Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini XR-II 4WD 5-Speed.
Good things often come in small packages, and the benefits that a compact sport-utility vehicle might sacrifice in cargo capacity are made up for by nimble handling, parking ease, and fuel efficiency. The Pajero Mini is a vehicle that will feel right at home on tight trails, and this one, offered by a dealership in Texas, boasts fewer than 50,000 miles on it. The auction will end tomorrow.
In recent months, AutoHunter has sold a number of right-hand-drive vehicles that were imported from Japan, including a Suzuki pickup. Part of the reason for the influx of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles is that the “25-year rule” allows the legal importation of motor vehicles to the United States if they exceed a certain age. Get used to seeing foreign vehicles like this!
The Emerald Green and Coronado Silver two-tone exterior is adorned with a lot of accessories that offer both form and function. Among them are auxiliary lights, a chrome push bar, a fender-mounted rearview mirror, and window visors. The right-hand-drive cabin has some niceties like woodgrain trim, power windows, air conditioning, and a radio.
The Pajero reached various parts of the globe throughout its 40-year lifespan between 1981 and 2021, although it went by different names according to region. In North America, Mitsubishi called it the Montero, and in the United Kingdom, it was the Shogun. As Mitsubishi and many other automakers have learned, naming conventions can make or break a car, and the term “pajero” has derogatory connotations in some parts of the globe.
Though sharing some styling elements and the name, the Pajero “Mini” rode on a separate platform that was much smaller than the traditional Pajero. It was a compact kei-class sport-utility vehicle produced from 1994 through 2012, and it was only available as a three-door. Chassis underpinnings were shared with the “Minica” series of Mitsubishi’s passenger vehicles, and models designated with a “II” in the name were of higher trim (most easily identified by things like two-tone paint and alloy wheels).
When Mitsubishi designers called this a “Mini,” they weren’t kidding. Vehicle length comes out to just 10.8 feet, which is about two feet shorter than a subcompact Mitsubishi Mirage passenger car. The engine is similarly teeny. Power comes from a 659cc inline-four mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. While not likely to accelerate furiously, the fuel-economy benefits are guaranteed.
If you are in the market for a trail-ready 4×4 that’s unique, easy to park, and fun to drive, this right-hand-drive Pajero Mini is right up your alley.
The auction for this 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini XR-II 4WD 5-Speed ends tomorrow – Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
