Confirmed to launch in South Africa by the end of 2027, we take a closer look at how the new Mitsubishi Pajero stacks up against four rivals.
The new Mitsubishi Pajero was officially revealed on 2 September 2026, with the Japanese automaker’s local arm confirming the fifth-generation Pajero will arrive in South Africa by the end of 2027. In the ever-competitive local adventure family SUV segment, the Pajero will have to prove its mettle against an array of rivals. We take a closer look at how the Pajero compares to the Ford Everest, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, GWM Tank 500, and Isuzu MU-X.
Dimensions
The new Mitsubishi Pajero shares its ladder-frame underpinnings with the Triton. The Pajero measures 4 920 mm in length, 1 925 mm in width, 1 910 mm in height, and 2 870 mm between the front and rear axles. The Pajero has a ground clearance of up to 230 mm. The approach, breakover, and departure angles are 30.4, 22.6, and 25.8 degrees, respectively.
Compared to its rivals, the Mitsubishi’s length is similar to the Ford Everest and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The Blue Oval brand’s Ranger-based seven-seater SUV is slightly narrower than the Pajero, while the Land Cruiser Prado is the widest of the five vehicles featured here, at 1 980 mm. The GWM Tank 500 is the longest, at 5 078 mm. The Isuzu is the shortest, at 4 850 mm long.
The Pajero sports up to 230 mm of ground clearance (when fitted with 20-inch wheels). The Everest and Land Cruiser Prado offers up to 226 and 216 mm of ground clearance, respectively, while the Tank 500 has a 224 mm ground clearance. The MU-X has a 235 mm ground clearance.
Powertrains
Compared to the Triton Bi-Turbo, which employs the automaker’s new twin-turbocharged 2.4-litre oil-burner, the Pajero will be powered by a “specially developed” single-turbo 2.4-litre unit. The Pajero’s four-cylinder diesel motor produces 150 kW and 480 N.m of torque. It is worth noting that “select specifications” will produce slightly less twisting force, at 470 N.m. Power is delivered to Mitsubishi’s Super Select-II four-wheel-drive system – the latter featuring 2H, 4H, 4HLc, and 4LLc drivetrain settings – through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Although less torquey, the Pajero’s power output matches the Land Cruiser Prado’s. The most powerful diesel engine in this group is Ford’s 3.0-litre V6, which produces 184 kW, followed by the Tank 500 3.0TD (170 kW). Of the diesel vehicles featured here, the Tank 500 3.0TD churns out the most torque, at 620 N.m. The MU-X 3.0TD is endowed with 140 kW and 450 N.m. If you prefer new-energy motoring, we’ve included the Tank 500 2.0T HEV (hybrid electric vehicle). This model’s 2.0-litre petrol-electric setup produces a combined system output of 255 kW and 648 N.m.
Pricing
While Mitsubishi has yet to announce local pricing for the new Pajero, a fair bet would be that it will be priced within a similar bracket as the competition (with four-wheel drivetrains) featured here. The Isuzu MU-X 3.0TD 4WD is priced from R939 700, while the V6-powered Everest derivatives, all of which featuring 4WD, are priced from R1 149 000. The least expensive Tank 500 3.0TD 4WD will set you back R929 900, with the HEV variant demanding a R1 228 950 asking price. The Land Cruiser Prado is priced from R1 369 200.
- Mitsubishi Pajero — TBC
- Ford Everest 3.0TD V6 4WD — from R1 149 000
- GWM Tank 500 3.0TD 4WD — from R929 900
- GWM Tank 500 2.0T HEV 4WD — R1 228 950
- Isuzu MU-X 3.0TD 4WD — from R939 700
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado — from R1 369 200
