2003 MITSUBISHI Pajero/Montero/Shogun SWB 3.5L V6 GDI 5AT AWD (203 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Mitsubishi tried to revive its Pajero/Montero/Shogun lineup in 2003 with a mild facelift for both versions, with three and five doors.

Unlike most other off-road vehicles on the market, Mitsubishi’s off-road flagship featured an integrated-chassis construction that lowered the car’s weight, but not too much. The refreshed lineup enhanced both the look and the technical side. But Mitsubishi didn’t decrease the engine’s size, and that was costly for them. In Europe, everything that passes the 3.0-liter displacement was heavily taxed, and the Pajero featured only larger than those units, either gasoline or turbo-diesel.

On the outside, the Japanese carmaker reshaped the front bumper. It ditched the squared fog lamps and introduced a set of smaller round ones under the headlights. Moreover, it now featured body-colored bumpers and side protection moldings, which greatly improved the overall car’s look. The Pajero/Montero/Shogun sported a pop-out window for the rear passengers and a shorter wheelbase in the three-door version.

Inside, the carmaker improved the cabin and included a restyled dashboard design that featured wood-trims on the center stack and on the steering wheel. Mitsubishi offered an option for leather seats, while the base version featured cloth upholstery.

The biggest changes were made under the hood, where the carmaker installed the same option for a 3.2-liter turbo-diesel or a 3.5-liter V-6. They were both paired to a five-speed automatic gearbox with manual mode. Like its five-door sibling, the Pajero/Montero/Shogun three-doors featured the Super-Select traction system, which allowed the driver to select rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive with three differentials, and in a low-range mode for hard off-road.