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Mitsubishi's next hardcore off-roading hero has been spotted tested, but will it be called the Pajero or Pajero Sport?
Mitsubishi’s next-generation large off-road SUV has been spotted in near-production guise, with scuttlebutt it could resurrect the famed Pajero name.
Spied in Europe, the new 2026 Pajero Sport could drop the Sport name in a bid to stand it apart from its predecessor, according to speculation, and feature unique styling when compared to the Triton ute with which it likely shares its underpinnings.
The brand has not been shy about spruiking its iconic off-roader in the past, with Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott telling Drive previously that the nameplate is “very, very valuable”.
“Anything that carries the name Pajero needs to be really distinctive and a really great vehicle,” Westcott said.
Further separation from the Pajero Sport name may also be needed as the model, as well as the ASX and Eclipse Cross, was forced out of Australian showrooms earlier this year due to not meeting new safety regulations introduced in March.
Also, unlike the first-generation Pajero Sport that looked similar to the Triton ute, spy photos of Mitsubishi’s new large SUV show a model that could be very visually distinct.
Of course, camouflage is keeping all the details under wraps for now, but the shape of the front lighting signature on the prototype Pajero now runs vertically, rather than the high-set rectangle headlights of the current Triton.
The grille also sports more horizontal slats, while the bumper design incorporates a scuff plate to denote its rugged intentions.
In profile, the shape of the windows also looks distinct from the Triton, while the wheelbase could also be a shorter 3130mm length.
Curiously, the rear end of the Pajero prototype bears a passing resemblance to the Patrol, thanks to its prominent rear diffuser and vertical tail-light arrangement, but Nissan has denied Mitsubishi access to its off-road platform.
If the new Pajero shares the same ladder-frame architecture as the Triton, it would be the first time the model will not be a monocoque SUV since the first generation that ran from 1982 to 1991.
There are reports the new Pajero could also be a monocoque SUV, based on an enlarged CMF-CD platform that underpins the Outlander, but given Mitsubishi’s previous statements about making a new version that lives up to the legacy, Drive expects what is ostensibly the second-generation Pajero Sport to be rechristened.
Powertrain options are also expected to carryover, which currently includes a 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre twin-turbo-diesel engine.
Electrification is also likely for the new Pajero, as it will arrive in the Triton, in the coming years.
The new Mitsubishi Pajero is expected to be revealed later this year for a 2026 Australian-showroom arrival.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
