Mitsubishi has officially confirmed that the Pajero will return, setting up the new Mitsubishi Pajero 2026 for a global debut in the third quarter of 2026 and first deliveries from December 2026. The timing puts the large SUV on track to reach Australian showrooms before Christmas, giving the nameplate a full comeback after years away.
The confirmation matters because Mitsubishi is not treating this as a simple name revival. The Pajero is expected to ride on the same ladder-frame platform as the current Triton ute, be built in Thailand and carry over the Triton’s 2.4-litre twin-turbo-diesel engine, with diesel expected to lead the launch. Dealer sources also expect the Triton’s six-speed automatic transmission to be replaced by an eight-speed unit in the Pajero.
That hardware points to a proper body-on-frame SUV aimed squarely at the Ford Everest, Toyota Prado and Isuzu MU-X. Expected figures include 3500kg braked towing capacity, around 800mm of water wading and combined fuel use of about 8.0L/100km. Mitsubishi is also expected to use the Triton’s SuperSelect II full-time 4x4 system, giving the Pajero the kind of off-road credentials buyers in this segment will look for first.
The return has been building in public for months. A camouflaged prototype was spotted in Melbourne’s CBD as recently as March 2026, and that sighting now reads less like a teaser and more like an early warning that the launch program was already well under way. Pre-orders are expected to open shortly after the global debut, which means the next few months will determine how quickly Mitsubishi can turn confirmation into orders.
There is still a gap between what has been announced and what is being prepared behind the scenes. Mitsubishi’s early messaging leans heavily on the word “adventure,” but the company is also understood to have hybrid powertrains in development as emissions laws known as NVES tighten significantly from 2027. That leaves the Pajero arriving first as a diesel-led model, with a cleaner future version likely to be pulled forward by regulation rather than marketing.
The commercial case is clearer. Mitsubishi’s class-leading 10-year warranty could give the Pajero an edge against its rivals, while dealer talk suggests the new SUV may start from around $73,000 before on-road costs and about $60K drive-away, with a $55,900 reference point also circulating in the market. If those expectations hold, the Pajero’s return will not just be symbolic. It will be priced as a serious contender from the moment it reaches the showroom floor.
