Mitsubishi Pajero

★★★★★

The Mitsubishi Pajero was the company’s answer to the full-size SUV. It started its life in 1982 and is still in production to this very day in certain parts of the world. Depending on where it was sold, the Pajero was also known as the Montero or Shogun.

Its impressive 12 Dakar Rally championships brought the famous SUV into the mainstream spotlight and even earned it a Guinness World Book record. Thanks to this, the Pajero nameplate was placed on other Mitsubishi models in hopes of boosting sales.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Great off-road capability
• Dependability
• The available diesel motor in certain countries
• Spacious Interior
• It will last an exceptionally long time with just regular maintenance
• Great ground clearance
• Dakar rally-inspired genes

Cons

• Old interiors can seem dated on certain models
• Basic features leave something to be desired
• Gas mileage
• Not that fastest SUV
• Small fuel tank
• Underperforming brakes
• Could be a bit bigger in size

Common Issues

Mitsubishi has been making the Pajero for nearly 40 years, and in that time there have been certain issues that owners have reported. This section is dedicated to the most found by Pajero owners.

Blocked rocker cover filter. This is a relatively inexpensive fix and it should be done as soon you experience the symptoms. Leaving it will cause oil consumption and blue smoke and if left unresolved for long periods of time it could do further damage to your engine.

Timing chain guides. If you are fortunate enough to have a diesel Pajero, you should look at the timing chain guides as they are known to fail without warning. If this happens, it means that a replacement engine will be the only answer.

Hydraulic brake booster motor. This should be taken care of sooner than later. If it ends up failing completely, you could be left with very little to no braking force.

Rocker covers oil leaks. This is not a major issue; however, it’s a messy one. As it is with most older cars, the gaskets do get old, brittle and crack over time, leaving the oil to leak out and make a mess everywhere.

Average Prices

Due to its long lifecycle, the Pajero can be had from prices starting as little as $3,000 and going all the way up to $17,000. It truly depends and the year, condition, and budget. Here are some of the cheapest and most expensive Pajero’s currently for sale from the dealers associated with JDMBuySell.com.

As you can see, the prices for a Pajero differ quite drastically. From the list above, the older models are more desirable and therefore more expensive. It’s true that “they don’t make them like they used to”, and that is absolutely true in the case of the Mitsubishi Pajero.

Comparable Alternatives

The SUV market is incredibly competitive, and the customer has the upper hand. Almost every automaker has its version of the Pajero, and the list is growing bigger every day. Here is a list of the closest rivals that this go-anywhere vehicle has.

• Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (Read our Toyota Land Cruiser Buying Guide)
• Toyota Land Cruiser (Read our Toyota Land Cruiser Buying Guide)
• Nissan Terrano (Read our Nissan Terrano Buying Guide)
• Nissan Safari (Read our Nissan Safari Buying Guide)
• Suzuki Jimny
• Isuzu Bighorn

The list could go on forever, but we decided to keep it short for you to get an idea of what other SUVs are the Pajero’s closest competitors.

Models and Specifications

1982-1991 Mitsubishi Pajero First Generation

First debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1981, the Pajero was initially sold as a short-wheelbase three-door model. It was available with either a canvas or metal roof and was initially available with three engine choices. By the end of its lifecycle, Mitsubishi offered the Pajero with a total of seven engine choices ranging from a 2.0L gas engine and went all the way up to a 3.0L V6 gas engine. Of course, there were a few diesel motors added to the mix. A customer could choose from 2.3L N/A diesel and a 2.3L or 2.5L turbocharged diesel.

Unlike other SUVs of the time, the Pajero was offered additional features such as double wishbone suspension, power steering, torsion bar springs, etc., all of which were a rarity amongst their competitors.

1983 was the first year that we see the legendary SUV available in a five-door configuration. As the years progressed, better-performing engines and improved cosmetic changes were added to the lineup.

1991-1999 Mitsubishi Pajero Second Generation

For the second generation, Mitsubishi completely redesigned the Pajero, both inside and out. Improvements such as a longer wheelbase, optional high roof, and improved engines made the SUV reach its legendary status. In addition, multi-mode ABS and shock absorbers were added for the first time on any Japanese SUV. The ability to switch between four-wheel drive and RWD at speeds of up to 49 mph (80 km/h) was the icing on the cake for this generation.

The engine choices were now shrunk down to only six. These included four gas engines ranging from a 2.4L inline-four to a 3.5L V6. Diesel enthusiasts could choose between a 2.5L turbo-diesel inline-four or a 2.8L turbocharged inline-four.

During this time, Mitsubishi had a joint venture with several Chinese automakers such as Guangdong Motors, Jincheng Motors, Jinhui Motors, etc. that put their own spin on the Pajero and badged it as their own.

1999-2006 Mitsubishi Pajero Third Generation

Japan got the Pajero in 1999 while other markets received it shortly after, with the Philippines not receiving the third generation until late 2003. This time around Mitsubishi focused its efforts on making the Pajero tougher. They designed it with a lower and wider stance alongside a unibody construction which made it a lot stiffer and in turn improved the cabin strength.

A total of seven engines were offered with a new 3.8L gas engine for the North American markets. The diesel lineup was available in a 2.5L inline-four, a 2.8L inline-four, and finally a 3.2L inline-four. The four gasoline engines were comprised of one 3.0L V6, two 3.5L V6, and finally the all-new 3.8L V6. There is a choice of a five-speed manual, and a four or five-speed automatic.

2006-Present Mitsubishi Pajero Fourth Generation

As times progressed, so did customer demands. The fourth-generation Pajero was focused on safety. New front and side airbags were added as well as an improved Active Stability and Traction Control system (ASTC) and an electronic brakeforce distribution.

On top of that, many cosmetic improvements made their way o the Pajero just about every year. These consisted of LED lights, different front fascia’s, bigger wheels and so on. Moreover, the brakes now increased in size to a larger 332 mm front rotors.

In August 2019, the Famed SUV ceased production in Japan as the demand was declining for several years prior. However, it is still being sold to this very day in Australia, the Middle East and even South America.

Production Numbers

Year	Production	Domestic sales (Japan)	Export sales
1982	16,930	8,059	7,023
1983	33,605	8,076	25,886
1984	41,422	9,176	32,341
1985	59,770	11,770	49,249
1986	87,252	16,636	70,594
1987	89,456	22,170	67,021
1988	107,157	25,225	79,699
1989	116,883	36,483	82,176
1990	108,730	36,061	71,206
1991	144,988	64,381	80,882
1992	174,708	83,685	89,835
1993	158,922	67,899	88,788
1994	161,238	54,329	106,570
1995	152,102	44,933	110,365
1996	128,593	28,851	99,200
1997	136,941	26,181	111,144
1998	95,675	9,412	90,416
1999	90,524	20,189	65,212
2000	138,315	12,701	129,198
2001	91,700	6,725	85,324
2002	112,161	5,681	106,376
2003	90,929	6,035	85,863
2004	79,152	4,196	74,347
2005	69,142	2,781	66,773
2006	75,933	6,025	68,563
2007	112,103	3,818	108,982
2008	57,903	2,738	58,000
2009	48,055	2,198	44,896
2010	66,569	2,948	64,207
2011	61,603	3,209	58,842
2012	39,759	2,029	38,300
2013	55,066	2,213	52,199
2014	54,267	2,948	52,548
2015	53,393	1,665	51,340
2016	45,406	1,062	44,030
2017	36,142	1,000	35,150

FAQ

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Pajero
• https://www.zigwheels.ae/new-cars/mitsubishi/pajero/faq/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-mitsubishi-pajero
• https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/mitsubishi-pajero
• https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/2007-Mitsubishi-Pajero-Reviews-c12261
• https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/2005-Mitsubishi-Pajero-Reviews-c12259
• https://www.cartoq.com/used-cars/mitsubishi-pajero-used-suv/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au/mitsubishi/pajero/problems
• https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=27085
• https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=49081
• https://www.zigwheels.com/newcars/Mitsubishi/Pajero-Sport/faqs

How to Import a Mitsubishi Pajero

Read our ultimate guide, How to Import a Car from Japan.

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