Pajero / Montero

Mitsubishi manufactured an SUV called the Montero Sport from 1982 until the present day. Depending on the country it is sold in, this SUV is referred to as either the Montero or the Pajero. Owners of this Mitsubishi vehicle will want to get their hands on the Mitsubishi Montero Sport manual, as it contains lots of great information about this vehicle.

The first generation of the Montero began in 1982. It was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1981. At first, it was a 3-door model with the option of either a canvas or metal roof. Consumers also had 3 different engine options.

By 1983, Mitsubishi began offering the vehicle with a longer wheelbase and as a 5-door model. There were 2 different turbo engines available as well. The longer wheelbase allowed Mitsubishi to add a 3rd row of seating to the back, making the vehicle able to accommodate 7 people.

In 1987, Mitsubishi introduced the Montero with many redesign features. This model now had 2 tone paint, 15-inch alloy wheels, cloth seat covers, leather headrest and a sound system with a radio and cassette player. It was available as either a 3-door model with a short base or a 5 door model with a longer wheelbase.

The second generation debuted in 1991. This generation enjoyed a lot of redesigns and updates. The larger body was available in 4 different versions - Metal Top, Canvas Top, Semi-High Roof Wagon, and High Roof Wagon. There were also mechanical and safety upgrades too. For example, this generation had the addition of Super Select 4WD, multimode ABS, and electronic shock absorbers.

The Japanese markets were the first to receive the 3rd generation in 1999. This time the Montero Sport/Pajero was redesigned to have a lower and wider stance and unibody construction. This change made the vehicle a full-size SUV at this point. Mitsubishi made the 3rd row of seats to be removable and the 2nd row of seats were split 60/40 folding. These changes allowed for greater flexibility when packing or seating passengers.

In 2006 Mitsubishi released the 4th generation. Both the interior and exterior were updated. This generation also included many safety features, such as front airbags and side-impact airbags and curtains. The engine was also upgraded.

In 2010, the Pajero got an upgraded acoustic sound system. And by 2015 it received minor updates to the exterior and interior aesthetics.

Although no longer sold in North America, the Mitsubishi Pajero is still driven and found in garages. If you own one of these SUV’s, you should have the Mitsubishi Pajero service manual in your garage as well.