Mitsubishi has officially confirmed that the Pajero is coming back, ending years of speculation about whether the nameplate would return. The new 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero is set 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.
For Australian buyers, that means the new Pajero is expected to reach showrooms before Christmas, likely in August or September. The return of the big Mitsubishi SUV gives the brand a fresh entry into the large off-road segment just as demand remains strong for rugged seven-seat models.
The weight behind the announcement is not just the badge. The new Pajero is understood to ride on the same ladder-frame platform as the current Triton ute and is expected to be built in Thailand, a setup that points to a more serious, truck-based SUV than the outgoing model. Dealer sources say the Triton's six-speed automatic may give way to an eight-speed unit in the Pajero, while Mitsubishi is almost certain to carry over the Triton's 2.4-litre twin-turbo-diesel engine and SuperSelect II full-time 4x4 system.
If those details hold, the numbers will matter. Towing capacity is expected to reach 3500kg braked, water-wading depth around 800mm, and combined fuel use about 8.0L/100km. Those figures would put the new Pajero squarely in the fight with the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado in Australia, the two benchmarks Mitsubishi will have to beat or match if it wants the revival to land with force.
The timing also helps explain the urgency. Mitsubishi faces tightening emissions laws from 2027, which makes diesel almost certain to lead the launch even as hybrid powertrains are understood to be in development. That means the first version of the new Pajero is likely to arrive as a familiar diesel SUV first, with electrified options coming later if the company can fit them into a tougher regulatory future.
There has already been enough road testing in Australia to suggest the project is well advanced. Earlier in the year, camouflaged Pajero prototypes were seen in Australia, and in March another camouflaged prototype was spotted in Melbourne's CBD. Those sightings gave the market an early look at Mitsubishi's intent long before the official confirmation, and they now read like the opening moves of a launch that has been kept tightly under wraps.
Pricing will be another test. The last Pajero sold in Australia carried a premium reputation, and Mitsubishi's class-leading 10-year warranty could be a selling point for the new model. If the company can keep the new Pajero near the sort of money that has defined this segment — around $55,900 to start, with higher-grade versions pushing toward $73,000 and about 60K drive-away — it may have a real shot at pulling buyers away from established rivals.
The return answers the question that has hovered over Mitsubishi's large SUV plans for years: yes, the Pajero is back, and it is being built to matter in the same market where the Everest and Prado set the standard. What remains is whether Mitsubishi can turn nostalgia into a sale when pre-orders open after the global debut and the first cars roll into Australia before the end of 2026.
