2027 Mitsubishi Pajero First Impressions: Making An Upmarket Statement

The Mitsubishi Pajero is officially back, and oh boy, did we miss this flagship SUV’s existence. It’s one of the few midsize body-on-frame SUVs with a strong motorsports heritage, and so its return after a five-year hiatus couldn’t be any more significant. Join us for a static look at the Pajero here at Mitsubishi’s headquarters at Tamachi in Tokyo, to see what the Pajero is like once it finally reaches our shores.

Bold Yet Stately

Measuring 4,920 mm long, the 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero fits right in line with its chief rival, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. It is big, but it is lean and well proportioned. The front end is dominated by Mitsubishi’s signature T-shaped LED headlights, which are neatly integrated into its rectangular front grille. Speaking of which, the front grille can either have a sporty mesh pattern or a set of vertical lines for something more elegant, like in the vehicle you see here.

At the sides, you’ll see side fender vents that feature the Pajero branding, while the squared-off wheel arches project a bold stance. Emulating the Destinator is its textured C-pillar, which features horizontal lines. This leads us to the rear end, which carries over the T-shaped motif into the taillights. This is visually connected by a black trim piece with the Pajero wordmark written across. Truly, the Mitsubishi Pajero goes for a more premium and upmarket look, whilst still projecting a sense of ruggedness due to its high ground clearance and traditional body-on-frame construction.

Handcrafted With Attention To Detail

Inside is where things truly get upmarket for the Mitsubishi Pajero. Though the previous Pajero’s interior isn’t too drab, this new one is downright premium, with generous leather surfaces on the dash, doors, and the seats. “Kimekomi” techniques have been implemented in hand-wrapping the leather on the interior surfaces, while the precise hand-stitched details add intricate detailing to the interior surfaces. A saddle brown interior is available, which just puts the Pajero’s interior premium feel on another level.  What’s more, the interior has plenty of physical controls, while the cutting-edge tech features simply augment rather than overwhelm the interior.

Speaking of which, you’ll be immediately greeted by dual 14.3-inch displays, which though it looks similar to the Patrol’s (Mitsubishi and Nissan are in an alliance, after all), their interfaces are visually different. Of course, there’s the usual wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it also gets a modern interpretation of the Pajero’s signature Multi-Meter.

Other features include a 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate premium sound system, a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, and a powered tailgate, just to name a few. And being a midsize SUV, it also has three rows, which, surprisingly, has one of the most spacious third-row seats in its class.

Solid Chassis Fundamentals

The 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero rides on a traditional body-on-frame SUV platform for the best off-roading capability possible. The platform is shared with the Triton pickup, but it has thicker side members and a front and rear section that’s unique to the Pajero. This enables greater lateral rigidity for the front double-wishbone suspension, while the five-link rear coil springs that replace the Triton’s leaf springs are designed for optimal body control and ride quality both on and off-road.

Also shared with the Triton is its MIVEC 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine, which in this case produces 204 horsepower and 480 Nm of torque. It is hooked up to a new eight-speed automatic that drives all four wheels. Speaking of which, the Pajero uses the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics system with Active Yaw Control (AYC), which all help in making the Pajero steer and corner better on whatever terrain it is in. Of course, we can only evaluate its mechanicals when we finally get to take the new Pajero out for a drive.

Perhaps some of its biggest concerns are the lack of a V6 engine choice, whether in gasoline or diesel form, but to be fair, the diesel engine choices of the Pajero have always had four cylinders. Comparisons with the recently updated Ford Everest have become commonplace, especially as it got a 3.0-liter V6 diesel option this time around.

For me, however, the new Mitsubishi Pajero makes a bold first impression. It has a stately elegance to how it looks, even in 2026 with stiffer competition from the Chinese brands. Here’s to hoping that the Pajero will deliver as well when it comes to the driving experience both on paved roads and through tougher terrain, though we’re confident that the Pajero will offer great driving dynamics. For now, the Pajero is hitting Thailand first, since this is where it is being manufactured. Right-hand drive markets are the priority, with left-hand drive markets like the Philippines coming soon.