Mitsubishi has confirmed the expansion of the Pajero family. In addition to a new body-on-frame SUV, the company is preparing a compact SUV to compete with the Toyota RAV4 and a small model that could revive the idea of the Pajero Mini. Their release is expected at the end of the decade. This is reported by Carscoops.
New Mitsubishi Pajero will become a competitor to the Toyota RAV4
Mitsubishi Motors President and COO Keisuke Kishiura confirmed that the new Pajero will serve as the basis for a whole family of SUVs. During the presentation, the company showed silhouettes of two future models - a compact and a small crossover.
"Going forward, with the all-new Pajero at the top of the lineup, we will expand the Pajero family with compact and small SUVs. We hope you will look forward to these new models," said Keisuke Kishiura.
According to information from Japan, the compact Pajero could debut in 2028 or 2029. It will be positioned as a competitor to the Toyota RAV4. A unibody construction and electrified powertrains are expected.
The new model will be part of Mitsubishi's large-scale plan. Between fiscal years 2026 and 2031, the brand plans to introduce 13 new models, including five hybrids and five plug-in hybrids.
Mitsubishi Pajero Mini could return by 2030
The second future model will be significantly smaller. According to preliminary information, a kei-class city crossover could appear around 2030 and revive the concept of the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini, which was produced from 1994 to 2012.
The vehicle is expected to have a more off-road appearance and greater ground clearance than the Mitsubishi Delica Mini. It is also predicted to have a 660cc turbo engine and optional all-wheel drive.
The current Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will remain in production for certain markets. The new flagship Pajero is not considered its direct successor.
Mitsubishi has not yet announced where the future compact models will be sold. According to the source, the Pajero Mini will likely remain focused on Japan, while the larger Toyota RAV4 competitor could potentially enter European and North American markets.
