The off-road SUV would be based on the global market Pajero that's arriving in the third quarter of this year.
It's no secret that Mitsubishi Motors isn’t exactly thriving in the US market. The brand currently only has three offerings on dealer lots, one of which was introduced during Obama’s first term. That said, the automaker is steadfast in its commitment to rebuilding its American presence, highlighting its latest vehicle plans to US and Canadian dealers at a Chicago conference in early June—and while there was reportedly a lot of excitement around the upcoming product blitz among the retailers, one model in particular has piqued our interest: a reborn Mitsubishi Montero.
Word of the off-roader’s rumored revival comes by way of Automotive News, which reportedly spoke to several anonymous conference attendees about what was seen and discussed behind closed doors. According to the report, Mitsubishi executives told dealers they are actively considering reviving the Montero nameplate for the US, once again using the upcoming global market Pajero SUV as the basis for a North American product. That SUV is slated to be unveiled during the third quarter of 2026, and will be based on the existing Triton pickup.
View Price on AmazonAN reports that the SUV is an upright and boxy vehicle comparable with the Toyota Land Cruiser, with off-road styling cues and around 12 inches of ground clearance. No potential pricing or powertrain considerations were reportedly shared with the dealer group at the conference.
While the Montero was discontinued in the United States back in 2006, the nameplate and its global counterpart played a significant role in birthing the SUV segment of today. The Pajero earned its reputation as a trusty off-road companion, but its move to unibody construction and four-wheel independent suspension proved SUVs didn’t need to punish their drivers to be capable.
The SUV also happens to be an icon in the world of off-road motorsports, as it holds the title as the winningest nameplate in Dakar Rally history. The race-trimmed SUVs managed to win 12 times in 25 years, knocking off seven straight victories from 2001 to 2007. The homologation requirement-filing Pajero Evolution is perhaps the single coolest SUV we never officially got here in the States.
Given the continued success of off-road-focused vehicles here in the US, a Montero revival seems like a natural fit for Mitsubishi. They could certainly use the sales success to counter the 14-percent sales decline from 2025 that's been followed up by a dragging start to 2026.
Don't get too excited just yet however, as those in the room reportedly told AN that it is likely that the SUV would arrive for the 2030 model year, if at all. Personally, I can’t wait to see what that actually means for a brand that deserves better than its current station.
Source: roadandtrack.com
