Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Generating BuzzEven before the final unit rolled off the assembly line, there were already those asking Mitsubishi whether the Pajero and Montero would ever come back. For years, the company said it would think about it, and at times it said it wouldn't be returning at all.Five years after production first stopped, here is Mitsubishi yet again building up hype for the return of the Pajero and Montero. It was a relatively brief hiatus, all things considered, but it's one that has people, especially in Asia, talking. The full product will be revealed before the end of the year for the 2027 model year.MitsubishiA Secret RevealWhile we only have a teaser photo to work with, Mitsubishi recently showed the reborn Pajero to a very select few customers in Japan. It was shown during the Star Camp event, wherein the company drew participants' names to view the new SUV. No members of the motoring press were present.AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, some publications asked those who saw it a couple of questions about the Pajero. Some of the answers were rather surprising and might change your perception of it.MitsubishiCustomer ImpressionsJapanese auto media outlet Kuruma News spoke with four people who had already seen the Pajero long before anyone else. Those who spoke were also able to sit inside the SUV, giving a few impressions along the way.Starting with the interior, it was as "luxurious" and "premium" as that, and this is coming from previous Pajero and current Mitsubishi owners in Japan. One described it as "more urban and stylish" rather than "rugged and outdoorsy." That gives us the impression that we could expect a fancier version of the current Outlander's interior.But the general consensus? It was bigger than expected. Now, this assumes the reference point is the previous-generation model that didn't make it to the U.S. To give some perspective, the fourth-generation model was ever so slightly larger than the previous-generation Toyota 4Runner.MitsubishiMotorsTV/YouTubeSize ReferenceThe previous Pajero and Montero measured 192.9 inches long, 73.8 inches wide, and 74.4 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 109.4 inches. With that in mind, there's a chance that the new Mitsubishi SUV will be about the size of the Land Cruiser 250, maybe even slightly larger.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's safe to assume that it won't be in the same class as the full-size Land Cruiser 300/Lexus LX or the Nissan Armada/Patrol. Do remember that it's based on the global Triton pickup, itself a midsize pickup. So, it won't scare off the likes of the Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon. But, from the perspective of the Japanese market, the Pajero/Montero is a sizable vehicle.We'll know more about the upcoming Pajero and Montero once they're fully revealed by Fall 2026, including their true size and engine options. As for its odds of coming to America, they swing wildly between plausible and impossible, given import costs and tariffs. Still, Mitsubishi said it would like to re-establish itself in North America by introducing more off-road vehicles. Should its planned midsize pickup succeed, it might justify the Montero revival in the U.S.MitsubishiThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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