--- title: "Spied: Who’s Ready For The Mitsubishi Montero’s Return?" date: "2025-07-14" modified: "2026-02-03" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" - name: "Andrew P. Collins" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/andrew-p-collins" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2026-mitsubishi-pajero-spy-shots" categories: - "Mitsubishi News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" - "Spy Photos" tags: - "Mitsubishi" - "suv/crossover" --- # Spied: Who’s Ready For The Mitsubishi Montero’s Return? ![Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero prototype]() *\Stefan Baldauf / SB-Medien\* The [Mitsubishi Montero]() left the US market in the mid-2000s after three generations, but it seems the model might be [making a comeback](). The tea leaves (and spy shots) suggest it'll share a platform with the Nissan Armada—take a look at this latest batch of secret prototype images and let us know what you think. As we put it in July: The Pajero is back! No, not [that one](). *[That]()* one. If you're a member of our U.S. audience, you might remember Mitsubishi's large SUV as the Montero. (Though the Pajero got two-door variants, too.) Then again, it was last sold here two decades ago, so you'd be forgiven for not remembering it at all. Elsewhere in the world, the Pajero has been on Hiatus for several years—axed as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy that also saw Mitsubishi curtail future plans for Europe and North America. Since then, the global Renault-Nissan (*and Mitsubishi*) Alliance has been hard at work updating its brands' SUV lineups, and somewhere along the line, a new Pajero was green-lit Here's the latest batch of spy shots from our camera-wielding colleagues in Europe: - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() - ![]() [][][] We scanned the QR code on the Bosch sticker, but unfortunately, it just links to a 147-page PDF about the company's data security. It did not unlock a secret New Pajero Evo for the US market. Our spies expect the revived [Pajero]() to be sold in several overseas markets as a budget-friendly alternative to some of the Alliance's more expensive 4x4s. It is expected to be offered with a four-cylinder, hybrid-electric powertrain that may future-proof it somewhat, but could cause it to butt up against European emissions regulations in short order. Whether it's available as a diesel will also likely be market-dependent. Initially, we figured it was highly unlikely to see the Pajero in the United States. But now, we're starting to think Mitsubishi may in fact sell this stateside on the same underpinnings that yield the next Nissan Armada, [Xterra]() (yep, that's coming too), and Frontier. Here's the first batch of images that came through in July 2025: - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() - ![2026 Mitsubishi Pajero Spy Photo]() [][][] ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()