Introduced in 1982, this Mitsubishi SUV established the company’s modern four-wheel-drive identity and became one of its most recognizable global nameplates. It was sold under different market names, including Montero in some regions, while sharing the same underlying Pajero lineage. The original model combined genuine off-road ability with more refined road manners than the traditional utility vehicles of its era, helping broaden the appeal of rugged 4x4s to everyday buyers.
Over time, the nameplate evolved through several major generations and body styles, growing from the early short-wheelbase 3-door concept into a full-size, family-oriented SUV with more comfort and sophistication. Its reputation was strengthened by extensive rally-raid success, especially in the Dakar Rally, where the model became closely associated with Mitsubishi’s motorsport engineering. That competition pedigree helped define the vehicle’s image as a durable, long-distance off-road machine rather than simply a lifestyle SUV.
In later years, the model remained an important flagship for Mitsubishi in many markets and continued to serve as the brand’s halo off-road vehicle. Production for the Japanese market ended in 2019, and the overseas version followed in 2021, closing a long run that made it one of Mitsubishi’s most significant and enduring utility vehicles.