Mitsubishi Pajero iO compact 4x4s imported from Japan. Every Pajero iO here is either in Houston now or on its way from Japan and available to reserve.
The Pajero iO is the "third son" of the Pajero family: a compact SUV launched in June 1998 to sit between the 660cc Pajero Mini and the full-size Pajero, replacing the short-lived Pajero Junior. It got its own chassis and body, styled as a scaled-down Pajero with help from Pininfarina (which also built the European version, the Pajero Pinin, in Turin), and it kept the family's trademark: a real four-position transfer case with low range in a vehicle under 4 m (13 ft) long. "iO" is Italian for "I." It was never sold in the United States or Canada; the name "Montero iO" belongs to Latin America. Only one generation was built, and the cars old enough to import today are the June 1998 to December 2001 builds.
What makes the Pajero iO different
Super Select 4WD-i. 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc on a floor lever, a scaled-down version of the big Pajero's system (details below).
Direct-injection engines. The 1.8- and 2.0-liter GDI four-cylinders were Mitsubishi's first-generation gasoline direct injection, and the TR's 1.8 GDI turbo was billed as the world's first mass-produced direct-injection gasoline turbo. None were sold in the U.S.
Compact "5-number" size. Under 1,700 mm (67 in) wide, with the 3-door at 3,675 mm (145 in) long and the 5-door at 3,975 mm (156 in): about 13 inches shorter and 3 inches narrower than a short-wheelbase second-generation Pajero, with the same 205 mm (8.1 in) of ground clearance.
A manual gearbox option. The 5-speed arrived in October 1998 on the ZX and ZR, and after June 2000 the 2.0 manual was offered only on the ZR.
Which Pajero iOs can be imported
U.S. rules let a vehicle that was never sold here be imported once it's at least 25 years old, counted from its month and year of manufacture. In 2026 that means Pajero iOs built between June 1998 and December 2001:
Code (3-door / 5-door)
On sale (Japan)
Drivetrain
Engine
Transmissions
H66W / H76W
Jun 1998 – Jun 2000
Super Select 4WD-i
1.8-liter 4G93 GDI 4-cylinder, 130 PS, 181 N·m
4-speed automatic; 5-speed manual from Oct 1998
H61W / H71W
Aug 1999 – Jun 2000
Rear-wheel drive
1.8-liter 4G93 GDI, 130 PS
4-speed automatic
H67W / H77W
Jun 2000 – Sep 2002
Super Select 4WD-i
2.0-liter 4G94 GDI 4-cylinder, 136 PS, 191 N·m
5-speed manual (ZR only) or 4-speed automatic
H62W / H72W
Jun 2000 – Sep 2002
Rear-wheel drive
2.0-liter 4G94 GDI, 136 PS
4-speed automatic
H76W TR (5-door)
Jul 2000 – Sep 2002
Super Select 4WD-i
1.8-liter 4G93 GDI intercooled turbo, 160 PS
4-speed automatic
Reading the code: H6 is the 3-door, H7 the 5-door; the second digit gives the engine and drive (1 = 1.8 2WD, 6 = 1.8 4WD, 2 = 2.0 2WD, 7 = 2.0 4WD). GF- and GH- prefixes are inside the window; TA- cars from the September 2002 facelift, which dropped the 3-door and 2WD and switched the 1.8 to a port-injected engine with full-time 4WD, aren't eligible until 2027 or later.
2WD or 4x4?
Buy the 4x4. Super Select 4WD-i gives you four positions on the floor lever: 2H (rear-wheel drive for pavement and best economy), 4H (the front axle is driven through a viscous coupling, so this can be used on pavement and in the rain), 4HLc (front and rear locked together, high range, for mud, sand and loose gravel) and 4LLc (locked, low range, for steep and slow going). Mode changes show on a diagram between the gauges and can be made on the move between 2H and 4H. There's no center differential on this system, which is why 4H uses a viscous coupling, and no factory rear locker. The rear-wheel-drive models added in August 1999 are automatic only and about 70 kg lighter, but they give up the whole point of the car. Suspension is MacPherson struts in front and a five-link coil-sprung rear axle; ABS and dual airbags were standard from June 2000.
Versions you'll see
ZX: the base grade, 3-door from June 1998 and 5-door from August 1998.
ZR: the better-equipped grade, and after June 2000 the only one with a manual gearbox.
ZR-S (from August 1999): a sport-trim 5-door.
Sorento (5-door, 1998–2004): a Pininfarina-styled grille and body kit with a European look, automatic only.
Pearl Package (from January 1999): two-tone paint and Mitsubishi's MMCS navigation on the ZR, reissued several times as the Pearl Package II, MD-CD Edition and DVD-Navi Edition.
TR and TR Sporty Package (from July 2000): the 160 PS 1.8 GDI turbo 5-door, lowered to 185 mm of clearance on 215/65R16 tires, automatic only.
Any Pajero iO that's in Houston can be inspected and test driven at our lot.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Pajero iO the same as a Montero? No. The U.S. Montero is the full-size Pajero, and the Montero Sport is a pickup-based vehicle; the iO is a separate, smaller model with its own body and a unibody with built-in frame members. Its export twins are the Pajero Pinin (Europe), Shogun Pinin (UK), Montero iO (Latin America) and Pajero TR4 (Brazil).
Can I title and register a Pajero iO in Texas? Yes. Imported vehicles 25 years or older are titled with their import paperwork, a law enforcement VIN inspection (Form VTR-68-A) and Form 130-U at your county tax office. Our Texas title and registration guide walks through the steps, and your county office can confirm what it needs. Other states have their own rules, so check with yours before you buy.
What fuel does it use, and what mileage should I expect? The Japanese catalogs specify premium unleaded for the GDI engines, so plan on 91–93 octane. Mitsubishi's Japanese test-cycle figures were 13.0 km/L (31 mpg) for the 2.0 automatic and 14.1 km/L (33 mpg) for the 2.0 manual, and real-world driving will be lower. The tank holds 53 liters (14 U.S. gallons).
Will it keep up on the highway? Yes. A 2.0-liter 5-door weighs about 1,370 kg (3,020 lb) with 136 PS, and it cruises at 70 mph without strain, though the gearing is on the short side. Timing is by belt on the 4G9 engine family.
How many seats? Four in the 3-door, five in the 5-door.
Is the odometer in miles? No. Japanese vehicles read in kilometers, and our listings show the odometer in km. 1 km is about 0.62 miles.
Is it right-hand drive? Yes, like every Japanese-market car.
Can I buy one that's still on its way from Japan? Yes. Reserve an In Transit Pajero iO with a $1,000 deposit. See how buying works.
Written by Farhad Musazada, Skyline Kei Trucks. Published October 19, 2026.
