- Mitsubishi will reveal the fifth-generation Pajero worldwide on September 2, 2026.
- The new Pajero uses a body-on-frame (ladder-frame) chassis and confirmed Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC).
- Hybrid variants are expected, likely diesel-based rather than plug-in systems.
Mitsubishi is bringing the Pajero back from the dead the old-fashioned way. The automaker has locked in September 2, 2026 for the global reveal of the fifth-generation SUV, confirmed to run on a ladder-frame chassis instead of the outgoing model’s unibody.
That reversal comes bundled with Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control system, the same S-AWC hardware used on the Triton pickup, as reported by Automotive News. Mix in hybrid rumors and a possible Montero badge for North America, and the off-road crowd suddenly has a lot to watch.
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Source: Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi has been dripping out teaser images of the new Pajero for weeks, but the September 2 date is now locked in as an official world premiere, not just speculation from spy shots. The company is still holding back dimensions, trims and interior shots.
Design leaks point to two different front-end treatments, hinting that Mitsubishi may tailor faces to specific regions. With the ladder frame already detailed in our report on the Pajero’s chassis switch, the September event should finally fill in trims, equipment and where the SUV goes first.
S-AWC And Body-On-Frame Hardware Confirmed
The headline mechanical story is Super All-Wheel Control, an integrated dynamics system that manages torque, braking and stability on loose surfaces and pavement. First used on the Lancer Evolution X and now on the Triton, it gives the Pajero proven hardware rather than a clean-sheet experiment.
Regional reports suggest S-AWC will work with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II transfer case, letting drivers swap between two-wheel drive, full-time all-wheel drive and low-range modes. Mitsubishi has not confirmed that pairing yet, but it would line up with how the Triton is configured for serious off-pavement work.
2027 Mitsubishi Pajero teaser
Photo by: Mitsubishi
A hardcore off-road variant is also rumored, as flagged in our earlier coverage of a possible Pajero Ralliart off-road model. That would push the reborn SUV closer to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in mission and audience.
Mitsubishi hints toward hybrid variants, but the company has not talked battery size, range or engine pairings yet. The powertrain lineup is the biggest open question heading into the reveal. Given the shared bones with the Triton, expectations center on a diesel-based hybrid setup rather than a city-focused plug-in.
What This Means For Montero And Mitsubishi’s Lineup
Mitsubishi’s broader 2030 US roadmap leaves space for a body-on-frame SUV to return wearing the Montero badge, a name American buyers know. Nothing is signed off, but the timing now overlaps with Mitsubishi’s ambitions laid out in our look at the 2030 Montero discussions with dealers.
Mitsubishi is also reportedly planning smaller, kei-class Pajero variants with hybrid tech around 2028 to 2030, turning Pajero into a full family of SUVs rather than a single flagship. That mirrors how rivals stretch one badge across multiple sizes instead of betting everything on one model.
Whether Montero badges or mini Pajeros actually reach US showrooms at all, depends on how the September reveal lands in core markets. For now, the ladder frame, S-AWC hardware and a firm reveal date are locked in; the rest of Mitsubishi’s off-road reboot gets answered on September 2.
Motor1’s Take: This looks like a conscious return to core off-road buyers instead of another soft-road SUV play. If the engineering matches the talk, Mitsubishi can win back credibility with enthusiasts and force rivals to pay attention.
