After being discontinued internationally in 2021, the Mitsubishi Pajero has returned, this time in its fifth-generation avatar. The new model has a ladder-frame chassis and a 4WD setup with a low-range transfer case, promising the robustness of the previous Pajeros that helped the nameplate dominate the Dakar Rally. However, significant design and tech upgrades have been made to modernise the entire package. Here are the differences between the 2026 Pajero and the fourth-gen Pajero, which bowed out in 2021.
2026 Mitsubishi Pajero vs 2021 model: Exterior design
Gets a larger grille and sleeker headlights than before
At the front, the 2026 model gets a larger grille with LED light bars that connect the headlights. The headlights have become sleeker in the new model, compared to the older model’s boxier-looking units. The 2026 Pajero’s front bumper is sleeker than the old model and omits the fog lamps and LED strips on both sides. Instead, the new Pajero’s fog lamps are integrated into the lowest section of the headlamp unit, offering a cleaner overall design.
Boxy silhouette is retained, but the design looks simpler than before
The side profile of the 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero retains the boxy shape of the older model. However, the lower sections of the door are less flared than before, and the wheel arches are squarer for a more cohesive boxy look. Certain visual elements, like a front fender garnish and horizontal strakes on the C-pillar, add drama to the new Pajero’s design.
The iconic tailgate-mounted spare wheel has now been removed
At the rear, the 2026 Pajero misses out on a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, something that has been there on the SUV since its inception in 1982. However, the tailgate design draws inspiration from the fourth-gen model’s spare wheel, Mitsubishi says. Otherwise, the design has been fairly modernised with segmented LED taillight bars connected via a black trim with Pajero lettering. The rear bumper has also become more stylish now.
2026 Mitsubishi Pajero vs 2021 model: Interior design
The dashboard has seen a major redesign with dual digital screens
Inside the Pajero’s cabin, everything has changed. The three-dial instrument cluster has been replaced with a 14.5-inch digital driver’s display, and the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system has been replaced with a larger 14.5-inch unit. The design of the 4-spoke steering wheel on the 2026 Pajero, however, is similar to the previous-generation model. The dashboard also has much more soft-touch leatherette now, compared to the 2021 model's rudimentary hard plastic panels.
While the AC settings display has moved to the infotainment system now, Mitsubishi has retained physical buttons and scrollers to control the climate, which is a welcome move. The centre console of the 2026 Pajero has a drive selector stalk, but the 4x4 stalk has been replaced with a cleaner-looking rotary dial.
On the feature front, the 2026 Pajero has retained 3-zone climate control, but adds amenities like a 12-speaker Yamaha-sourced sound system and ventilated front seats. On the safety front, the 20226 model offers 8 airbags (with a new centre airbag), a 360-degree camera with under-bonnet view and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
2026 Mitsubishi Pajero vs 2021 model: Powertrain
It gets a 2.4-litre diesel engine compared to the 3.2-litre diesel mill of the 2021 model
Mitsubishi is offering the 2026 Pajero with a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine producing 380Nm of torque, but the power figure has yet to be revealed. It gets an 8-speed automatic transmission. Compared to this, the 2021 Mitsubishi Pajero Final Edition was offered with a larger 3.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine that produced 189hp and 441Nm, and got a 5-speed AT. However, the four-wheel-drive (4WD) system has been retained.
The suspension system has also seen an upgrade, replacing the independent rear suspension of the previous model with a five-link rigid rear axle paired with high-mounted independent double-wishbones at the front, which Mitsubishi says is to prioritise wheel travel and durability.
The 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero will be launched in Thailand in the coming months, and will be offered in Japan, Australia, and “approximately 100 countries worldwide, including markets in ASEAN, Latin America and the Middle East”. However, it will not be launched in India.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
Aditya Panicker
