The Mitsubishi Pajero is heading back to showrooms, reviving one of the Japanese manufacturer’s most recognisable SUV names five years after production of the previous generation ended. The fifth-generation model begins its global rollout this year, with Middle East markets expected to receive it in 2027.
For Gulf buyers, the comeback matters. The Pajero spent decades as a familiar sight across the region, combining family-friendly practicality with genuine four-wheel-drive capability. Mitsubishi now has to bring that formula into a market where large SUVs have become considerably more sophisticated — and considerably more competitive.
The new Pajero grows to 4.92 metres long and 1.93 metres wide, with a longer wheelbase helping create additional passenger space. Its underpinnings are related to Mitsubishi’s Triton pick-up, sold as the L200 in the UAE, although Mitsubishi says changes to the platform, suspension, insulation and acoustic glass are intended to give the SUV a quieter, more refined character.
Power initially comes from a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Mitsubishi’s four-wheel-drive system is joined by locking centre and rear differentials, signalling that the company has not abandoned the Pajero’s off-road priorities while chasing greater comfort.
That balancing act could prove important in the Middle East. Plenty of modern SUVs borrow the visual language of off-roaders without offering much serious hardware underneath. The Pajero’s drivetrain suggests Mitsubishi still wants it to function beyond paved roads rather than simply look capable parked outside a shopping mall.
The cabin represents a more substantial move upmarket. Two 12.3-inch displays are standard, while higher specifications increase screen size to 14.3 inches. Wireless smartphone charging, heated and ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera are among the available equipment, alongside an off-road camera mode that shows the terrain around the front wheels.
Thankfully, Mitsubishi has not interpreted “modern” as meaning every function needs to disappear into a touchscreen. Physical climate controls remain, as does a conventional gear selector. Higher trims add equipment including three-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof and a Yamaha audio system. Second-row seats can also move through 150mm, improving the cabin’s flexibility.
Outside, the redesign is cleaner than the outgoing Pajero, while some familiar cues survive. One practical departure is the removal of the rear-door-mounted spare wheel, which has moved underneath the vehicle and should make accessing the luggage compartment less cumbersome.
The Pajero launches first in Thailand before reaching Japan and Australia, with Mitsubishi planning sales across roughly 100 countries from 2027. In the UAE, it is expected to return through long-time distributor Al Habtoor Motors.
Its reputation will undoubtedly help attract attention, but nostalgia alone will not guarantee success. The more interesting question is whether Mitsubishi can preserve the rugged simplicity that made the Pajero popular while delivering the refinement, technology and cabin quality buyers now expect from a modern large SUV.
