2028 Mitsubishi Montero Emerges from the Shadows in Spy Photos
Last year, Mitsubishi filed a U.S. trademark for the name "Montero," and it's possible that it could return alongside a new Nissan Xterra.
With Nissan reportedly considering onshoring production of BoF models, a collab with Mitsubishi could see a new Montero built in Canton, Mississippi.
It's been a minute since Mitsubishi sold a model in America that's worth getting excited about. That could change if the camouflaged SUV in these spy photos turns out to be what we think it is: a new Mitsubishi Montero.
The Montero was a body-on-frame mid-size SUV in the same vein as the Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Xterra. A 2005 Montero finished third out of six in our off-road SUV comparo, and then it was promptly retired from U.S. duty after the following model year. The SUV did live on as the Pajero in other markets, but it was discontinued in 2021. Now, the Montero nameplate could be resurrected based on these images as well as other intel.
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KGP Photography
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Car and Driver
The images captured by our spy photographer show a boxy SUV that appears to have body-on-frame underpinning—see the solid rear axle. While the grille and front-end details are mostly obscured, the squinty lighting elements look similar to the Mitsubishi Outlander. The boxy fenders, chunky roof pillars, and mud flaps are also Montero-like design features, though a rear-mounted spare tire is notably missing from this test mule. The rear exhaust pipe also indicates that there's an internal-combustion engine under the hood.
Other than these spy photos, which were taken in the southern part of Europe, what evidence points to a Montero resurrection, specifically for the U.S. market? Well, back in February 2024, Mitsubishi filed a trademark for "Montero" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The automaker has also announced plans to introduce some new models between 2026 and 2030.
KGP Photography
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Car and Driver
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KGP Photography
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Car and Driver
Nissan will play a big role in Mitsubishi's aspirations, as the two brands already collaborate on models such as the Rogue/Outlander compact SUVs. The two automakers are also working on a jointly developed mid-size pickup truck, which could lead to the popular Nissan Xterra returning alongside the new Montero.
With the Trump administration axing U.S EV incentives and doing who-knows-what with the ever-changing tariff situation, Nissan is considering moving production of the Japanese-built Armada and Infiniti QX80 to its underutilized assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, according to a report by Automotive News. Not only that, but the AN report also claims that Nissan could build a pair of Frontier-sized SUVs at the factory too. Could that be a next-gen Xterra and Mitsubishi Montero? We can't say for sure, but that's what it looks like.
Eric Stafford
Managing Editor, News
Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. Read full bio
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