Mitsubishi Confirms Montero Revival, But The Details Are Still Murky

Mitsubishi has officially confirmed the return of its iconic Montero (known globally as the Pajero), but the exact shape and timing of the comeback remain points of debate. For American buyers, the name carries a tangled history, the same SUV was sold here as the Montero, while global markets knew it as the Pajero, and briefly in the late 1980s, it appeared as the Dodge Raider.

Now, with the company’s confirmation that the nameplate is returning, enthusiasts are trying to piece together what they’re actually getting.

The early buzz suggested a rugged, body-on-frame SUV built on the Triton pickup platform, the same midsize truck lineage that gave us the Mitsubishi Mighty Max and Dodge D50. But some speculated Mitsubishi might go bigger and more premium, aiming for something like a Nissan Armada or Patrol.

That confusion was largely put to rest during a June 2026 dealer meeting near Chicago, where Mitsubishi showed roughly 180 North American retailers a ladder-frame SUV with three-row seating, boxy styling, and about 12 inches of ground clearance. The vehicle featured a wide front light bar, vertical taillights, and a conventional liftgate, essentially a Triton-based off-roader, not a luxury flagship.

4-liter turbodiesel inline-four, producing 204 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic and Super Select 4WD-II. Mitsubishi is leaning into heritage with a modern digital Multi Meter that displays altitude, compass heading, pitch and roll angles, and torque distribution.

S. Montero may not land until 2030. , making the timeline uncertain. Still, the Triton-based approach keeps the Montero true to its roots, a durable, family-friendly off-roader rather than a luxury SUV, and that authenticity might be worth the wait.