The Mitsubishi Pajero, Montero and Shogun are the same vehicle — one SUV sold under three different names. Mitsubishi badged it Pajero in most of the world, Montero across the Americas and Spain, and Shogun in the United Kingdom. The names differ for one main reason: pajero is offensive slang in Spanish.
| Name | Where it’s used | Where the name comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Pajero | Japan, Australia, the Middle East, most of Asia and Europe, and Africa — including South Africa | Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas cat |
| Montero | North and South America, Spain, India | Spanish for “mountain hunter” |
| Shogun | United Kingdom | The Japanese title for a supreme military commander |
Brazil and Jamaica are the exceptions in the Americas — they kept the Pajero name.
The short answer: one SUV, three badges
Underneath the different names sits exactly the same vehicle — the same ladder-frame chassis, the same engines, the same Super Select 4WD system and the same bodywork. Mitsubishi simply swaps the nameplate to suit each market. The smaller, Triton-based Pajero Sport follows the identical pattern (sold as Montero Sport and Shogun Sport elsewhere), which is where most of the confusion starts.
Why does the same Mitsubishi have three names?
The original name honours an animal. The Pajero takes its badge from Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas cat — a small wildcat native to the plains of southern Argentina. The trouble is linguistic: in Spanish, pajero is vulgar slang (roughly “wanker”). Launching a flagship 4×4 under that word was a non-starter in Spanish-speaking countries, so Mitsubishi rebadged it for those markets.
- Montero — used in Spain, India and across the Americas (except Brazil and Jamaica). It’s Spanish for “mountain hunter,” which suits the SUV’s off-road character.
- Shogun — the United Kingdom name, taken from the Japanese title for a supreme military commander.
- Pajero — kept everywhere the name causes no offence: Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, most of Asia and Europe, and across Africa including South Africa (plus Brazil and Jamaica).
Where each name is used, region by region
- Pajero markets: Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Southeast and South Asia, most of Europe, and Africa — South Africa included. Brazil and Jamaica also use it.
- Montero markets: the United States, Canada, Mexico and most of Latin America, plus Spain and India.
- Shogun market: the United Kingdom.
Pajero Sport, Montero Sport, Shogun Sport — same idea, different vehicle
There’s a second, related model that wears the same three badges: the Pajero Sport. It’s a mid-size, body-on-frame SUV built on Mitsubishi’s Triton (L200) pickup platform, so it’s lighter and more affordable than the full-size Pajero — and mechanically a different vehicle. The naming follows the same regional logic: Montero Sport in the Americas, the Philippines and parts of Asia; Shogun Sport in the UK; and Pajero Sport in most other markets, including South Africa.
One wrinkle for US readers: Mitsubishi sold a first-generation Montero Sport in America from 1996 to 2004, and dropped the full-size Montero after 2006. The current Pajero Sport has never been offered in the United States — so an American “Montero Sport” is an older, different vehicle from today’s model.
What’s it called in South Africa?
In South Africa it has always been the Pajero — and the mid-size version the Pajero Sport. So why do local owners keep running into “Montero” and “Shogun”? Usually through imported spares, UK and US road tests, owner forums, and the occasional grey-import vehicle. The badge changes from market to market, but the parts, manuals and mechanicals are the same — handy to know when you’re sourcing components or reading a review written for another country.
The 2026 revival: Pajero and Montero are both back
After production ended in overseas markets in 2021, the nameplate is returning. Mitsubishi has confirmed an all-new Pajero with a world premiere in autumn 2026 — its first return to the global market in five years. Crucially, the company has also confirmed the Montero badge will come back in select markets, reported to include North America, South America, Spain and the Philippines. The new model rides on the ladder-frame platform from the current Triton pickup and sits at the top of Mitsubishi’s range. In short, the three-name tradition carries straight into the next generation.
Quick reference: every name at a glance
| Model | Pajero | Montero | Shogun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size SUV | Japan, Australia, NZ, Middle East, Africa (incl. South Africa), most of Asia & Europe; also Brazil & Jamaica | The Americas (except Brazil & Jamaica), Spain, India | United Kingdom |
| Mid-size (Sport) | Most markets, incl. South Africa, Australia, Middle East | The Americas, Philippines, parts of Asia | United Kingdom |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Montero the same as the Pajero?
Yes. The Montero is the Pajero — the same vehicle and the same engineering, just the name Mitsubishi used in the Americas, Spain and India. The badge differs; the SUV doesn’t.
Why isn’t the Pajero called Pajero in America?
Because pajero is crude slang in Spanish. To avoid the connotation across Spanish-speaking markets — including the United States, with its large Spanish-speaking population — Mitsubishi sold it as the Montero instead.
What does “Pajero” mean?
The name comes from Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas cat — a small wildcat from southern Argentina. Mitsubishi has a long habit of naming its 4x4s after the natural world.
Is the Shogun the same as the Pajero?
Yes. Shogun is simply the name the Pajero was sold under in the United Kingdom, after the Japanese title for a supreme military commander. It’s the identical vehicle.
What is the Pajero called in the USA?
The Montero. Mitsubishi sold it there as the Montero until 2006, alongside a separate mid-size Montero Sport until 2004. The full-size model then left the US market — though the Montero name is confirmed to return with the 2026 revival.
Is the Montero Sport the same as the Pajero Sport?
Yes — the same vehicle, with a different regional name. Just don’t confuse the Sport with the full-size Pajero: the Sport is a smaller, Triton-based SUV, not the flagship.
Is the Pajero coming back?
Yes. Mitsubishi has confirmed an all-new Pajero for an autumn 2026 world premiere, built on the Triton ladder-frame platform, with the Montero name returning in select markets.