In the world of off-road vehicles, certain names are unforgettable. Among them is the Mitsubishi Montero—or as it’s known abroad, the Pajero. An off-road icon throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Montero made its mark in the Dakar Rally and forever cemented itself in the hearts of adventurers everywhere.
After two decades of silence in the US and a few years off the market abroad, the legendary Japanese SUV may be on the verge of a comeback. Spy photos of prototypes taken in recent days suggest that a new Montero/Pajero could be in the works, with the next-generation model potentially arriving by the end of 2025.
Mitsubishi hasn’t officially confirmed the new Montero’s arrival, but the company has promised multiple new vehicles in the next few years and even filed a trademark for the Montero name just last year. If it does indeed happen at all, it’s possible that a new Montero may not even make it to the US.
But, there’s still reason to believe that Mitsubishi could revive its off-road icon. With that in mind, here’s everything we know about the new Montero so far.
What Will The New Mitsubishi Montero Look Like?
Based on the spy photos we’ve seen, the new Montero will be just as boxy as ever. Our rendering envisions a massive SUV with a muscular, modern design inspired by Mitsubishi’s DST and Destinator concepts. The DST debuted in 2024, and the Destinator was unveiled just a few weeks ago.
The front is dominated by vertical LED headlights, a large honeycomb grille, and a prominently visible skid plate. The silhouette is tall, with large, boxy windows reminiscent of the old Montero, while the rear features a vertical rear window and horizontally oriented taillights, akin to the Nissan Patrol.
What’s Under The Hood?
This is where it gets really interesting. The prototype spotted in Europe has six lug nuts and a solid rear axle, suggesting that it is a body-on-frame vehicle. That means it should be plenty capable off-road.
If this SUV is destined for Europe, then a hybrid is likely inevitable, whether it be a traditional hybrid or a plug-in. In the latter case, the Montero would likely use a 2.4-liter gas engine with a similar output of 302 horsepower, matching the Outlander. If Mitsubishi opts for a traditional hybrid setup, it could share the Qashqai’s 1.5-liter E-Power unit with 190 hp.
Given Mitsubishi's off-road tradition, it's almost inevitable that this SUV comes with a proper four-wheel-drive setup.
When Will We See It?
Mitsubishi has yet to confirm the new Montero/Pajero, but given that prototypes are already on the road, we could see the rugged SUV as early as next year in Europe. As for the US, it’s still unclear it Mitsubishi plans to revive the Montero name.
That said, Mitsubishi announced in 2024 that it plans to release a new model every year beginning in 2026—and even teased what looks like a rugged SUV. Dubbed "Momentum 30," that plan would see at least four new models before 2030.
If we’re lucky, those plans could include a new Montero for the US.
