Mitsubishi Montero Costs Less Than a Land CruiserMitsubishiIn Australia, the new Pajero will start at the equivalent of under $50K, thousands less than an equivalent Toyota Land Cruiser.Still, with a diesel-only powertrain, it's not likely to arrive here soon.The hints are that a new Montero, what the Pajero was called in the North American market, might be based on the Nissan Frontier.Mitsubishi's next-generation Pajero was just revealed earlier this month as a proper, body-on-frame SUV that looks like it could live up to the reputation of the original. Now, pricing is out down under in Australia, which gives us some clues as to how this truck might compete, were Mitsubishi significantly motivated to bring it to market in the U.S.MitsubishiFirst, a quick note on the Pajero's powertrain, which does unfortunately seem like a strong hint that it won't be headed across the Pacific any time soon. All trim levels of this SUV are equipped with a turbo-diesel 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power is rated at 201 horsepower and a stout 354 pound-feet of torque, and there's no hint of hybridization.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Pajero is a proper 4x4, so that means a dual-range gearbox and some properly clever traction control modes. Mitsubishi used to be king of the Paris-Dakar races with older Pajeros, and even introduced an EVO homologation special of the truck, in two-door form. This newest one gets trick features like Active Yaw Control, and a locking rear differential is standard across the range. The tow rating is just over 7700 pounds.MitsubishiPricing kicks off at AU$68,490 for the five-seat model, and AU$69,990 for the seven-seat GLS model. Converting from Dollarydoos, that's under $50K US to start, a pretty significant savings versus a contemporary Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.The 250-series Land Cruiser (a.k.a. the Prado) corresponds to the model Toyota sells in the U.S. market, though the Australian version runs a turbo-diesel 2.8-liter four-cylinder. The Aussie Land Cruiser starts at the equivalent of $52,700, while gas-powered U.S.-spec hybrid Land Cruisers start at just over $58,000.MitsubishiMitsubishi intends to roll the Pajero out in a number of markets, but fitting it into the U.S. range would be a big ask. It's not clear what engine choice would fit, and while there would be a halo effect that might help move Outlanders out the door, a premium-grade Land Cruiser competitor with a diamond-star badge might be a slow seller.AdvertisementAdvertisementInstead, it seems more likely that a partnership with Nissan, using Frontier underpinnings, might be the way forward for Mitsubishi body-on-frame offerings in the U.S. With Nissan expected to bring the Xterra back for the 2029 model year, perhaps there'll be a Mitsubishi Montero twist using that chassis.In such a case, Mitsubishi's next properly rugged SUV in the U.S. will be more a competitor for the 4Runner than the Land Cruiser. As the Aussies say, that's fair dinkum.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029