Mitsubishi Montero
Mitsubishi
Photo: Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mitsubishi Montero: The Rugged Off-Roader Known Globally as Pajero
The Montero was the North American name for Mitsubishi's legendary body-on-frame off-roader, a Dakar-winning 4x4 sold as the Pajero in most of the world.
Sold in the US and parts of the Americas as the Montero (and Pajero or Shogun elsewhere), this was Mitsubishi's serious off-road SUV. Across its run it earned a reputation for genuine backcountry capability, combining a tough chassis, locking differentials, and proven four-wheel-drive hardware.
The Montero gained credibility through Mitsubishi's dominance in the Dakar Rally, where Pajero-based machines racked up an extraordinary number of overall victories, cementing the model's tough image. Road-going versions ranged from utilitarian early models to the more refined, comfort-oriented later generations with independent suspension and V6 power.
Mitsubishi withdrew the Montero from the US market after 2006 as large body-on-frame SUVs fell out of favor there, but it continued in other regions for years. Today the Montero and its Pajero siblings enjoy a devoted following among overlanders and off-road enthusiasts who value durability and parts simplicity.