Cars And Track Staff
If you’ve been following Cars and Track, you know we have a soft spot for rugged, boxy legends that actually know their way around a trail. The mourning period for the Montero (or Pajero, for our global readers) has been long—two decades long, in fact. But the wait is officially over.
Mitsubishi is re-entering the ring with a revived Montero, and it’s clear they aren’t interested in making just another soft-road crossover.
The Architecture: Strength in Partnership
In a move that mirrors the successful Rogue/Outlander collaboration, Mitsubishi is tapping into the Nissan Alliance for the Montero’s bones.
- The Platform: This is a true body-on-frame beast. While rumors initially pointed toward the Frontier mid-size chassis, latest reports suggest it may actually share underpinnings with the massive, rock-solid Nissan Armada/Patrol platform.
- The Stance: Expect a significantly larger footprint than the Outlander, with short overhangs and the kind of ground clearance that makes curbs look like pebbles.
Power to Play: Twin-Turbos and PHEV Dreams
Mitsubishi isn’t bringing a knife to a gunfight. The powertrain lineup is designed to go toe-to-toe with the new Land Cruiser and GX 550:
- The Heavy Hitter: A twin-turbocharged V6 is the expected standard, likely borrowed from Nissan’s VR35DDTT engine family. We’re looking at plenty of low-end torque for crawling and towing.
- The Modern Twist: True to Mitsubishi’s current identity, a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) version is almost a certainty. Imagine the Outlander PHEV’s efficiency scaled up with a larger battery and more powerful motors to handle a 6,000lb+ SUV.
Luxury Meets the Mud
Inside, the Montero is jumping several classes. The days of plasticky dashboards are gone, replaced by:
- Premium Materials: Nappa leather, open-pore wood, and tactile dials designed to be used even if you’re wearing off-road gloves.
- Tech-Forward Cabin: A massive 12-inch touchscreen with dedicated off-road telemetry—pitch, roll, and “see-through” camera tech to spot obstacles under the front wheels.
Timeline and Pricing
The legend is slated to debut as a 2027 model, with sales expected to kick off sometime next year.
As for the price of admission? Quality and frame-on-body capability aren’t cheap anymore. We expect the Montero to start in the low-$60,000 range, putting it right in the crosshairs of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the higher trims of the Ford Bronco.
