New Mitsubishi Pajero vs Toyota Prado: Early Comparison Revealed

The Mitsubishi has now confirmed the revival of the legendary model Pajero, which brings back a classic rivalry from the past in the world of SUVs, making all the off-road lovers in Pakistan quite excited about the legendary model.

The Mitsubishi will introduce the latest generation of Pajero in the global market in Autumn 2026, which is after a period of five years of the legendary SUV.

Everyone interested in SUVs in Pakistan who is over 30 years old must have a Pajero story. Some may have been driving a Pajero through the hills of Gilgit-Baltistan, while others may have witnessed a convoy of Pajeros overcoming northern Pakistan’s roads decades ago when there were no crossovers at all in the country. There is hardly any other SUV that garners such loyalty in Pakistan as does the Pajero. In fact, there are many fans of the Pajero who regard the second and third generations as one of the strongest SUVs ever sold in Pakistan.

But the real question is whether the new model of Mitsubishi’s flagship SUV can compete with Toyota Land Cruiser Prado which rules the market in Pakistan in its price class.

Mitsubishi has already provided enough data on their new car for its comparison with Toyota.

Pajero Back With High Hopes

It is official that the new Pajero will be built using the strong and rugged ladder frame platform of the Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck. This platform will then be combined with an exclusive interior design and a special suspension system to provide both good off-roading performance and passenger comfort.

The company feels that the very strategy which was successful in making older generations of Pajero so popular should now succeed for the latest one as well.

Pajero is a name that carries many emotional memories for Pakistanis. Back in the days of 90’s and early 2000’s, Pajero could be seen on all major routes of Pakistan ranging from cities like Karachi and Lahore to remote destinations such as Skardu, Chitral, and Balochistan.

Also Read: Pakistan’s Favorite Off-Roader Returns as Mitsubishi Confirms Pajero Comeback

Even today, decades-old Pajeros continue to tackle some of Pakistan’s toughest terrain.

Prado Already Leads The Segment

Toyota enters this battle from a position of strength.

The new Land Cruiser Prado is a perfect combination of technology, strength, high resale price, and the largest dealer network in the world. The Land Cruiser Prado is still a favorite among businessmen, politicians, bureaucrats, adventure seekers, and SUV fans in Pakistan.

Unlike the Pajero that still has many mysteries surrounding it, customers already know what the Prado provides.

The company has made massive investments in safety technologies, hybrid engines, luxury interiors, and driver assistance systems to keep the Prado at its peak performance in the international market segment of SUVs.

Pajero Vs Parado: Early Comparison Revealed

*Estimated based on international positioning and import costs.

Pajero’s Biggest Weapon

Toyota dominates today’s market, but Mitsubishi possesses something money cannot easily buy: nostalgia.

Thousands of Pakistani motorists still regard the second and third-generation Pajero as some of the finest SUVs ever sold in the country. Many examples remain on the road despite crossing the twenty-year mark.

The Pajero is also one of the best in motor sports achievements in the history of vehicles. The nameplate was successful in winning 12 Dakar Rally championships for Mitsubishi and earned the reputation of being tough, which very few SUVs have.

This tradition still rings true with the Pakistanis’ passion for SUVs.

The demand for Pajero SUVs remains high despite the discontinuation of the model by Mitsubishi in 2021.

Prado Dominates Where Buyers Spend Money

Although nostalgia is in Mitsubishi’s favor, facts are in favor of Toyota.

Prados are easily obtainable for parts, have more dealer backing, better servicing facilities, and also high resale value. All these considerations carry more weight in making a purchase decision than nostalgia.

An individual who spends several crores buying a luxury SUV takes into account more than nostalgia.

Currently, Toyota has the upper hand in all four of them.

This advantage explains why the Prado continues to dominate premium SUV sales across Pakistan and much of the Middle East.

Price Could Decide The Battle

The price factor may finally decide whether the Pajero can compete seriously with the Prado.

In case the new SUV is priced far lower than the Prado, yet provides the same off-road capabilities along with state-of-the-art technology, then Mitsubishi could lure those buyers who respect the Pajero brand but do not want to pay as much as a Prado does.

Nevertheless, should Mitsubishi price the car too close to Toyota’s top-range SUV, then buyers will keep on going with their choice of Prado since it is known for better reputation and resale value.

Focus Pakistan Analysis

The Pajero comeback means far more to Pakistani SUV enthusiasts than a typical vehicle launch.

As stated by Focus Pakistan, the return of the Pajero is going to be successful for Mitsubishi without the need for this SUV to outsell the Prado. All Mitsubishi needs to do is give potential customers a good enough reason not to purchase the Prado.

The Prado remains on top in this category due to its unmatched network of dealerships, high resale value, and reliability. Nevertheless, there is one very important factor working in favor of the Pajero and this is brand loyalty; thousands of Pakistani car owners still like this SUV despite the fact that Mitsubishi has stopped producing it for world markets.

The biggest difficulty Mitsubishi is likely to face would not be about the Pajero’s ability to go off-road since this SUV has proved itself in this respect. The Japanese automobile manufacturer must convince the buyer that Mitsubishi has the capability of providing what Toyota can provide.

If Mitsubishi manages to merge modern design and technology with the toughness that the previous generation Pajeros were known for, this new vehicle would be one of the most highly anticipated vehicle introductions ever.

Verdict: Can Pajero Beat Prado?

At this point, Toyota Prado still wins hands down in terms of safety.

The SUV enjoys consumer confidence, high demand, solid reliability, and outstanding resale values in Pakistan and the entire Middle Eastern region.

However, it doesn’t have to beat Prado to succeed.

All it has to do is produce a tough, reliable, and advanced SUV, which pays tribute to its predecessor while providing a true competitor in the segment, which hasn’t had much of them in years.

One thing that seems certain already. Mitsubishi has managed to revive the feud that has been shaping the SUV market in Pakistan for decades. With the international launch scheduled to take place in 2026, many Pakistanis will be watching each and every step that the company takes.

The only thing that remains unanswered is that if you were able to see both the SUVs side by side, would you go for Pajero or keep the Prado?

Faraz Ali Ansari

Faraz Ali Ansari is the Founder & Editor of Focus Pakistan and Founder & CEO of Focus Public Relations. With more than 22 years of experience in journalism, media relations and strategic communications, he covers business, economy, aviation, technology, public policy and corporate affairs. He has worked with leading national and international organizations across multiple sectors.

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