“No Matter the Road, You’ll Always Make It Back” — The Development Philosophy Behind the Engineers Who Shaped the Pajero

With previous generations of the Pajero, off-road performance had been refined primarily through mechanical systems such as the suspension, four-wheel-drive system, and differential locks. With the fourth-generation, however, the integration of electronic controls opened up new possibilities that would have been difficult to achieve with mechanical controls alone.

Hiroshi Funo still remembers his first experience with these technologies.

“What was fascinating was that there were situations where electronic traction control could provide better wheelspin recovery than a differential lock. At the time, it felt like an entirely new world. Even today, if you drive a fourth-generation Pajero, the benefits of the independent suspension really shine through, and it handles exceptionally well when driving at a slightly faster pace on rough roads.”

The introduction of electronic controls did not diminish the importance of the vehicle’s underlying mechanical systems. On the contrary, those technologies could only perform at their best because the basic foundations, namely the body structure, suspension, and four-wheel-drive system, had already been so thoroughly engineered.

Yet beyond its technology, the fourth-generation Pajero retained something less tangible but equally important: the character that had defined the model since the beginning.

Nishioka describes the feeling succinctly.

“When you drive it in 2H mode (rear-wheel drive), it still gives you a sense of reassurance. The engine’s weight isn’t pushed too far forward, and when you’re driving on rough surfaces, it just feels right.”

The experience of driving a vehicle cannot be fully expressed in figures alone. The confidence that comes from being able to control a vehicle precisely in challenging conditions was another quality that every generation of the Pajero had sought to refine.

In many respects, the fourth-generation model represented the fullest expression of everything the development team had achieved up to that point.

Reflecting on the development process, Nishioka says:

“I truly believe we did everything that was possible at the time. After that, electronic control technology advanced tremendously and created even more possibilities. But those technologies are only effective when they’re built on a strong foundation.”

Funo echoes that view.

“The value that the Pajero provides has never changed. Whether the structure is body-on-frame or monocoque isn’t what matters most to customers. What matters is that the vehicle performs well and allows people to drive with confidence and peace of mind.”

The Pajero was sold in more than 170 countries and regions around the world and claimed 12 overall victories in the Dakar Rally.

Yet when Nishioka and Funo reflect on the vehicle they helped develop, they speak less about achievements and accolades than about the responsibility that comes with carrying the Pajero name.

One memory, from a visit to an overseas sales office, has remained particularly vivid for Nishioka.

“It was the same when I went to Europe—everyone would say, ‘Our Pajero.’ They would seriously ask questions like, ‘Is this really the right cup holder for our Pajero?’ You don’t hear that kind of passion about every vehicle. It made me incredibly happy.”

Not Mitsubishi Motors’ Pajero. Our Pajero.

For distributors and customers around the world, the Pajero had become something deeply personal. Even small details could spark passionate discussions because people genuinely cared about what the vehicle represented.

Speaking about the new Pajero now approaching launch, Funo highlights the heavy responsibility involved: “Everyone says the same thing: ‘We have to build a vehicle worthy of this name.’”

The world surrounding the Pajero has changed dramatically since the first generation debuted in 1982. Expectations for safety and environmental performance have risen significantly, and electronic technologies have expanded what vehicles are capable of achieving. Yet there remains one principle that cannot be compromised if a vehicle is to carry the Pajero name. It must possess the capability to tackle difficult terrain while becoming safer, more comfortable, and easier for more people to drive with confidence.

That belief has been passed down from one generation of engineers to the next.

What the Pajero name represents is more than technology alone.

Since the very first generation, the Pajero's technological achievements have steadily built up. But alongside these, something even more valuable was built: the trust of customers around the world. Over time, that trust became part of the meaning carried by the Pajero name itself.