New Mitsubishi Pajero 3 Door Rendered

The Mitsubishi Pajero is back with a new generation, but its return has already raised another interesting question. What would happen if Mitsubishi brought back the compact 3 door Pajero as well? Although the newly introduced model has arrived with a practical 5 door body, these renderings imagine how a shorter and potentially more adventurous version could look.

The biggest transformation is immediately noticeable from the side. The wheelbase has been significantly shortened, giving the Pajero a much more compact profile. At the same time, the front doors are noticeably longer and wider, helping maintain practical access to the rear seats despite eliminating the second pair of doors.

The rear section has also been shortened. This gives the rendered Pajero proportions that closely resemble the classic 3 door versions offered during earlier generations. A shorter rear overhang could also have practical advantages away from paved roads by improving the departure angle and making the vehicle easier to maneuver on tight trails.

Another interesting detail is the wide B pillar. Previous short wheelbase Pajero models traditionally used a substantial body colored pillar in this area. The latest generation takes a different styling approach, with black pillars incorporated into the greenhouse design. On the imagined 3 door version, the unusually wide B pillar receives horizontal decorative detailing that helps break up the large surface.

Underneath the new body, the latest Mitsubishi Pajero uses traditional body on frame construction and shares significant engineering with the Mitsubishi L200, also known as the Triton in many markets. That connection gives the new Pajero a rugged foundation suitable for towing, rough terrain, and serious off road driving.

The production 5 door Pajero measures 4,920 millimeters long, 1,925 millimeters wide, and 1,910 millimeters tall, while its wheelbase measures 2,870 millimeters. The previous generation Pajero measured approximately 4,900 millimeters in overall length when including its externally mounted spare tire.

The difference becomes much more interesting when looking at the old short wheelbase model. The previous 3 door Pajero measured just 4,365 millimeters long and used a 2,545 millimeter wheelbase, compared with the 2,780 millimeter wheelbase of the longer version. Those dimensions show just how dramatically Mitsubishi was once willing to shorten its flagship sport utility vehicle.

Power for the new Pajero comes from Mitsubishi’s 4N16 2.4 liter turbocharged diesel engine, an engine also used in the L200 and Triton pickup truck. It produces 204 horsepower and up to 480 Newton meters of torque. Power is delivered through a standard 8 speed automatic transmission.

For now, this compact Pajero exists only as a rendering, and Mitsubishi has not announced a production 3 door version of the new generation. Still, the idea fits naturally with the Pajero’s history. A short wheelbase model would bring back one of the most recognizable configurations from the nameplate’s past while giving the latest generation an even more distinctive off road personality.

Whether Mitsubishi actually decides to build one remains to be seen, but these renderings provide an interesting look at what a modern 3 door Pajero could become.