Mitsubishi Pajero: The Real Electric 4x4 Returns to Europe

Mitsubishi is bringing the Pajero back to Europe. Not a soft-road SUV for the suburbs—a real 4x4 with a ladder frame, transfer case, and Super Select 4WD-II. According to Caradisiac, the vehicle would be based on the Mitsubishi Triton pickup platform and sold on the old continent with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, or even diesel depending on the country.

"A true hardcore 4x4, the Mitsubishi Pajero will feature the Super Select 4WD-II system, including a two-speed transfer case and a limited-slip center differential." — Caradisiac

A Comeback We Had Stopped Expecting

A few years ago, Mitsubishi was ready to pack up and leave Europe. The brand ended Pajero production in 2021 after three decades of faithful service—and twelve Paris-Dakar wins, no less—to focus on more profitable markets. What remained in Europe was the Outlander, a decent SUV but one whose CMF-C/D platform is shared with the Renault Espace and Nissan XX-Trail](/article/nissan-x-trail-2026-restylage-et-hybride-e-power-204-ch-exclusif). Hard to get off-road enthusiasts excited with that.

But the alliance with Renault stabilized Mitsubishi's finances, and the brand apparently now has the means to pursue its ambitions. According to Caradisiac, a new Pajero is indeed in the works for the European market, with serious technical foundations.

A Pickup Platform, Not a City SUV

This is where it gets interesting. The chosen technical base would be the Mitsubishi Triton, a pickup built in Thailand that plays in the same league as the Ford Ranger in the North American market. In practice, that means a ladder frame—the famous "chassis échelle"—instead of a unibody structure. This isn't cosmetic: a ladder frame is tougher in off-road conditions, easier to repair in extreme situations, and far better suited for heavy loads.

On this chassis, Mitsubishi would install its Super Select 4WD-II system, with a two-speed transfer case (4H and 4L for the uninitiated: high range for the road, low range for serious rock crawling) and a limited-slip center differential. Seven driving modes would be offered depending on terrain—a feature already present on the Outlander PHEV, but one that would make real sense here on a true 4x4.

A Boxy Design That Looks Toward Solihull

On the styling front, Caradisiac mentions a "boxy design, Land Rover-style." That's not necessarily a coincidence: angular shapes are making a strong comeback in the true 4x4 segment, and the current Defender has proven you can sell substantial volumes with an unapologetic aesthetic. Mitsubishi is clearly looking to capitalize on this trend while recalling the visual DNA of the historic Pajero—generations 2 and 3 had sharp, straight lines that still command strong resale values today.

What Powertrain for Europe?

The European market will impose its constraints. According to Caradisiac, the European version of the Pajero should carry the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Outlander PHEV—a proven system that develops around 302 hp and offers enough electric range to meet emissions standards. Diesel would remain available "in certain countries," which in practice likely targets Eastern European markets or the Middle East, where demand for this type of engine remains strong.

On paper, a Pajero PHEV with a ladder frame and a real transfer case makes sense. In the real world, we'll have to see what the whole package weighs—pickup-based plug-in hybrids tend not to be light—and what impact that has on actual off-road capability.

When, and at What Price?

Honestly, available sources give neither a launch date nor a price. Mitsubishi has made no official announcement at this stage. If we go by the usual automaker timeline—announcement, then 12 to 18 months before sales—and the fact that the Triton is already in production as a base, a reveal by 2026 would be plausible, with sales starting in 2027. But these are just