Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero at a glance

The Pajero is Mitsubishi's full-size off-roader, sold as a short three-door and a long five-door, and it sits above the separate, pick-up-based Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The name comes from a South American wild cat. Because "pajero" is an insult in Spanish slang, the car became the Montero in North America, Spain and Latin America; in the UK it was the Shogun.

The first four generations were built in Japan, in Gifu Prefecture as usually quoted, while the 2026 model is built in Thailand. Mitsubishi puts lifetime sales at about three million in more than 170 countries, and the Dakar record is a large part of the history of Mitsubishi Motors.

The name also went on smaller, unrelated cars: the Pajero Mini, Pajero Junior and Pajero iO, sold in Europe as the Pajero Pinin and built by Pininfarina near Turin from 1999 to 2005. The first-generation design was licence-built as the Hyundai Galloper (1991–2003).

Mitsubishi Pajero generations

Chassis codes are those usually quoted in European sources; some references use NS/NT for the fourth generation.

First generation (1982–1991)

A concept appeared at the 1973 Tokyo Motor Show and the production car at the 1981 show. Sales began in May 1982 with the three-door, joined by the five-door in February 1983. It used a separate chassis, double-wishbone front suspension and rear leaf springs; the 3.0 V6 with 104 kW (141 PS) arrived in November 1988. These cars now rank among the classic cars of the 1980s, although rust has removed most of them from the roads.

Second generation (1991–1999)

The second Pajero arrived in January 1991 with Super Select 4WD, which let the driver switch between rear-wheel drive and full-time four-wheel drive on the move, with a lockable centre differential and viscous coupling. Canvas-top, metal-top and high-roof versions joined a convertible that ran into 2000. The 3.5 V6 reached 153 kW (208 PS), while diesel buyers had 2.5 and 2.8 turbo-diesels. Production is usually quoted as peaking in 1992 at about 175,000 units.

Third generation (1999–2006)

Launched in October 1999 and exported from 2000, the third Pajero was a full redesign: a monocoque body with an integrated ladder frame, independent suspension all round and rack-and-pinion steering. Super Select 4WD II split torque 33:67 front to rear in full-time mode. In Europe the key engine was the 3.2 DI-D (4M41) common-rail diesel with 118–121 kW (160–165 PS) and 373 Nm (275 lb-ft). The 3.5 V6 GDI gave 149 kW (203 PS) for export.

Fourth generation (2006–2021)

Unveiled in Paris in September 2006, the fourth generation added active stability and traction control (ASTC), Super Select 4WD-II and, from 2007, a diesel particulate filter. The 3.2 DI-D grew from 118–125 kW (160–170 PS) to 147 kW (200 PS) in 2009, then settled at 140 kW (190 PS) from September 2015. European sales ended in 2018, Japanese sales in 2019, and global production stopped in March 2021 with a final run of 100 cars for Australia.

Fifth generation (2026): not yet on sale

Revealed on 2 September 2026, the new Pajero reaches Thailand first, Japan and Australia from about December 2026, and about 100 countries in 2027. Its Thai-built ladder frame shares only the front section and floor with the Triton pick-up. Launch reports quote a 2.4-litre 4N16 turbo-diesel with 150 kW (about 204 PS) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft), and an eight-speed automatic. Dimensions, European prices and safety ratings were unpublished in October 2026.

Engines, transmissions and four-wheel drive

Every generation has offered a diesel, while petrol buyers were mostly offered V6 engines from 3.0 to 3.8 litres; the fourth-generation 3.8 V6 MIVEC delivered 182–184 kW (248–250 PS) and 329 Nm (243 lb-ft) and was dropped in Germany in January 2010.

The drive system separates the generations:

• 1982–1991: part-time 4WD with low range, engaged at a standstill.
• 1991–1999: Super Select 4WD, shift on the move, lockable centre differential.
• 1999–2021: Super Select 4WD II with a 33:67 full-time split; ASTC from 2006.
• 2026: Super Select II with 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc modes and a rear differential lock.

On the NEDC cycle, ADAC lists 8.5 L/100 km (33.2 mpg UK) for the 147 kW automatic (2011–2014) and 9.3 L/100 km (30.4 mpg UK) for the 140 kW version (2015–2018). ADAC gives the 2011–2014 automatic 0–100 km/h in 11.1 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph).

Dimensions, interior space and boot capacity

The final European five-door is a seven-seater; the table shows the 3.2 DI-D automatic as listed by ADAC for July 2015 to August 2018.

The three-door is 4,385 mm (172.6 in) long on a 2,545 mm (100.2 in) wheelbase, and its braked towing limit is usually quoted at 2,800–3,000 kg (6,173–6,614 lb).

Safety: what ratings exist

Euro NCAP has not tested the Pajero or Shogun, so no generation has a European star rating. A 2003 four-star result belongs to the smaller Pajero Pinin.

The only full rating comes from ANCAP in Australia, for the fourth generation. Cars built from 2006 to March 2013 hold four stars from a 2011 test, with 28.41 of 37 points; cars built from April 2013 hold five stars, with 33.41 of 37. Pedestrian protection was rated poor in both cases. European 2011–2018 diesels had six airbags, ABS with brake assist, stability and traction control and rear ISOFIX; ANCAP notes that no autonomous emergency braking or lane support was available on any variant.

Reliability, recalls and ownership

No large European survey ranks the generations, so recalls and age-related wear are the best evidence. In the UK, the Shogun placed 81st of 200 in the 2015 Driver Power survey and 89th for reliability.

Two recalls matter for fourth-generation buyers:

• October 2017 (Germany): airbag parts on 2007–2012 builds could detach during deployment.
• 2019–2020: a poorly welded front lower control arm on 2017–2018 builds, covering 6,384 cars in Australia and 49,321 worldwide, 2,460 of them in Germany.

The German warranty was three years or 100,000 km, later up to five years. Rust is the main threat to first-generation cars, and any 3.2 DI-D needs a documented service history.

Dakar and motorsport

The Pajero is the most successful car in Dakar Rally history, with 12 overall wins. After a 1983 debut, Patrick Zaniroli and Jean da Silva took the first overall victory in 1985. Seven consecutive wins followed from 2001 to 2007; in 2001 Jutta Kleinschmidt became the first woman to win the event outright. For homologation, Mitsubishi built 2,693 Pajero Evolution road cars between 1997 and 1999 with a 3.5-litre 24-valve MIVEC V6, the same rally-led thinking behind the Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition.

Rivals: how the Pajero compares

The Pajero competes with other large diesel 4x4s that offer low range, seven seats and 3.5-tonne towing. Its strengths are Super Select 4WD, usable full-time on tarmac, and a long-lived diesel; its weakness is age, with no modern driver assistance. Current alternatives are listed among Japanese SUVs and diesel SUVs.