Mitsubishi Pajero Hybrid May Put a US Montero Return Back in Play

Business admin September 6, 2026 0 Comments

Mitsubishi Pajero Hybrid May Put a US Montero Return Back in Play

Diesel Only… For Now

The all-new Mitsubishi Pajero has finally returned, and while the boxy styling is grabbing headlines, there’s one thing fans (and haters) can’t stop talking about: the engine. Mitsubishi is only offering a 2.4-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder (straight from the Triton pickup, albeit improved) with 201 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. That’s fine for markets where diesel is still king, but let’s be honest – this version isn’t coming to the US anytime soon.

Americans and diesel SUVs go together like oil and water – unless you’re talking about heavy-duty trucks. If Mitsubishi wants to bring the Pajero (or Montero, as we know it) back to the States, it’s going to need something else under the hood.

But here’s the good news: Mitsubishi has already admitted it’s working on exactly that.

Hybrid Pajero Models Already in the Works

Speaking to CarExpert during the Pajero launch, Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott and Mitsubishi executives confirmed the company’s engineering teams are actively developing electrified versions of its body-on-frame vehicles. Chief engineer Takao Itagaki said the new Pajero launches with internal combustion power only, but that’s not the long-term plan.

“Mitsubishi Motors is pursuing research and development in electrified ladder-frame vehicles, including hybrid vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies for products such as Pajero and Triton in the future,” Itagaki told the Australian publication.

Itagaki also made it clear Mitsubishi isn’t just slapping batteries into the Pajero for the sake of it. Any future hybrid still has to live up to the Pajero’s reputation for off-road chops, towing muscle, and old-school durability.

That’s partly why Mitsubishi isn’t giving us a timeline for the hybrid. For now, the Pajero sticks with its tweaked 2.4-liter diesel, which gets a bit more torque than the Triton and sharper throttle response. As for rumors about other engines (like Nissan’s twin-turbo V6 from the Armada), Mitsubishi has already shut those down.

Instead, Mitsubishi says it’s still weighing its options – watching market demand, emissions rules, and performance needs before making any big announcements. But if you read between the lines, this is the clearest sign yet that a Pajero Hybrid is more than just a pipe dream. And if that happens, the Montero could finally be back on the table for American buyers.

The Pajero Family Is Getting Bigger

The Pajero comeback isn’t just about one SUV. At Mitsubishi’s big reveal, a teaser image showed two mystery vehicles parked next to the full-size Pajero, hinting at a whole family reunion. We’ve heard whispers about this before, but now it’s looking a lot more real.

The middle-sized mystery machine is likely a compact SUV that could bring back the Pajero iO badge, while the smallest shadow looks like the Pajero Mini is making a comeback. Mitsubishi hasn’t dropped any official names yet, but it’s clear the Pajero family is about to get a lot bigger.

The Pajero iO was historically a compact off-roader positioned below the full-size Pajero, while the Pajero Mini was a kei-sized SUV that competed in Japan’s lightweight off-road segment against vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny.

If the Montero does make its way back to the US, here’s hoping the smaller siblings tag along. And if Mitsubishi throws a hybrid powertrain into the mix, we might finally see a real showdown with the Toyota Land Cruiser.

This story was originally published September 6, 2026 at 9:15 AM.