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Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2015: Patent Drawings to a Decade on Sale
The third-generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was unveiled in Thailand on 1 August 2015. Its shape had leaked in June 2015 through patent drawings that showed the new X-shaped front. The main engine was a 2.4-litre diesel with 133 kW (181 PS) and 430 Nm. Instead of the five-speed automatic expected in June, most cars got an eight-speed unit. In October 2026 the model is still on sale in Asia.
Key takeaways
- Patent images published in June 2015; official reveal in Thailand on 1 August 2015.
- 2.4-litre 4N15 diesel with 133 kW (181 PS) and 430 Nm, shared with the new L200.
- 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic, with Super Select 4WD-II.
- Facelifted in 2019 and 2024; no fourth generation confirmed by October 2026.
The June 2015 patent images
Our report of 22 June 2015 was based on patent drawings first published by Gizmag. They showed a body-on-frame SUV with the "Dynamic Shield" front that Mitsubishi had just introduced on the updated Outlander. The bumpers, headlights and tail lights were all new.
No interior images had appeared at that point. The report expected a new multimedia system that would work with Android and Apple phones. It also predicted the engines of the new L200 pick-up, a 2.4-litre diesel of 181 hp, and a choice of a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. Most of that proved right. The main exception was the automatic.
What Mitsubishi launched on 1 August 2015
| Item | Pajero Sport (third generation, 2015) |
|---|---|
| Main engine | 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC turbo-diesel |
| Power and torque | 133 kW (181 PS), 430 Nm |
| Other engines | 3.0-litre V6 petrol with 162 kW (220 PS); 2.5-litre diesel with 100 kW in Indonesia |
| Gearboxes | 6-speed manual; 8-speed Aisin automatic in most markets; 5-speed automatic in some |
| Four-wheel drive | Super Select 4WD-II with off-road mode and hill descent control |
| Base | Ladder frame shared with the Triton (L200) |
| Plants | Laem Chabang (Thailand), Cikarang (Indonesia, from 2017), Chittagong (Bangladesh) |
An eight-speed automatic was rare among pick-up-based SUVs in 2015. The hill descent control in Super Select 4WD-II was a first for a Mitsubishi model.
Rivals and names around the world
The Pajero Sport competed with other pick-up-based SUVs, chiefly the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Everest. It sold as the Montero Sport in the Philippines and Mexico. In the United Kingdom it arrived only in April 2018, as the Shogun Sport.
Its link with the Mitsubishi L200 kept costs down, giving owners the pick-up's diesel and four-wheel drive in a seven-seat body.
What happened after the launch
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 August 2015 | Unveiled in Thailand |
| 2017 | Indonesian production starts at Cikarang |
| April 2018 | UK sales begin as the Shogun Sport |
| 25 July 2019 | First facelift in Thailand, with a Triton-style front |
| 2021 | UK sales end as Mitsubishi leaves the British new-car market |
| 21 March 2024 | Second facelift in Thailand, with a 2.4-litre 4N16 diesel of 135 kW (184 PS) |
| 2025 | Australian sales end because of new safety rules from 1 March 2025 |
| September 2026 | The new fifth-generation Pajero sits above it in Thailand |
The 2019 update was covered in our report on the Pajero Sport facelift.
The Pajero Sport in 2026: our verdict
In October 2026 the third-generation Pajero Sport is in its eleventh year. It is still sold in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and parts of Latin America. Mitsubishi has confirmed no fourth generation. Reports suggest it will stay on sale until emission rules end it. Above it now stands the all-new Mitsubishi Pajero, revealed on 2 September 2026.
A used Pajero Sport suits buyers who tow, drive on rough roads or need real low-range gearing. Late cars with the eight-speed automatic are the best choice. Check the frame for rust and the history of off-road use. Every generation is on our Mitsubishi Pajero Sport page; compare rivals with the comparison tool and diesel bills with the fuel cost calculator.
FAQ
When did the third-generation Pajero Sport come out?
Mitsubishi unveiled the third-generation Pajero Sport in Thailand on 1 August 2015. Patent drawings of its body had already been published in June 2015, weeks before the official reveal.
What engine does the 2015 Pajero Sport have?
Most cars use the 2.4-litre 4N15 turbo-diesel with 133 kW (181 PS) and 430 Nm. Some markets also got a 3.0-litre V6 petrol with 162 kW.
Does the Pajero Sport have an eight-speed automatic?
Yes, in most markets. The 2015 patent-image reports expected a five-speed automatic, but Mitsubishi launched the car with an eight-speed Aisin unit alongside a six-speed manual.
Is there a new Pajero Sport for 2026?
No new generation had been confirmed by October 2026. The third generation, facelifted in 2024, remains on sale, while the new fifth-generation Pajero was revealed in September 2026.
