Mitsubishi Pajero Is Back: Iconic SUV Returns With Thailand Set as First Market

After years away, one of Mitsubishi Motors’ most recognizable names is officially back.

Mitsubishi Motors has unveiled the all-new Mitsubishi Pajero, reviving the legendary SUV as its new flagship model and putting Thailand at the center of its global comeback strategy.

The fifth-generation Pajero was revealed at a world premiere in Tokyo on September 2, 2026. Unlike the previous generations that were closely associated with Japanese production, the new Pajero will be built in Thailand, with the Thai market becoming the first destination for sales.

Mitsubishi says sales in Thailand are scheduled to begin in mid-October 2026, followed by Japan and Australia during fiscal 2026. The company then plans to expand the vehicle into approximately 100 countries from fiscal 2027, including markets across ASEAN, Latin America and the Middle East.

A Legendary Nameplate Makes a Major Comeback

The Pajero name carries considerable weight in Mitsubishi's history.

First introduced in 1982, the SUV became known for combining serious four-wheel-drive capability with the comfort needed for everyday driving. Across four generations, Mitsubishi says the Pajero accumulated more than 3.29 million units in global production, with the nameplate gaining a following in more than 170 countries and regions.

Its reputation was also forged in motorsport.

The Pajero recorded 12 Dakar Rally victories, including seven consecutive wins, helping establish its image as one of the world's most capable off-road SUVs.

But the original Pajero disappeared from overseas markets in 2021, making this return one of Mitsubishi's most significant product moves in years.

Thailand Gets the First Sales Launch

Thailand is not simply another market for the revived Pajero.

It is the vehicle's production base and first sales market, reinforcing Mitsubishi Motors Thailand's growing importance within the company's global manufacturing strategy.

Thai automotive reports say production takes place at Mitsubishi's facility in Thailand, alongside the company's established pickup-truck manufacturing operations.

The timing is significant.

Thailand remains one of Southeast Asia's major automotive production hubs, while Mitsubishi already uses the country as an export base for vehicles sold in numerous international markets.

Mitsubishi's own Thai operation describes its facility as an export hub serving more than 120 countries, and the company celebrated production of its seven-millionth vehicle in Thailand in early 2024.

This Is Not Just a Bigger Pajero Sport

One of the biggest questions surrounding the comeback has been where the new Pajero fits into Mitsubishi's lineup.

The answer is clear: Mitsubishi is positioning it as a flagship SUV.

The new model uses the robust ladder-frame architecture derived from the Triton pickup, but Mitsubishi says the cabin and front and rear suspension have been specifically developed for the Pajero.

That gives the revived nameplate a very different character from modern crossover SUVs.

Instead of chasing a purely road-focused formula, Mitsubishi has returned to a body-on-frame architecture designed to support serious off-road performance while improving comfort on paved roads.

The result is a three-row, seven-seat SUV measuring 4,920 mm long, 1,925 mm wide and 1,910 mm tall, with 230 mm of ground clearance.

Diesel Power Instead of Going Fully Electric

Despite the industry's accelerating shift toward electrification, Mitsubishi has launched the new Pajero with a 2.4-liter clean-diesel engine.

The engine produces up to 480 Nm of torque and is paired with a newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission.

That choice reflects the Pajero's intended role.

Rather than turning the iconic nameplate into another urban crossover, Mitsubishi is emphasizing torque, durability and off-road capability.

The new SUV also features Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) and Super Select 4WD-II, with selectable 4WD settings ranging from normal rear-wheel drive to low-range four-wheel-drive configurations for difficult terrain.

Seven drive modes are available: Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock.

Mitsubishi Packs the Pajero With Modern Technology

The revived Pajero may carry an old name, but the cabin is firmly aimed at the modern SUV market.

Mitsubishi has equipped it with a large integrated display system incorporating screens of up to 14.3 inches, while also reinterpreting the traditional three-gauge Pajero instrument layout as a digital "Multi Meter."

The SUV also offers:

• Three-row, seven-seat configuration
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Seat ventilation
• Wireless smartphone connectivity
• Mitsubishi Connect connected services
• 3D Multi Around Monitor
• Highway driving assistance through MI-PILOT
• Eight airbags, including an SRS center airbag
• Forward collision mitigation and pedestrian/cyclist detection
• Emergency lane assistance
• Front cross-traffic alert

Mitsubishi has also partnered with Yamaha for a 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system on the new flagship.

The Pajero's Biggest Test May Be the Asian SUV Market

The revival comes at a difficult time for established Japanese automakers.

Across Southeast Asia and other emerging markets, Mitsubishi and its Japanese rivals are facing increasingly aggressive competition from Chinese automakers, particularly in electrified vehicles and technology-heavy SUVs.

Thai automotive coverage has already highlighted the pressure from China's rapidly expanding SUV brands, making the Pajero's return much more than a nostalgic exercise.

Mitsubishi is effectively betting that there is still strong demand for a rugged, diesel-powered, body-on-frame SUV with genuine four-wheel-drive hardware.

And the company is giving the model a much larger role than simply replacing an old product.

The Straits Times reports that Mitsubishi views the revived Pajero as a key growth driver under its medium-term business plan, while the company is targeting stronger sales as it works toward its longer-term global objectives.

Japan Will Have to Wait

Although the Pajero was unveiled in Tokyo, Japanese customers will not be the first to receive it.

Sales in Japan are scheduled to begin on December 17, 2026, while pricing and additional Japanese-market details are expected to be announced on October 29.

Australia is also scheduled to receive the new diesel Pajero in early December, according to reporting based on Mitsubishi's launch information.

Mitsubishi is targeting total sales of 10,000 units across Thailand, Japan and Australia during the current fiscal year, according to Jiji Press reporting.

A New Chapter for Mitsubishi

The significance of the new Pajero goes beyond the return of a famous badge.

Mitsubishi is using the SUV to demonstrate what it wants the brand to stand for: rugged capability, four-wheel-drive technology, comfort and a more premium identity.

The company describes the new Pajero around three ideas — Confidence, Comfort and Prestige — effectively transforming a historically rugged off-roader into a flagship SUV capable of competing in both urban and adventure-oriented markets.

The first Pajero helped establish Mitsubishi as a serious off-road player.

Now, more than four decades later, the company is asking whether the same name can help rebuild its global presence in an SUV market that has changed dramatically.

Thailand gets the first commercial opportunity to find out.

And if the Pajero succeeds there, Mitsubishi's planned rollout to roughly 100 countries could turn this comeback into something much bigger than a revival of a famous nameplate.

WWC ONE MEDIA G.A