.
Inability to meet a new safety regulation for Australia has just seen it being pulled from there.
But at $59,990 in VRX and $3000 with a same-specified but more highly dressed Black edition, the model still prices handily against the sector-dominant, technically more advanced by $74,990 to $91,490 Ford Everest.
It has also outlasted Toyota’s Fortuner and on monthly counts gives the Land Cruiser Prado a good run.
Yet conjecture it would be retired to make way for the new vehicles has not seemed without foundation.
But apparently Japan has a different view - as does Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand.
In discussion about the new vehicle, a MMNZ high-up has suggested there is strong possibility that what we have now and what’s incoming will become stablemates.
“The new model will be bigger, larger.
“So we'll just see if there's a market demand, I guess, for potentially both products,” says Tony Johnston, chief operating officer for the Porirua-based distributor.
He doesn’t disagree that a famous badge that historically placed on a sizeable five to seven seat wagon that historically has had solid off-road aptitude probably wouldn’t look out of place on what’s coming in.
But he makes clear that as far as he knows the final naming decision hasn’t been made and, when it does, it will wholly rest with Japan.
“It’ll be on MMC to decide. We haven't been told definitively what it will be (called). It’s physically bigger and from a naming regime around the world, Pajero has strength.”
Certainly, there seems to be eagerness to position it in New Zealand as a rival to the Everest and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, whose price span ranges from $83,990 to $105,990.
“This next gen is seriously hardcore capable for off road. They've certainly designed it to live up to the expectation.”
Heavily disguised examples of the new vehicle have been spotted in near-production guise in Europe over recent months and Johnston believes it is close to production-readiness.
“I believe it’ll probably be launched globally second quarter next year.
“We are one of the first dish markets, so we'll get it probably second half of the year. I guess. It has still have to be locked down and finalised.”
Photos, including the one used today - published recently on Australia’s drive.com.au site - suggest the vehicle is set to be very visually distinct to Pajero Sport and to Triton.
The shape of the front lighting signature on the prototype Pajero now runs vertically, rather than the high-set rectangular headlights of the current Triton. The grille also sports more horizontal slats, while the bumper design incorporates a scuff plate to denote its rugged intentions.
In profile, the shape of the windows also looks distinct from the Triton, while the wheelbase could also be shorter than its 3130mm length.
Curiously, the rear end of the Pajero prototype bears a passing resemblance to the Patrol, thanks to its prominent rear diffuser and vertical tail-light arrangement.
This should not be misconstrued. Yes, it was reported exactly a year ago that the Alliance-partner did enter into talks about a potential agreement to allow this, but Nissan made clear then it was not keen to share its technology.
“Would you do an OEM deal on GT-R or Patrol?” Nissan Senior Vice-President and Chief Planning Officer for the AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania) region, Francois Bailly, was reported as saying.
“This (Patrol) is Nissan, this is the core of Nissan, this is the ultimate DNA of the company. So yes (there were discussions) and no (Mitsubishi will not use the platform).”.
Johnston is relaxed about next Pajero being Triton-based. He says the ute is properly tough, has a ladder frame chassis and so is a worthy starting point. Plus, it’s a cost saving.
“Platforms these days are shared across multiple models, so it doesn't make any sense to have a unique underpinning.”
How big it is, or needs to be, is still matter of conjecture. For the record, previous Pajero at point of bowing out was 4900mm long, 1875mm wide and 1900mm tall, with a 2800mm wheelbase.
In respect to powertrain potentials? Triton comes purely with a 2.4-litre turbodiesel, but while that fuel is still the life blood of most serious off-road wagons, some brands are looking at hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Says Johnston: “They're always looking at different options for different markets and I can't really clarify anything more than that.”
As is, if the new rig takes the Triton powertrain without change, it will start with an advantage over Pajero Sport (above), as while both have a common engine, the ute’s is a more advanced type that makes 150kW and 470Nm, whereas the Pajero Sport is running 135kW and 437Nm.
When the last Pajero left the scene it was delivering with a 3.2-litre four cylinder turbocharged direct injection intercooler diesel that created 141kW and 441Nm.
Everest, of course, comes with the four-cylinder biturbo diesel making 154kW/500Nm across two versions and a 3.0-litre V6 pumping 184kW and 600Nm in the flagship Platinum, while Prado delivers with a 2.8-litre turbodiesel, also four-cylinder, with 150kW/500Nm in five and seven seat formats.