The Mitsubishi Montero, known outside of North America as the Pajero, was a highly capable SUV that never quite caught on with the mainstream SUV market in the US. Competitors at the time, such as the Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Grand Cherokee, were more popular with buyers, but the Mitsubishi was still a highly capable rig, both on- and off-road. The nameplate is far more popular in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia.
The Montero left the market in the US after the 2006 model year but entered a new generation in other parts of the world. A fifth generation is now on the way, and Mitsubishi confirms that the Montero name is coming back, too. However, we can’t take this as a sign that the SUV will also return to the US.
The new Pajero premieres in the fall of 2026, and this new teaser is our first official look at it.
The New Mitsubishi Montero
The teaser image simply shows a light bar with vertical sections on each end and Mitsubishi’s three-diamond emblem in the middle. The picture shows “Pajero” underneath, but the accompanying post specifically references the Montero. The automaker only used the Montero name in North America and some Spanish-speaking countries where the word “pajero” has a derogatory meaning.
CarBuzz reached out to Mitsubishi Motors North America for comment about the Montero nameplate’s future in the US, but as of the time of this writing, have received no response.
Mitsubishi Montero Pajero hot weather testingCarBuzz/Valnet
In 2025, spy photographers caught Mitsubishi testing an SUV that seemed to be the next-gen Pajero/Montero. It even has the same lighting design as the vehicle in the new teaser image. Overall, the new model is big and blocky, much like past generations of the SUV.
Mitsubishi confirms that the Pajero/Montero shares its ladder frame platform with the Triton pickup truck. However, the SUV has unspecified changes to the front and rear suspension. “It delivers not only outstanding off-road capability but also a refined and comfortable ride,” according to the automaker. The cabin is different from the Triton, too.
Since the Pajero shares the Triton’s platform, it might use the same powertrains, too. The pickup is available with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, available with up to 201 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. It’s available with a six-speed automatic and manual, with rear- or four-wheel drive.
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The Pajero’s Future
Mitsubishi Montero Pajero hot weather testingCarBuzz/Valnet
Mitsubishi’s CEO also announced that there would be three vehicles in the future Pajero lineup, according to the Japanese site Car Watch Impress.
“We plan to have the Pajero as the top line, and then add models in the series below it in terms of size. At this point, the concept is to introduce small SUVs and compact SUVs, but we are still in the process of finalizing the product concept, so we will let you know once the details are clear.”
– Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors
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An accompanying presentation slide showed images of the three flavors of Pajero under sheets. One of them was clearly the model in the new teaser photo. Another appeared to be a tiny version, possibly even small enough to comply with Japan’s Kei car regulations. The other one had rounded front fenders but otherwise didn’t look much different than the larger one. They would launch by 2031, but there are no other details available about the other members of the Pajero/Montero family.
Source: Mitsubishi, Car Watch Impress
