Pajero's September Reveal, Trooper Economics, and a 4,700-Mile Land Cruiser
The reborn Pajero has a debut date, the Isuzu Trooper makes a budget-overlander case, and a nearly untouched 80 Series Land Cruiser crosses the block.
New Pajero gets a September 2 reveal
Mitsubishi will unveil the 2027 Pajero on September 2, ending a teaser campaign that has shown the boxy silhouette, T-shaped LEDs and a digital take on the dashboard gauge pod. The Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol rival rides on the Triton pickup's ladder frame with model-specific tuning; Mitsubishi says the chassis suppresses body movement and vibration over rough ground while keeping long-haul comfort. Super-All Wheel Control brings selectable RWD, full-time 4WD, a locked center differential, and low range with locked diff, plus seven Terrain Drive Modes. The Montero nameplate returns in North America.
Why the Isuzu Trooper is the budget Land Cruiser alternative
The Trooper was the body-on-frame answer to the Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Montero. For maximum capability, the second-generation version is the one: a 3.5-liter DOHC V6 with 215 hp and 230 lb-ft, independent front suspension, solid rear axle, low range, and 8.3 inches of ground clearance. Optional Borg-Warner Torque-on-Demand could send up to half the torque forward and lock into a 50/50 split in low range. They sell for $6,100 to $10,160, while a clean 80-series Land Cruiser can bring $50,000 to $80,000.
Trooper's global badge family eases parts hunting
The same basic SUV wore an almost ridiculous number of badges around the world. American buyers could get a fancier version as the Acura SLX, sold through Honda's luxury division. Japan had the Honda Horizon and Isuzu Bighorn, Europe had the Opel and Vauxhall Monterey, Australia had the Holden Jackaroo or Monterey, and Chevrolet sold Trooper-badged versions elsewhere. They shared the Trooper's body, frame, suspension, engines, transmissions and four-wheel-drive hardware, with market variation. The SLX used the same Isuzu-built foundation, and later SLX models got the larger V6.
The late Trooper V6's known oil habit
The final-generation Trooper V6 can burn oil without leaving a puddle. Deposits clog the piston oil-control rings, and Isuzu's service bulletin allowed as much as one quart per 1,000 miles under certain warranty conditions. That means an engine can run low between oil changes and fail. Buyers should check the dipstick before a test drive, watch for blue exhaust smoke, and ask how often the previous owner added oil.
Timing belts and rust are the Trooper's other checks
The Trooper's V6s use timing belts, and Isuzu revised the replacement interval for the larger engine from 75,000 to 100,000 miles. Age matters as much as mileage, so a missing belt record means budgeting for a belt, tensioner, pulleys and water pump. Corrosion deserves the same attention: frame, rear suspension mounting points, rocker panels, brake and fuel lines, and body-mount areas. A thirsty engine can be fixed; structural rust can turn a cheap project into an expensive lawn ornament.
A 4,700-mile Land Cruiser 80 heads to Mecum
A 4,700-mile Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series is crossing Mecum's block in mid-August. It is Super White over Oak leather, powered by the 4.5-liter 1FZ-FE inline-six rated at 212 bhp and 275 lb-ft, a four-speed automatic, dual-range transfer case and center-locking differential. Equipment includes a sunroof, folding third-row seating, CD/cassette stereo, roof rack and running boards. The truck remains original and unrestored.
Why the 80 Series is the Land Cruiser people chase
The 80 Series replaced the 60 Series in October 1989 and stayed in Japanese production through 1997. It was the first big Toyota wagon to combine coil springs with a live axle at each end, and higher-grade models got full-time four-wheel drive with a center diff. From 1993, American cars could be ordered with factory electric front and rear lockers; once the center diff locked, that gave three locks on one truck. It also became the Lexus LX 450, introduced in early 1996 as the first Lexus SUV.
How the Land Cruiser got its name
Toyota's 4x4 line began with the Jeep BJ, built for Japan's National Police Reserve in 1951 after the AK10 prototypes never reached production. When Willys-Overland protested the Jeep name, Toyota renamed the vehicle in 1954. Technical director Hanji Umehara said the name was chosen with a British competitor in mind: 'In England we had another competitor – Land Rover.' Studebaker had used Land Cruiser on a sedan until the same year, freeing the name.
Isuzu's U.S. exit followed Trooper's sales slide
Trooper sales peaked at 30,594 in 1994, then slid to 12,190 by 2002. A 1996 Consumer Reports rollover controversy damaged its image just as SUV competition intensified. Isuzu disputed the testing, and in 2000 a jury found some of the magazine's statements false while clearing it of liability. Isuzu stopped selling U.S. passenger vehicles in 2009, by which time its lineup leaned on GM-derived models like the Axiom and Chevrolet TrailBlazer-based Ascender.