On May 26, Mitsubishi Motors Corp officially confirmed plans to revive its flagship sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Pajero, in the Japanese market after a seven-year hiatus. The company will unveil a new version of the model in autumn 2026.
The decision to bring back the Pajero comes amid strong global growth in the SUV market, particularly for large off-road vehicles. Mitsubishi expects that restoring this iconic nameplate will strengthen its position in the premium SUV segment.
The Mitsubishi Pajero was one of the Japanese brand’s most successful SUVs, with a history spanning more than three decades since its debut in 1982. It was renowned for exceptional off-road performance and won the prestigious Dakar Rally seven times. However, declining sales and increasingly stringent emission regulations forced Mitsubishi to halt Pajero production in Japan in 2019.
The revived version is expected to feature a hybrid or electrified powertrain, aligning with current sustainability trends while retaining its distinctive off-road design. Mitsubishi has not yet disclosed pricing or export market plans, but analysts predict the model will compete directly with rivals such as the Land Cruiser Prado and Ford Everest.
