Key Takeaways
- Super Select allows switching between 2WD and 4WD below 100 km/h; vans also had part-time 4WD.
- Eighteen codes are listed. Mitsubishi's steering notice names them without engine or body detail, so confirm both on the car.
- The 4D56 and 6G74 use belts; the 4M40 uses a chain.
- The Evolution is separate: 280 PS, multi-link rear suspension, Recaro seats; Mitsubishi says September 1997, Motor-Fan October.
- Steering needs inspecting. Mitsubishi's notice lists second-generation codes including V55W.
- Age is counted per car from its build date, not the model year.
Background
Bodies and codes
Mitsubishi's history lists four launch bodies: metal top, mid-roof, kick-up roof and J-top. Its steering notice names 18 second-generation codes: V14V, V21W, V23C, V23W, V24C, V24V, V24W, V25C, V25W, V26C, V26W, V34V, V43W, V44W, V45W, V46V, V46W and V55W. The notice gives the codes without body or engine detail, so confirm both on the car. In May 1997 the Pajero Wide models gained wheel arches.
Engines and timing drive
The January 1991 launch engines were a 3.0 V6 and a 2.5 intercooled turbo diesel, with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. In July 1993 a 3.5 V6 and the 2.8 intercooled turbo diesel, the 4M40, were added. Mitsubishi reports 30 kgf·m for the new 4M40. A May 1997 update brought a 3.5 V6 GDI to the Wide models. Mitsubishi lists the 4D56 and 6G74 as belt engines and the 4M40 as a chain engine, so do not quote one belt interval for every diesel.
Super Select 4WD
Mitsubishi calls Super Select a world first. It offers 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc; in the basic 4H mode the centre differential absorbs front-rear speed differences and the VCU shares drive according to the speed difference. The driver can switch between 2WD and 4WD on the move under 100 km/h, and multi-mode ABS responds to every mode. The system was meant to cure the first generation's tight-corner braking on paved bends. It was not universal: commercial vans also came with conventional part-time 4WD.
Pajero Evolution (V55W)
Mitsubishi's history says the Evolution was introduced in September 1997 in response to Paris-Dakar entry rules; the Motor-Fan catalogue entry is dated October 1997, so the sources differ on the month. The October 1997 catalogue gives a 3,496 cc 6G74 DOHC V6, no turbo, 280 PS (206 kW) at 6,500 rpm and 348.1 Nm (35.5 kgf·m) at 3,000 rpm, on premium unleaded with a 75-litre tank. The manual car is 4,075 x 1,875 x 1,915 mm on a 2,420 mm wheelbase and weighs 1,970 kg; a five-speed automatic with full-time 4WD is also listed. The rear suspension is multi-link and Recaro seats are standard. V55W appears in Mitsubishi's steering notice.
Examples of other grades
Best Car's mid-roof wide Exceed Z measures 4,650 x 1,785 x 1,900 mm, weighs 2,120 kg and has a 3.5 petrol rated 230 PS and 33.0 kgf·m, but the article does not give a model year. The page photograph shows a Snow Athlete long wagon, identified from the photographer's Commons description. Confirm grade and equipment on the individual car.
Dakar and the Evolution
Mitsubishi's works prototypes took a 1-2-3 at the 1992 Paris-Dakar and a second consecutive win in 1993. In 1998 Fontenay, Shinozuka and Saby finished first to third in T2 Pajero/Montero Evolutions, with Masuoka fourth in a T2 Challenger. The restricted race engine made 260 PS, against the road car's 280 PS.
Steering inspection notice
Mitsubishi's pitman-arm ball-joint notice applies to older, long-used cars with integral ball-nut steering. It lists the second-generation codes above, including the Evolution's V55W. It calls for inspection of the linkage and dust cover, and a cracked cover means replacing the whole joint.
Import eligibility
US safety eligibility begins 25 years after the individual car's manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)). EPA's separate 21-year exemption requires the original unmodified configuration or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission-control system. State registration rules vary. Canada uses a 15-year threshold based on the manufacture month and year; customs and provincial registration remain separate.
Technical Specifications
Each row is a named catalogue entry or Mitsubishi record, with its month where known. Ratings differ by update, so do not copy one row across the whole generation.
Engine Options
-
3.0 V6 petrol Jan 1991 launch
3.0-litre V6- Displacement
- 3.0 L
- Transmission
- 5MT or 4AT
-
2.5 turbo diesel Jan 1991 launch
2.5-litre intercooled turbo diesel (4D56)- Displacement
- 2.5 L
- Aspiration
- Intercooled turbo diesel
- Transmission
- 5MT or 4AT
Mitsubishi lists the 2.5 intercooled turbo at launch; 4D56 is its 2.5-litre diesel and a timing-belt engine.
-
3.5 V6 petrol From Jul 1993
3.5-litre V6 (6G74)- Displacement
- 3.5 L
- Power
- 230 PS (Exceed Z example)
- Torque
- 33.0 kgf·m
Best Car's mid-roof wide Exceed Z example, year not given. 6G74 is a timing-belt engine.
-
2.8 turbo diesel From Jul 1993
4M40- Displacement
- 2.8 L
- Aspiration
- Intercooled turbo diesel
- Torque
- 30 kgf·m at introduction
Mitsubishi gives the 4M40 a class-best 30 kgf·m at its July 1993 introduction. A timing-chain engine.
-
3.5 V6 GDI May 1997, Wide models
3.5-litre V6 GDI- Displacement
- 3.5 L
Mitsubishi dates the 3.5 V6 GDI addition to May 1997 on Pajero Wide models.
-
V55W Pajero Evolution Catalogue Oct 1997 (Mitsubishi: Sep 1997)
6G74 DOHC MIVEC- Displacement
- 3,496 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 280 PS (206 kW) @ 6,500 rpm
- Torque
- 348.1 Nm (35.5 kgf·m) @ 3,000 rpm
- Transmission
- 5MT; 5AT also listed
Road-car catalogue rating, not the 260 PS restricted T2 racer. ECI-multi injection, premium unleaded, 75-litre tank. 4,075 x 1,875 x 1,915 mm, wheelbase 2,420 mm, 1,970 kg (manual).
Transmission Options
| Type | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5-speed manual | Offered at the 1991 launch and on the Evolution | |
| 4-speed automatic | Offered at the 1991 launch | |
| 5-speed automatic | Pajero Evolution E-V55W | With full-time 4WD, per the Motor-Fan catalogue |
Variants & Trims
Listed: the Exceed Z, the Pajero Wide and the Evolution in manual and automatic form.
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second generation (V20, Japan, 1991–1999) | Mid-roof wide Exceed Z | 3.5 V6 petrol | 230 PS, 33.0 kgf·m, 4,650 x 1,785 x 1,900 mm, 2,120 kg (Best Car example; model year not given) |
| Second generation (V20, Japan, 1991–1999) | Pajero Wide | 3.5 V6 GDI | May 1997: wheel arches fitted and a 3.5 V6 GDI added |
| Second generation (V20, Japan, 1991–1999) | Evolution (E-V55W) manual | 6G74 3.5 V6 | Three doors, five seats, 280 PS, multi-link rear, Recaro seats, 1,970 kg |
| Second generation (V20, Japan, 1991–1999) | Evolution (E-V55W) automatic | 6G74 3.5 V6 | Five-speed automatic and full-time 4WD, five seats, listed in the same catalogue |
Should You Buy a Mitsubishi Pajero V20?
Why You'll Love It
- Super Select 4WD Four documented modes, and switching between 2WD and 4WD on the move below 100 km/h.
- Engine choice 3.0 and 3.5 V6 petrol, 2.5 and 2.8 turbo diesel and, from 1997, a 3.5 GDI, in several bodies.
- A specified halo car The Evolution has a catalogue rating of 280 PS and 348.1 Nm, independent rear suspension and Recaro seats.
- Documented dating Mitsubishi dates the launch (January 1991), the 1993 engines and the May 1997 update. Its records differ on the successor's month: September or October 1999.
Why You Might Not
- Many codes and engines Eighteen codes in one notice and several engine families mean the engine and body must be confirmed on the car.
- Belt and chain engines mixed One service interval does not fit every engine: Mitsubishi lists the 4D56 and 6G74 as belt engines and the 4M40 as a chain engine.
- Disputed Evolution month Mitsubishi gives September 1997; the catalogue entry is October 1997.
- Sales figures, not production Best Car reports 390,714 second-generation domestic sales. Mitsubishi's 470,000 covers two generations with an unspecified cut-off; neither figure is a second-generation production count.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Anyone treating Super Select as universal: commercial vans came with part-time 4WD.
- Anyone buying on a code alone: Mitsubishi's notice lists 18 codes without engine or body detail.
- Anyone expecting the race car's output in the Evolution: the road car is 280 PS and the restricted T2 racer 260 PS.
Common Issues & Solutions
| Issue | Cause | Solution | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering ball-joint wear | Mitsubishi's notice: corrosion and wear of the pitman-arm ball joint on older, long-used cars with integral ball-nut steering can break the joint and cause loss of steering. It lists second-generation codes and the Evolution's V55W. | Have the linkage and dust cover inspected; replace the whole joint if the cover is cracked. | Inspection and parts; get a specialist quote |
Differences between JDM & USDM
This page covers the Japanese-market Pajero only. US safety eligibility begins 25 years after the individual car's manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)). EPA's separate 21-year exemption requires the original unmodified configuration or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission-control system. State registration rules vary. Canada uses a 15-year threshold based on the manufacture month and year; customs and provincial registration remain separate.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Verify code, engine, timing drive, Super Select and steering in that order.
Critical Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Generation History
Generation span (Japan) (1991–1999)
- Launch January 1991; the third generation followed in September or October 1999 (Mitsubishi's records differ)
- Sale dates, not a production span
Launch (January 1991)
- Four bodies; 3.0 V6 and 2.5 intercooled turbo diesel; 5MT or 4AT
- World-first Super Select 4WD
3.5 V6 and 2.8 diesel (July 1993)
- 3.5 V6 and the 2.8 intercooled turbo diesel (4M40) added
Wide update and GDI (May 1997)
- Pajero Wide models gain wheel arches and a 3.5 V6 GDI
Pajero Evolution (September or October 1997)
- Mitsubishi's history says September 1997; the Motor-Fan catalogue entry is October 1997
- 280 PS 3.5 DOHC MIVEC, three doors
Market Data
Listed: the Exceed Z, the Pajero Wide and the Evolution in manual and automatic form.
Reported Counts & Rarity
| Generation | Years | Reported Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second generation (Japan) | 1991–1999 | 390,714 domestic sales (not production) | Best Car's figure. Mitsubishi's 470,000 covers first and second generation Japanese sales together with no cut-off stated, so the populations differ. No Evolution production total was verified. |
In Pictures
The Buyer's Read
Start with the complete type designation, body, engine and build date. Check the timing drive: Mitsubishi lists the 4D56 and 6G74 as belt engines and the 4M40 as a chain engine.
Cycle the Super Select modes, and remember that commercial vans may have conventional part-time 4WD. Have the steering ball joint inspected; Mitsubishi's notice includes second-generation codes and the Evolution.
Treat an Evolution as a separate purchase: 280 PS, independent rear suspension and Recaro seats. Mitsubishi dates its introduction to September 1997, while Motor-Fan's catalogue entry is dated October.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc mean?
- They are the Super Select modes. In the basic 4H mode the centre differential absorbs front-rear speed differences. For the later Super Select II, webCG describes 2H as economical two-wheel drive, 4HLc as centre-differential lock and 4LLc as low range with the lock. Mitsubishi says the driver can change between 2WD and 4WD on the move below 100 km/h.
- Does a 4M40 have a timing belt or a chain?
- A chain, in Mitsubishi's list. The same list gives the 4D56 and the 6G74 V6 as belt engines, so ask for the service record that fits the car's engine.
- What engines did Japan get?
- At launch in January 1991 a 3.0 V6 and a 2.5 intercooled turbo diesel. In July 1993 a 3.5 V6 and the 2.8 intercooled turbo diesel (4M40); in May 1997 a 3.5 GDI on the Wide models; and the 3.5 DOHC MIVEC in the Evolution.
- Does the Pajero Evolution have an automatic?
- Yes. The Motor-Fan catalogue lists the E-V55W with a five-speed automatic and full-time 4WD as well as the manual.
- When did the Evolution launch?
- Mitsubishi's history says September 1997, and Car and Driver Japan reproduces a September 1997 catalogue. Motor-Fan dates its catalogue entry October 1997.
- Did the Evolution win the Dakar?
- The 1998 Paris-Dakar was a Mitsubishi sweep: Fontenay, Shinozuka and Saby were first to third in T2 Evolutions, with Masuoka fourth in a Challenger. The race cars were restricted to 260 PS.
- Can a second-generation Pajero be imported to the US?
- US safety eligibility begins 25 years after the individual car's manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)). EPA's separate 21-year exemption requires the original unmodified configuration or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission-control system. State registration rules vary. Canada uses a 15-year threshold based on the manufacture month and year; customs and provincial registration remain separate.
Sources & References
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