Is the Montero Finally Coming Back?Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors hasn't had much to show for itself for many years, with dealer lots offering either some variety of Outlander-badged vehicle or the mediocre Eclipse Cross. All told, Mitsubishi moved just 43,355 vehicles out of showrooms in 2025—not counting the 29 leftover 2024 model-year Mirages it sold.Apparently that's about to change. Mitsubishi recently gave its dealers a preview of a dramatically expanded product lineup that includes a new electric vehicle, next-generation crossovers, and the possible return of the Montero nameplate.At a dealer meeting outside Chicago last week, Mitsubishi executives unveiled a series of future products the automaker hopes will reverse years of declining sales. According to Automotive News, roughly 180 US and Canadian dealers attended the event, which included presentations from Mitsubishi Motors President Keisuke Kishiura, product strategy chief Takayuki Yatabe, and design leader Seiji Watanabe.AdvertisementAdvertisementDealers who attended described the future lineup as a significant departure from Mitsubishi's aging portfolio."It's night and day from the current aging lineup," one retailer told Automotive News.Mitsubishi's current lineup.Mitsubishi MotorsThe expanded lineup is part of strategy the automaker is calling Mitsubishi's Momentum 2030, which calls for the launch of a new or redesigned vehicle every year through the end of the decade. The effort couldn't come sooner as Mitsubishi currently sells just three models in America, including a terribly outdated Outlander Sport. Mitsubishi stopped selling sedans when it discontinued the Mirage in 2024.Among the biggest announcements was Mitsubishi's apparent departure from a battery-electric strategy. Executives from the company said it will abandon its previously announced plan to move to a dedicated EV lineup in favor of developing hybrid-powered vehicles, much like many other automakers have already done. Vehicles introduced after 2027 are expected to feature some form of electrification.A resurrected Montero based off the coming Pajero would be welcome.Mitsubishi MotorsThe most exciting vehicle previewed was body-on-frame SUV derived from the revived Pajero, which is expected to return in Asia this year. Mitsubishi is considering a North American version wearing the popular Montero badge.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf approved for the US market, the SUV would reportedly arrive around 2030 and ride on the same ladder-frame architecture as the Triton pickup, a vehicle Mitsubishi doesn't currently sell in the US. The SUV is said to feature nearly 12 inches of ground clearance, a boxy off-road-focused design, three-row seating, and a significantly upgraded interior with a digital instrument cluster and larger infotainment screen.The Montero could fill a major gap in Mitsubishi's lineup while giving the brand a legit entry into one of the fastest-growing and most profitable SUV segments in North America. And we would more than welcome it.
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