Is the Mitsubishi Pajero making a comeback?

The Mitsubishi Pajero, or Montero as it’s known overseas, has become one of Mitsubishi’s most iconic cars in its history. In fact, owning a Pajero has almost become a status symbol in a lot of places, the Philippines included. Only a few cars could achieve having the image of being a rugged vehicle and luxurious ride all in one, and the Pajero was one of those.

Sadly, Mitsubishi discontinued production of the Pajero back in 2021, owing to numerous factors such as slow sales, an aging platform, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit automakers hard. 

On the last day of 2025, however, Mitsubishi’s YouTube channel, MitsubishiMotorsTV, released a teaser that hints at a return of the iconic nameplate. The teaser is a minute long, with its main focus being a showcase of Mitsubishi and Ralliart’s history of competing in both the World Rally Championship and the Dakar Endurance Rally. In the video, we see clips of Mitsubishi’s motorsport legacy and its recent achievements, notably, the Ralliart Triton race truck, which competed in the 2025 East Asia Cross Country Rally. Right at the end, though, they showed an old clip of a Pajero running the Dakar before transitioning to a highway featuring a currently unknown SUV.

We don’t have to spell out what Mitsubishi’s putting down because it’s as clear as day, but if you need a bit of help, Mitsubishi is teasing the next generation of the Pajero. The last time the Pajero was available new in Philippine showrooms was in 2021, and after its quiet exit, the Montero Sport was left to carry the torch. If the Pajero really is coming back, this will be big news for a lot of Tito’s out there.

There are other details out there that hint at the Pajero’s comeback, with test mules being spotted on the road as early as July 2025 and Mitsubishi filing a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the Montero name.

What we don’t know for sure is when the new Pajero will come out. For an SUV with a storied legacy as the Pajero, though, I’m sure many of us will be willing to wait. For more news and information on Mitsubishi’s latest lineup in the Philippines, check out the Mitsubishi Car Guide on AutoDeal.com.ph.