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Mitsubishi Pajero

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Mitsubishi Pajero: Mitsubishi Pajero: The Dakar-Conquering Off-Road Legend
Photo: DY5W-sport / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Mitsubishi Pajero: The Dakar-Conquering Off-Road Legend

The Pajero is Mitsubishi's iconic off-road SUV, a Dakar Rally legend whose toughness and capability earned a worldwide following over four generations.

Launched in 1982, the Pajero quickly established itself as one of the most capable off-road vehicles of its era. Sold as the Montero in the Americas and Shogun in the UK, it combined rugged four-wheel-drive engineering with increasing levels of on-road comfort as the generations progressed.

The Pajero's competition record is the stuff of legend. Mitsubishi's rally team racked up a remarkable string of overall victories in the Dakar Rally, including a long winning streak in the 2000s, making the Pajero one of the most successful vehicles in the event's history. That motorsport pedigree was central to its tough, dependable image.

Over four generations the Pajero evolved from a utilitarian workhorse into a sophisticated SUV with independent suspension, monocoque construction in later versions, and refined V6 power. Production of the full-size Pajero wound down at the end of the 2010s, but its legacy as an off-road icon endures.

Frequently asked questions about Mitsubishi Pajero

Why is the Pajero famous?
The Pajero is famous for its off-road capability and a remarkable record of overall victories in the Dakar Rally.
What other names is the Pajero sold under?
The Pajero is sold as the Montero in the Americas and the Shogun in the United Kingdom.
When was the Pajero introduced?
The Pajero launched in 1982 and ran through four generations of the full-size model.
Is the Pajero still in production?
Production of the full-size Pajero wound down at the end of the 2010s, though the nameplate lived on in other forms in some markets.
How many Dakar wins does the Pajero have?
Pajero-based machines won the Dakar Rally a record number of times, including a dominant winning streak in the 2000s.

More on the Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi brought the Pajero back as a real Land Cruiser rival
Mitsubishi brought the Pajero back as a real Land Cruiser rival

Mitsubishi revealed a fifth-generation Pajero on September 2, a body-on-frame SUV built in Thailand and aimed at the Toyota Land Cruiser. It is the first new Pajero since 2021, with a ladder frame from the Triton pickup, 9.1 inches of ground clearance, and a 2.4-liter turbodiesel.

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