Mitsubishi to add compact and small SUV models to Pajero
Mitsubishi's COO announced plans to expand the new Pajero lineup with a compact kei car and a globally-focused small SUV, aiming to compete with models
Mitsubishi Motors will expand its newly launched Pajero lineup with two smaller SUV models. President and COO Keisuke Kishiura announced the plan during the world premiere of the new Triton-based Pajero, which replaces both the Pajero Sport and the discontinued full-size model.
One planned model is a compact SUV taking the form of a kei car. This would mark the Pajero nameplate's return to the city car segment since the Pajero Mini. This model is intended to rival the Suzuki Jimny. It is unlikely to use a rugged ladder-frame chassis, instead probably sharing its unibody underpinnings with the existing eK platform.
Global Focus for Small SUV
The second planned model is a "small SUV" expected to have greater global appeal. Mitsubishi envisions this as a less massive and less expensive version of the new Pajero. The company is considering two distinct development paths for this vehicle, each with significant implications for its production and market positioning.
One possibility is a shrunken-down ladder-frame model similar to the global Suzuki Jimny or the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. This approach would retain substantial off-road capability, preserving the Pajero brand's credibility. A body-on-frame model could also be twinned with the forthcoming Nissan Xterra, potentially allowing it to be sold in the United States under the Montero name.
Platform and Segment Considerations
The alternative path involves using a unibody construction, potentially based on the Common Modular Family (CMF) platform shared by the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail. This would place the vehicle in the competitive C-segment. That market includes traditional Japanese rivals like the Honda CR-V and a growing number of Chinese competitors.
Mitsubishi has prior experience with this formula, having sold the Pininfarina-designed Pajero iO from 1998 to 2007. That unibody soft-roader used Pajero styling with Lancer-derived petrol engines. A new unibody model would let Mitsubishi capitalize on the trend for ruggedly-styled SUVs. Chinese models like the electric iCaur V23 and the popular Jetour T2 mimic classic 4x4 designs while offering the comfort and efficiency of unibody vehicles.
Competitive Landscape
The move is a direct response to shifting market dynamics. The report notes that Mitsubishi has ceded considerable market share to Chinese competitors in recent years. By use the strong brand equity of the Pajero name, the company aims to recapture sales in key segments. The final decision on the small SUV's architecture will balance off-road prowess against mainstream buyer demands for fuel efficiency and on-road comfort.
The compact kei car model appears more defined, targeting a specific niche. Its development on an existing platform suggests a focused production strategy for the Japanese domestic market and similar regions. The expansion plan signals Mitsubishi's intent to broaden the Pajero brand's reach from a single model into a comprehensive family of vehicles.
