The Mitsubishi Pajero has returned as a hardcore 4x4 to rival the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Previously known as the Shogun in the UK, the new model remains faithful to its ancestors in prioritising all-terrain capability. For example, it retains a body-on-frame construction – typically better at dealing with the blows incurred in off-roading. Mitsubishi said it prioritised “off-road comfort” and capabilities, balancing this with refinement while on Tarmac.
Its boxy design recalls the short-wheelbase Pajeros that conquered the Paris-Dakar rally through the 1980s, ‘90s and ‘00s, but it forgoes the boot-mounted spare tyre that had previously been a signature element of the model. Its high ride and chunky tyres give 230mm of ground clearance, and its maximum approach and departure angles measure 30.4deg and 25.8deg respectively.
Power comes from a new development of the 2.4-litre diesel engine used in the Mitsubishi L200 pick-up, putting out 201bhp and 354lb ft. This is delivered to all four wheels through a new eight-speed automatic gearbox. It also has Mitsubishi’s Active Yaw Control system – as first introduced on the Lancer Evolution V – which varies the distribution of torque between the left- and right-hand wheels to improve agility or stability as required.
Inside, the new Pajero is significantly more richly appointed than its predecessors, reflecting its repositioning as Mitsubishi’s flagship. Most surfaces are lined with leather, and it can seat up to seven people across its three rows of seats. It also gets three-zone climate control and ventilated seats, and its Yamaha sound system is capable of cancelling out road noise transmitted to the cabin.
The Pajero will be launched in Thailand, where it is built, and it is due in Australia and Japan by March 2027.
It remains to be seen whether it will be imported into the UK, but launching in right-hand-drive form suggests that it is possible. It could serve duty for Mitsubishi as a halo model, attracting attention to the brand following its re-launch here earlier this year. Although sales would likely be limited by the emissions of a large diesel-powered 4x4, it could be vital in getting potential buyers of Outlanders and L200s into showrooms.
A van version – with its back seats removed – could also prove intriguing for buyers such as farmers, who accounted for a great many sales of previous Shoguns. Toyota positions the current Land Cruiser similarly, with the passenger version positioned upmarket of past generations and sold in small numbers, with the Commercial model targeted at industry.
