Mitsubishi Pajero

• Gen 2/2.5 is the collector sweet spot
• Pajero Evolution is the top-value halo model
• SWB 3-door commands a consistent premium
• Rust + cooling are the biggest inspection items
• Gen 3/4 are best value for daily + overland
• Diesel legality varies; verify import compliance

• Body-on-frame construction on the L040 and V20 generations; monocoque from the V60 onward
• Selectable or Super Select four-wheel drive with low-range transfer case across all generations
• V6 petrol and turbo-diesel engine options; diesel variants not sold new in North America
• Sold as the Montero or Shogun in some export markets
• Right-hand drive available throughout JDM production

The Pajero ran through four generations from 1982 until 2021, and each one feels like a different truck. The L040 first generation is the classic boxy 4x4 that started the whole thing. The V20/V30 is where the Pajero grew up and won most of its Dakar titles. The V60/V70 went monocoque and got the 4M41 diesel. The V80/V90 is the modern one, the most refined and the most electronics-heavy of the bunch.

The Pajero is the kind of 4x4 you buy with your eyes open. Mitsubishi built it to go anywhere and last a long time, so the strengths are what you'd expect. The weak spots are about age and the fact that it's not a sports car or a fuel sipper.

The Pajero is tough mechanically and most of the trouble comes down to age and skipped maintenance. The diesel timing chain guides on the 4M41 fail without warning, so verify the service history. The hydraulic brake booster motor needs attention before it lets go completely. Rocker cover gaskets and the blocked rocker cover filter are easy to fix but you'll see them on every high-mileage truck.

The Pajero was sold in North America as the Mitsubishi Montero from 1983 through model year 2006, when Mitsubishi withdrew the nameplate from the US market. Mechanically the Montero shared engines, chassis, and Super Select 4WD with the JDM Pajero, but it was offered only in left-hand-drive long-wheelbase form with a limited engine catalogue — typically the gasoline V6s (6G72, 6G74, 6G75) and no factory diesel. The JDM-only halo cars never reached the US: the Pajero Evolution (V55W, 1997-1999), the Pajero Super Wagon high-roof variants on the V20/V30, and the Pajero Mini and Pajero iO smaller-displacement siblings were all kept off the North American import schedule. JDM Gen3 and Gen4 cars also received the 4M41 3.2L DI-D diesel that the US Montero never offered. For import buyers, the practical implication is that any RHD JDM Pajero — particularly diesel-powered V60 / V80 cars and any V55W Evolution — has no direct US-market equivalent; verify state-by-state diesel emissions rules before purchase.

Every Pajero generation got a different engine lineup, and the diesel options are what most import buyers are after. The 4D56 2.5 turbo diesel ran early. The 4M40 2.8 turbo diesel covered Gen 2. The 4M41 3.2 common-rail diesel is the one to want on Gen 3 and Gen 4. On the gas side, you'll find the 6G72 3.0 V6, the 6G74 3.5 V6, and the 6G75 3.8 V6 that the US Montero got.

Engine options

Transmission options

JDM Pajeros came in trims and bodies that the rest of the world never saw. The Pajero Evolution V55W is the headliner, a widebody homologation special built for the 1998 Dakar campaign. The Pajero Super Wagon is the high-roof family-hauler version on the Gen 2 chassis that stayed in Japan. The smaller Pajero Mini and Pajero iO were JDM-only too. Outside Japan, the same truck was sold as the Montero in North America and as the Shogun in the UK.

Mitsubishi sold the Pajero in big numbers for a long time. Production peaked at over 174,000 trucks in 1992 and stayed above 100,000 a year through most of the 1990s. Dakar wins line up with the bigger production years. Japanese domestic sales started fading after 2000 as the export markets did most of the work. JDM production wound down in 2021 while overseas assembly continued.

Pajero prices have spread out more than most JDM models because the production run is so long. A rough Gen 3 or Gen 4 with high miles still trades under $10,000. Clean Gen 2 SWB trucks are climbing as they cross the 25-year line. A documented Pajero Evolution V55W is blue chip and prices are six figures for the right car. The numbers below are what one costs today across that whole spread.

Today's market range: $6,500 to $125,000 (median ~$28,500). Source: JDMBUYSELL / USS Auction.

Gen 2/2.5 and SWB prices are climbing with 25-year eligibility; Evo is blue-chip with low supply. Gen 3/4 remain stable value buys, but rust-free, stock trucks with records are tightening and trending upward.

Walk this list with the seller, not in front of them. On any diesel Pajero, the Critical items are about the timing belt, the balance shaft belt, and the brake booster. Without paperwork on those, walk away or price the work in. The High items can usually be discounted into the deal. Half an hour with a cold start, a test drive, and a look underneath will tell you most of what you need to know.

If the Pajero ends up being the wrong fit, the natural alternatives are the Toyota Land Cruiser or Land Cruiser Prado for the bulletproof reputation, the Nissan Safari or Terrano for similar capability at lower prices, or the Isuzu Bighorn if you want something rarer. The Suzuki Jimny is the small-Pajero answer if a full-size 4x4 is more truck than you actually need.

Among the JDM full-size 4x4s, the Pajero has the rally history, the Land Cruiser has the durability legend, and the Safari sits between them on price. The table below leans on the things the Pajero actually does well, which is Dakar pedigree, the Super Select 4WD system, and the 4M41 diesel option that the Land Cruiser equivalents can't match in the same chassis.

Which Pajero generation is best to buy today?

For value: Gen 3. For collectability: Gen 2/2.5 SWB. For top-tier: Pajero Evolution.

What is Super Select 4WD and why does it matter?

Super Select allows 2H/4H/4HLc/4LLc on many models, giving full-time 4WD flexibility on-road.

What are the biggest problem areas to inspect?

Prioritize rust, cooling system, 4WD engagement, trans shift quality, and front suspension wear.

Are Pajero Evolution models worth the premium?

Yes if you want rarity: limited production, unique body/suspension. Budget for Evo-only parts and originality.

Is a short-wheelbase (3-door) Pajero better?

SWB is more agile off-road and more collectible, but rides choppier and has less cargo space than LWB.

How do Pajero prices compare to Land Cruisers?

Comparable-condition Pajeros are often 20–40% cheaper than Land Cruiser 80/Prado due to Toyota demand.

What mileage is too high for a Pajero?

Mileage matters less than maintenance. Rust-free, well-serviced examples at 150k+ miles can be solid buys.

What options add the most value at resale?

SWB, factory lockers (where fitted), clean underbody, documented timing/cooling service, and stock condition.