The as-yet-unrevealed successor to the Mitsubishi Pajero has effectively been confirmed for SA, with the brand’s local boss claiming it will be a “gamechanger”…
- Pajero successor to be “a gamechanger for the brand”
- Mitsubishi’s outgoing SA boss “excited” about new SUV
- Will upcoming large SUV replace the Pajero Sport, too?
The outgoing head of Mitsubishi in South Africa has confirmed the as-yet-unrevealed successor to the legendary Mitsubishi Pajero is planned for local shores, billing the upcoming flagship SUV as a “gamechanger for the brand”.
Thato Magasa, outgoing Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, made the comments during an interview conducted in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
“In terms of our 4×4 technology, there are very few vehicles that can match up from a standard and quality perspective. So, there’s big growth and focus [going] into our 4×4 vehicles,” said Magasa, who is in the process of moving into a new role as CEO of Tata Passenger Vehicles in SA (a brand that, like Mitsubishi, is distributed locally by Motus).
“That’s going to come through with Pajero Sport – we’ve just had a facelift – [and] we’ve got Triton ‘Super High Power’ coming next year,” he added, referring to the 150 kW flagship version of Mitsubishi’s bakkie due to arrive in Mzansi in the opening half of 2026.
“And the plan, once Pajero Sport comes to an end, is then for the relaunch of what may look and feel like a box-shaped SUV that many people would have been familiar with in South Africa – that they loved,” he revealed.
“So, we’re quite excited about that relaunch, because I think that is going to be a gamechanger for the brand. I’ve personally seen the vehicle and it’s certainly going to elevate the brand,” Magasa predicted, before quipping: “I think they used to call it a Pajero”.
Production of the Pajero (known in some markets as the Montero) started way back in 1981. After 4 generations, the nameplate was put out to pasture in 2021. In South Africa, the Pajero was officially discontinued towards the end of that year, with Mitsubishi Motors SA marking the occasion with a limited-edition Pajero “Legend 100” package.
Little is known about the upcoming Pajero successor, though a recent report from NHK World Japan suggested a reveal would take place towards the end of 2026. That publication furthermore claimed the new model would be produced in Thailand (rather than in Japan) and exported to global markets.
While Mitsubishi’s global division has thus far remained entirely mum on its large SUV plans, there are 2 theories currently doing the rounds. The first is that both the decade-old Pajero Sport and the long-since-departed Pajero will receive direct successors (if rather belatedly in the case of the latter).
The 2nd possibility is that the Japanese automaker will offer a single new model – likely badged simply as the “Pajero” – to cover both segments. Based on Magasa’s remark that the upcoming flagship SUV will arrive only “once Pajero Sport comes to an end”, this hypothesis seems the most plausible to us.
If that indeed turns out to be the case, we’d speculate the new flagship SUV would be based on the 6th-generation Triton’s platform and thus likely also share that bakkie’s powertrains (perhaps the 2.4-litre twin-turbodiesel motor that generates 150 kW and 470 Nm?). Expect more details to emerge in the coming weeks and months…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Has the successor to the Mitsubishi Pajero been confirmed for South Africa?
A: Yes, the outgoing Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, Thato Magasa, confirmed the as-yet-unrevealed successor to the legendary Mitsubishi Pajero is planned for local shores, billing it as a “gamechanger for the brand”.
Q: When is the new Pajero successor expected to arrive, and will it replace the Pajero Sport?
A: The vehicle’s arrival is expected after the current Pajero Sport comes to the end of its lifecycle, as Magasa stated the relaunch would happen “once Pajero Sport comes to an end”. This suggests the new flagship SUV will likely be a single model (perhaps just called ‘Pajero’) to cover both the previous Pajero and Pajero Sport segments.
Q: What is known about the design and potential platform of the Pajero successor?
A: The outgoing MD, Thato Magasa, described the vehicle as one that “may look and feel like a box-shaped SUV that many people would have been familiar with in South Africa”. It is speculated the new model will be based on the 6th-generation Triton’s platform, potentially sharing its powertrains, such as the 2.4-litre twin-turbodiesel motor.
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