Mitsubishi has confirmed the Pajero will return, ending years of speculation over one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets. The new 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero is scheduled to make its global debut in the third quarter of 2026, with pre-orders expected to open shortly after and first deliveries due in December 2026.
The comeback matters because the Pajero is shaping up as a large, diesel-powered body-on-frame SUV aimed straight at Australia’s biggest family 4x4 market. It is expected to ride on the same ladder-frame platform as the current Triton ute and be built in Thailand, putting it in direct competition with the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado.
The mechanical package is expected to be familiar to Mitsubishi buyers. The Pajero is almost certain to carry over the Triton’s 2.4-litre twin-turbo-diesel engine and SuperSelect II full-time 4x4 system, while dealer sources say it could gain an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of the Triton’s six-speed automatic transmission. Mitsubishi has not detailed final specifications, but the expected numbers are already aimed at the heart of the segment: a 3500kg braked towing capacity, around 800mm of water wading depth and combined fuel use of about 8.0L/100km.
There is already a market backdrop that explains why Mitsubishi is moving now. A camouflaged Pajero prototype was spotted in Melbourne’s CBD in March, and the model is expected to arrive as NVES emissions laws tighten significantly from 2027. That timing could make diesel the launch powertrain, even as hybrid powertrains are understood to be in development.
The pricing fight will be just as important as the hardware. The 250 Series Toyota Prado starts north of $73,000 before on-road costs, the updated 2026 Ford Everest starts from $60K drive-away and the Isuzu MU-X begins at $55,900 plus on-roads in 4x4 guise. Mitsubishi’s class-leading 10-year warranty may give the Pajero an opening if the company chooses to pitch it aggressively, but there are signs it may also lean premium. What is clear now is that the Pajero is no longer a rumor drifting through showrooms; Mitsubishi has locked in its return, and the countdown to a 2027 launch is on.
