Mitsubishi Pajero: The evening sun cast long shadows across the Western Ghats as we pulled over at a viewpoint. Ahead of us, a dust-covered Pajero with Rajasthan plates was already parked, its owner leaning against the bonnet, surveying the valley below. “Twenty years and still running strong,” he said, noticing my admiring glance at his battle-scarred SUV. “Nowadays they don’t make them like this.” That chance encounter last monsoon rekindled my fascination with what might be the most underappreciated legend on Indian roads—the mighty Mitsubishi Pajero, a vehicle whose reputation among off-road enthusiasts remains undiminished despite its official departure from our market.
Built Like a Tank: Design and Build Quality
First impressions can be deceiving, but not with the Pajero. Its boxy, utilitarian design speaks of function over form—an increasingly rare quality in today’s world of swoopy crossovers pretending to be SUVs. The upright windshield, prominent wheel arches, and minimal overhangs weren’t styling choices; they were necessities for a vehicle designed to conquer terrain that would make modern soft-roaders weep.
During my cousin’s wedding in Himachal last year, his 2008 Pajero Sport became the unexpected center of attention, drawing more curious onlookers than the groom’s BMW X5. “Kitne kilometer chali hai?” (How many kilometers has it run?) asked an elderly uncle, visibly impressed when told it had crossed the 2,00,000 km mark with its original engine and gearbox still performing flawlessly.
The build quality explains this longevity. Door handles that don’t feel like they’ll snap off in sub-zero temperatures, body panels that retain their alignment despite years of abuse, and interiors that age gracefully rather than disintegrate—these were Pajero hallmarks that justified its premium pricing. My neighbor’s 2010 model still has functioning power windows and air conditioning—mundane features until you realize they’ve endured a decade of Rajasthan’s punishing climate without complaint.
Heart of a Warrior: Engine and Performance
Under the hood, different Pajero iterations featured various powerplants, but the 2.8-liter intercooled turbodiesel remains the most iconic in Indian contexts. Producing modest power by today’s standards (around 120 bhp depending on the variant), it nonetheless delivered locomotive-like torque (295 Nm) that proved perfect for Indian conditions.
Last December, during an impromptu road trip to Rann of Kutch, my friend’s aging Pajero humbled several newer vehicles when the tarmac disappeared. “It’s not about horsepower,” he explained while effortlessly navigating a riverbed that had stranded a new European crossover. “It’s about having the right kind of power exactly when you need it.”
The manual transmission, with its long throws and mechanical feel, wouldn’t win any refinement awards, but it connected driver to machine in a way that modern electronic shifters simply can’t match. During our trek through Spiti Valley’s notorious roads three summers ago, this connection proved invaluable—allowing precise control when navigating rock-strewn mountain passes where electronic nannies would have been constantly confused and intervening.
Conqueror of Terrains: Off-Road Capabilities
While most luxury SUVs never venture beyond broken tarmac, the Pajero built its reputation by going precisely where others couldn’t. The Super Select 4WD system with its lockable center differential and low-range transfer case wasn’t cutting-edge technology, but its mechanical simplicity meant it simply worked, without fuss or drama, trip after trip.
During a particularly nasty cloudburst near Manali, our convoy included three modern SUVs and one aging Pajero. When a landslide blocked our planned route, only the Pajero successfully navigated the mud-slicked alternative path to higher ground. “Mere paas Pajero hai,” (I have a Pajero) its owner joked later at the campsite—a clever play on the famous Bollywood dialogue that perfectly captured the vehicle’s capabilities.
The Ownership Experience: Costs and Considerations
Owning a Pajero in 2025 isn’t for the faint-hearted or thin-walleted. Parts availability has become increasingly challenging, though specialist importers and the tight-knit Pajero owner community offer solutions for most issues. Fuel economy remains firmly in the single digits around town, improving slightly on highways—a consideration in times of rising fuel prices.
Service costs vary widely depending on condition and usage, but budget at least twice what you’d spend on a mainstream SUV. My uncle’s meticulously maintained 2009 model costs approximately ₹25,000 annually in preventive maintenance—an investment he considers trivial given the vehicle’s capabilities and reliability.
Mitsubishi Pajero: The Final Verdict: An Endangered Species Worth Preserving
The Mitsubishi Pajero represents a rapidly vanishing breed—vehicles built with purpose rather than focus groups, engineered to last rather than to hit price points, and designed to perform in the real world rather than just on brochure specifications.
For those fortunate enough to find a well-maintained example, it offers capabilities that few modern vehicles can match, wrapped in a package that commands respect rather than merely attention. In an automotive landscape increasingly dominated by style over substance, the Pajero stands as a rugged reminder of what SUVs were originally meant to be—genuine go-anywhere vehicles that delivered on their promises without electronic gimmickry or marketing hyperbole.
As that Rajasthani owner at the viewpoint said while starting his dust-covered steed: “They’re not making new ones anymore, so I’m keeping this one forever.” After experiencing what this legendary machine can do, it’s hard to argue with his logic.