New Mitsubishi Pajero draws 9000 orders, proving the era of true off-roaders is not over
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The return of Mitsubishi’s legendary Pajero has got off to a better start than expected. The new body-on-frame SUV has attracted around 9000 orders across Japan, Thailand and Australia, approaching its full financial-year sales target of 10,000 vehicles even before its official launch in Japan. Strong demand shows that there are still buyers for traditional SUVs with serious four-wheel-drive capability.
Demand in Japan exceeds annual target before sales begin
Mitsubishi’s financial results presentation on 6 November reveals that the new Pajero had attracted around 9000 orders by 5 November.
Mitsubishi began accepting pre-orders in Japan on 1 October and had received around 5500 by 28 October. That already exceeded the country’s financial-year sales target of 4000 vehicles.
Official sales in Japan begin on 17 December. The new Pajero is already on sale in Thailand, while Australia is among the next target markets.
The Pajero’s return is strategically important for Mitsubishi. The historic model helped establish the company’s reputation as a manufacturer of durable four-wheel-drive vehicles and claimed 12 overall victories in the Dakar Rally.
Body-on-frame construction and mechanical four-wheel drive
Unlike many modern SUVs, the new Pajero uses a separate ladder frame suited to demanding off-road driving.
Under the bonnet is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel producing 150 kW and 480 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Super Select 4WD-II system allows drivers to choose between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, as well as use a locked centre differential and low-range gearing. S-AWC electronics help control the vehicle’s behaviour on different surfaces.
Its dimensions also underline its off-road capability: 230 mm of ground clearance, a 30.4-degree approach angle and a 25.8-degree departure angle.
At nearly 4.92 metres long, the Pajero offers three rows of seats and competes primarily with the Toyota Land Cruiser and Ford Everest.
Mitsubishi needs a new sales hit
The Pajero’s strong start comes at the right time for the company. Mitsubishi’s global vehicle sales fell by around 7% to 358,000 vehicles in the first half of the 2026 financial year.
Revenue nevertheless rose by 3.8%, while operating profit improved thanks to cost savings and more favourable exchange rates. The Pajero is therefore more than a nostalgic model for Mitsubishi: it must strengthen the company’s position in the more profitable SUV market.
In Japan, the new Pajero costs 6.19–7.95 million yen, or approximately €34,000–€44,000. This is an approximate conversion of local prices, not a forecast of European pricing.
Mitsubishi plans to expand Pajero sales to around a hundred countries from the 2027 financial year. A European launch has not been confirmed, however.
In Europe, the Pajero could appeal to Land Cruiser buyers, but diesel emissions requirements, taxes and type-approval costs make a launch more difficult.
The Pajero’s early sales success confirms that the traditional off-roader is not finished yet. The question now is whether Mitsubishi can turn initial buyer interest into sustained sales success and restore the Pajero’s former global standing.
