Mitsubishi is reportedly preparing two smaller Pajero models to sit below its returning flagship, including a compact crossover and a kei-class SUV.
The Pajero, also known as the Montero in the United States, is set to return for 2027 as a midsize, ladder-frame SUV. According to the source, Mitsubishi wants to build a broader family around the name rather than limit the comeback to a single model. The expansion is expected to include a compact crossover positioned against the Toyota RAV4 and a much smaller kei-class SUV that could revive the Pajero Mini badge.
Mitsubishi confirmed in May that it intended to develop Pajero into a family of off-road-focused vehicles. The latest reports add a possible timetable to that plan. The flagship model due later this year could be followed by a compact unibody crossover around 2028 or 2029, while a kei-class derivative may arrive around 2030.
The compact model is described as the more significant of the two additions. Rather than adapting an existing Nissan or Renault vehicle, Mitsubishi is reportedly working on a dedicated platform. Selected components from the Outlander could still be used to control development costs, while allowing the smaller Pajero to retain a distinct identity within the brand’s range.
Nikkei Asia reports that Mitsubishi plans to set the compact Pajero apart from models such as the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 by placing greater emphasis on four-wheel-drive technology. The vehicle is also expected to use hybrid powertrain technology. The source presents it as a spiritual successor to the Pajero iO, sold between 1999 and 2007 and known as the Pajero Pinin in Europe.
The smallest member of the planned family is expected to take the form of a kei-class unibody SUV. Reports say it could bring back the Pajero Mini name, which has been absent for more than 15 years. The earlier Pajero Mini was sold in Japan as a kei-car alternative to the Suzuki Jimny, and the new version is reportedly planned for around 2030.
The kei-class model is said to combine increased ground clearance with available all-wheel drive. Hybrid technology may be borrowed from the Xforce crossover. Japanese renderings referenced by the source show a design influenced by the Delica Mini kei-class minivan, with upright proportions, prominent cladding and styling intended to suggest off-road ability.
The source says the Pajero Mini is unlikely to be offered in the United States, while the larger compact model could have stronger potential there. It points to the combined sales volume of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V as evidence of the size of the market, and suggests the compact Pajero could be positioned as a tougher-looking alternative to the Outlander.
Mitsubishi has not provided final specifications, pricing or confirmed launch details for the two smaller models in the source material. For now, the reported plan places the compact crossover after the returning flagship, followed later by the kei-class Pajero Mini.
