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The Mitsubishi Montero is the regional name used for the Pajero in some markets; Shogun is another regional name for the same full-size SUV line. Mitsubishi ended production of the legacy model in 2021, but unveiled an all-new Pajero on September 2, 2026. The return of the Pajero name does not yet confirm that the new SUV will be sold as a Montero in every market.
What is the Mitsubishi Montero?
Montero is one of the names Mitsubishi used for its Pajero cross-country SUV in certain markets. The company also used the name Shogun in some regions. The name on a vehicle therefore depends on where it was sold; “Pajero/Montero” is a useful way to refer to the shared model line when the market is not specified.
The Montero Sport is a distinct model from the full-size Montero/Pajero line. The names are related, but the Sport should not be treated as simply another badge for the same vehicle.
How the Montero/Pajero developed
Mitsubishi dates the model’s introduction to 1982 and describes its purpose as combining four-wheel-drive ability with passenger-car comfort. The company’s history presents the line as four generations, though details such as body styles, engines, names and availability varied by market. A generation label alone is not enough to establish a particular vehicle’s equipment or specification.
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| Milestone | What Mitsubishi records |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Mitsubishi dates the Pajero’s introduction to this year. The company describes the original as a four-wheel-drive cross-country vehicle intended to combine off-road performance with passenger-car comfort. (Mitsubishi Motors, Car History.) |
| 1985 | Mitsubishi’s historical model page notes the addition of an automatic-transmission version. This is a company-history milestone, not a complete account of global model availability. (Mitsubishi Motors Japan, Pajero History.) |
| 1988 | The same page notes V6 gasoline and intercooled turbo-diesel engines. Their availability should not be assumed for every market or body configuration. (Mitsubishi Motors Japan, Pajero History.) |
| 2019 | Production for the Japanese market ended. (Mitsubishi Motors, Car History.) |
| 2021 | Overseas production ended, closing the legacy model’s 39-year run. Mitsubishi’s 2025 integrated report records the August 2021 closure of the Pajero manufacturing operation. (Mitsubishi Motors, Car History; Integrated Report 2025.) |
| September 2, 2026 | Mitsubishi unveiled an all-new Pajero cross-country SUV. (Mitsubishi Motors, September 2, 2026 announcement.) |
Why the Pajero became known beyond its markets
Mitsubishi positioned the Pajero around the combination of four-wheel-drive capability and passenger-car comfort. The company says the model entered the Dakar Rally in 1983. In its 2026 announcement, Mitsubishi reported 12 Dakar victories, including seven consecutive wins. Those are manufacturer-reported competition figures; they do not establish the reliability or off-road performance of every road-going Montero generation.
Mitsubishi’s 2026 announcements give different cumulative figures using different measures. Its May announcement said the line had achieved more than 3.25 million global sales across more than 170 countries and regions. The September unveiling described more than 3.29 million vehicles produced across four generations. Separately, the corporate history characterizes output over the 39-year history as approximately three million. These are Mitsubishi-published figures with distinct wording and dates, not interchangeable counts.
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Is the Mitsubishi Montero still made?
No legacy Montero/Pajero was being produced after overseas production ended in 2021. Mitsubishi dates the end of Japanese-market production to 2019 and the end of overseas production to 2021; its corporate history describes the overall run as 39 years and says approximately three million were produced.
That production history does not determine the condition, parts availability or serviceability of an individual used vehicle. Those depend on its market, year, generation, engine and maintenance history. For maintenance, choose a workshop or service manual matched to those details rather than assuming one guide covers every Montero.
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Is Mitsubishi bringing back the Montero?
Mitsubishi has brought back the Pajero name: it unveiled an all-new cross-country SUV on September 2, 2026. The company’s announcement describes the Pajero as known as Montero in some markets, but does not specify which markets will receive the new vehicle under that badge. The unveiling confirms the new Pajero; it does not confirm a universal Montero name or local availability.
Announced rollout
Mitsubishi says the new vehicle is built in Thailand. Its announced order is Thailand first, followed by Japan and Australia during fiscal 2026. The company plans launches in approximately 100 countries from fiscal 2027, including ASEAN, Latin America and the Middle East. These are Mitsubishi’s stated plans; they do not establish a dealer date for each country.
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In its May 29, 2026 announcement, Mitsubishi described the vehicle as the first return to the global market in five years after overseas discontinuation in 2021. The September unveiling subsequently confirmed that the new Pajero had been revealed. Neither announcement establishes a local price, trim, specification, or sale date for every market. Check the relevant national Mitsubishi site or local dealer announcement for those details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare a used Montero with the new Pajero
A useful comparison needs a defined market and model year for each vehicle. The new Pajero’s unveiling announcement, by itself, does not provide a full market-specific specification matrix, so claims about equipment or capability should wait for local specifications.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- An import from Aoshima
- Replicates the highest grade of the 2nd generation Pajero, Super Exceed in its catalog specifications
- Features additional grille guard and fog lights
- Window masking seal and aluminum wheels included
- Generation and model year: identify the particular vehicle rather than relying on the Montero name alone.
- Body and wheelbase: compare the actual body configuration available in that market.
- Powertrain and transmission: verify engine, fuel type and transmission from the vehicle’s market-specific documentation.
- Four-wheel-drive system: compare the system fitted to the specific year and trim, not the model’s broad reputation.
- Safety and comfort equipment: use local brochures or vehicle records, since equipment can vary between regions.
- Ownership support: check service information and parts fitment against the vehicle’s generation, year, engine and market.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
