Mitsubishi’s Flagship SUV is Coming For Sure
It’s no secret that Mitsubishi is readying its return to the midsize SUV market. It was even an easter egg in one of the company’s corporate videos recently, silently showing off its shadowy figure. There’s a lot to be excited about here, given that it exited that segment about 20 years ago in America, and in 2021 for the rest of the world.
Mitsubishi isn’t naming the SUV officially just yet, though, but trademark filings over the years have suggested the return of the Montero nameplate. Now, a document from Australia finally reveals at least one of the names it will use once launched.
MitsubishiMotorsTV/YouTube
Ladies and Gentlemen, It’s Pajero
A document obtained by the Australian publication Drive shows several details about the SUV. Chief among these was the model name, and we can safely say that the Pajero nameplate is coming back. It’s probably to no one’s surprise, but it’s a fitting name for a flagship SUV from Mitsubishi. Honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way…unless you’re from a Spanish-speaking country.
We’ll leave you to Google what it means in Spanish, but this does open up the possibility of bringing back the Montero name as well. This model will be the largest SUV Mitsubishi will make, after all, so might as well use that connection from the past.
Mitsubishi
More Details Emerge
There were also other details shown in the document. The VIN reveals that the Pajero will be produced in Thailand instead of Japan. That’s confirmed by the MMA at the start of the VIN, and VINs that start with ML to MR indicate that it does, indeed, come from The Land of Smiles. It’ll likely be built in the same plant that rolls out Triton pickups and Australian-market Nissan Navaras.
With its country of origin confirmed, there’s a good chance that the Pajero will use the same platform as the aforementioned pickups. If so, that means the SUV will return to using a ladder frame chassis instead of a unibody like the third and fourth generations. Engines are still a mystery at this point, but the twin-turbo diesel from the Triton (201 horsepower, 387 lb-ft) could make its way under the hood, and perhaps a gas engine with some form of hybrid assist.
Mitsubishi
Coming to America?
That’s great news and all, but is there any chance of it coming to America? That’ll depend on tariffs, and of course, interest. The Pajero/Montero could be a good potential rival to the Toyota4Runner. The two were competitors in the ’80s all the way to the mid-’00s, after all. With Nissan also planning to revive the Xterra, it might be a good time to bring back a truck-based 4WD stateside.
As for tariffs, there’s currently a 19 percent reciprocal tariff for goods made in Thailand. It’ll bump up the price for sure, and it might threaten the Pajero’s chances of an American comeback, even with strong customer interest.
