"Pajero" is the Spanish name for the Pampas cat in South America, and this is also the name of Mitsubishi's legendary off-road vehicle "Mountain Cat" Pajero.

This naming implies that the Pajero will have strong adaptability and wildness like this alpine feline animal. And just recently, the Mitsubishi Pajero officially welcomed its revival.

First, good news, the fifth-generation Pajero has returned to body-on-frame construction.

Friends familiar with the Mitsubishi Pajero series should know that starting from the third-generation model, Pajero used a semi-unibody construction with an integrated ladder frame focused on comfort.

But in fact, this is actually a unibody structure. The benefit of this is that the road driving quality of the vehicle can be improved. However, this also puts the Pajero in an awkward position in the hearts of off-road players.

On one hand, the "ladder frame" representing hardcore off-roading is gone, and on the other hand, the mechanical Super Select 4WD has become electronic Super Select 4WD, sounding less hardcore. So even though its off-road ability is obvious, the Pajero's status in the market never matched some competitors of the same period.

And twenty years have passed since the launch of the fourth-generation Pajero, after the fourth-generation Pajero officially stopped production several years ago, everyone once thought this car would leave quietly.

You know when it launched in 2006, many Chinese domestic car brands hadn't even been born yet. Even if everyone didn't like "fast cars", the update speed like Pajero was too slow......

So after returning to the body-on-frame structure, don't be too happy Pajero fans, because the new generation Pajero doesn't have much to do with the previous generations.

The car's platform actually comes from the Mitsubishi Triton pickup, that is, Mitsubishi L200, this instead makes its bloodline closer to the Pajero Sport.

When the news about Pajero revival first came out two years ago, there was news saying it might share the same platform with Infiniti QX80, now it seems they overestimated Mitsubishi.

Luckily in terms of design, Mitsubishi still has a good foundation.

The fifth-generation Pajero is positioned as a mid-to-large SUV,the overall length, width and height dimensions are 4920/1925/1910mm, and the wheelbase is 2870mm. Looking from the outside, the whole car feels substantial, still having the style of a tough guy and muscles.

The new Pajero's front face design inspiration comes from Japanese Kendo, will provide horizontal slat and blacked-out honeycomb two grille styles. And the upright and rugged body lines combined with powerful wheel arch shapes, also give the vehicle good visual tension.

The rear part is also a design full of layers, Mitsubishi used simple lines to outline a hard enough tail shape, front and back corresponding "T-shaped" headlights not only have good technology feel, but also have some retro style.

And some classic elements on the Pajero are also preserved on the new generation models. For example, the C-pillar shape pays tribute to the first generation's roll bar, and the hexagonal rear design reinterprets the spare tire on the back of the Pajero generations.

Entering the cabin, Mitsubishi changed the previous "minimalist style", with a big swing gave the new generation Pajero a linked screen design, the three-circle instrument is reinterpreted as Multi Meter multi-function display.

A large amount of leather material inside the car and stitching soft covering, also give this Mitsubishi current flagship SUV added a lot of luxury feel. And those thick handles in the car, are still telling this model is a hardcore off-road vehicle, in off-road crossing they can play an important role.

Since as a flagship SUV, then this car's space probably won't be disappointing. The new Pajero adopts three-row seven-seat layout, second-row seats have 150mm sliding travel and support folding, third-row passengers can also insert feet below the second-row seats.

At the same time front row and second-row seats are equipped with seat ventilation function, although compared to domestic brand "8 series", "9 series", Pajero in space and configuration there may not be advantages, but in the overseas market it still has competitiveness.

Of course, I believe everyone will be more concerned about its driving performance. The new car's frame is based on the current Triton, the front section and front floor share with Triton, the rest parts are re-designed and adjusted for Pajero.

So this car is not completely a pickup shell, in driving quality aspect expected to still continue the previous performance. Chassis structure aspect, the new Pajero uses front double-wishbone independent suspension, matching rear five-link solid axle non-independent suspension + coil spring design.

Compared to third, fourth generation four-wheel independent suspension, this structure is more suitable for bearing off-road torsion, impact and long-term heavy load, also easier to obtain larger suspension travel.

230mm ground clearance, 30.4 degree approach angle, 25.8 degree departure angle and 22.6 degree traverse angle, gives it good passability.

In terms of power, the new car will be equipped with 2.4T turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine, matching 8-speed automatic transmission. The whole power system'smaximum power is 204Ps, maximum torque 480N·m.

As for Mitsubishi's home skill second-generation Super Select 4WD, that is Super Select 4WD-II four-wheel drive system of course will not be absent. In addition to providing 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc four modes, S-AWC vehicle dynamic control system also has seven driving modes to choose from.

No doubt, the new generation Pajero will be a good hand at hardcore off-roading.

It is understood, the new generation Pajero will take production base "Thailand" as the starting point, sequentially launch Japan, Australia market; and gradually promote to ASEAN, South and Central America and Middle East and other global about 100 countries and regions.

Will it enter the Chinese market? I think the probability is that it won't.

Admittedly compared to the fourth-generation model, the new generation Pajero, whether in hardcore degree or overall design sense, has had qualitative changes. But the fourth-generation model is after all a model that has been discontinued for several years, itself competitiveness is not that strong.

Now in China market among competitive, cost-effective products really too many. Many hardcore models in "motor" and "battery" support, off-road ability improved several grades, daily car use is also relatively more convenient.

New generation Pajero in China market competitiveness, really not strong.

Although I think official probability won't import,but parallel import car dealers perhaps will bring it into China market. Like previously "Tianjin Port" parallel import Middle East version Pajero, later inventory bare car price even reached 25-300,000 yuan around.

If parallel import merchants import the new generation model, then front period price might be relatively high,but after stabilizing expected price is still around 300,000-350,000 yuan.

Believe those have nostalgia for Pajero, and at same time themselves have ability big brothers, definitely will grab first hand the fifth-generation Pajero. So if this car really sells for 300,000+ like before, you think worth choosing?

(The above content represents personal opinion only)