Mitsubishi Pajero vs Nissan Patrol: Car Comparison
The Mitsubishi Pajero and the Nissan Patrol used to fight for the same driveway in the UAE. They don't anymore, and understanding why is the fastest way to figure out which one deserves your money in 2026.
One is a current flagship with a brand-new generation on sale. The other left production in 2021, survives as one of the best-value used 4x4s in the country, and is preparing a comeback. That makes this less of a spec-sheet shootout and more of a question about what kind of buyer you are.
Where each car stands today
The Nissan Patrol is at the top of its game. An all-new generation launched in 2025, replacing the long-serving Y62 with a fresh platform, a redesigned cabin, and two V6 engine options. It's still the default full-size SUV for a huge share of Emirati families, and Nissan knows it. The lineup now stretches from a sensible entry trim to a genuinely luxurious range-topper, plus a 495-horsepower NISMO for people who think a 2.7-tonne SUV should embarrass hot hatches.
The Mitsubishi Pajero's story is different. Mitsubishi discontinued the Pajero in 2021, and the fourth-generation model had run since 2006, so every Pajero on UAE roads today is a used car. That's not the insult it sounds like. The Pajero built its reputation on twelve Dakar Rally wins and decades of desert abuse, and the used market here is full of GCC-spec examples with plenty of life left. Mitsubishi has also confirmed a new-generation Pajero is in the works, expected to launch around late 2026, though official UAE pricing hasn't been announced.
Engines and performance
This is where the gap is widest. The new Patrol offers a 3.8-litre V6 with 316 horsepower and 386 Nm in the XE and SE trims, and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 making 425 horsepower and 700 Nm in the LE models. Both pair with a 9-speed automatic. The twin-turbo is the one to have. It pulls harder than the old V8 ever did and does it with less drama and slightly better fuel economy, rated at around 10 km/l.
The used Pajero gives you naturally aspirated V6s: a 3.0-litre, a 3.5-litre with about 202 horsepower, or the 3.8-litre with 248 horsepower. None of them are quick by 2026 standards, and none are especially efficient either. A Pajero V6 drinks more than its power output suggests, which stings in daily Dubai traffic. What those engines are, though, is simple and proven. There's no turbo to cook, no complicated electronics to fail, and any independent garage in the country knows them inside out.
Off-road ability in the desert
Both wear their off-road credentials honestly, but they take different approaches. The Patrol is the dune king. Its power, electronic terrain modes, and sheer momentum make it the easier car to drive fast on sand, and the new model adds sand and rock drive modes plus adaptive hardware on higher trims. If your weekends involve Liwa or Sweihan, the Patrol flatters you.
The Pajero counters with agility. It's meaningfully lighter and narrower than a Patrol, with fully independent suspension and Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD system, which lets you run four-wheel drive on tarmac and lock things up when the surface turns loose. In tight wadis, on rocky tracks, and anywhere precision beats power, the Pajero is the friendlier tool. It also costs far less to repair when the desert wins a round, which matters more than most buyers admit.
Cabin, comfort, and daily life
No contest here, and it wouldn't be fair to expect one. The new Patrol's interior is a generation ahead of anything Mitsubishi ever fitted to the Pajero: big dual displays, premium audio on upper trims, driver assistance tech, and space for seven adults who actually like each other. It rides quietly and shrinks around town better than its size suggests.
The Pajero's cabin was dated by 2018, let alone now. You get durable plastics, seats that hold up to years of sun, and a commanding view out. What you don't get is modern infotainment, active safety systems, or much sound insulation at highway speeds. If your daily drive is Sheikh Zayed Road, that gap will wear on you. If the car is a weekend machine or a second family car, it's easy to forgive.
Ownership costs and resale
The Patrol is one of the strongest resale performers in the UAE, full stop. Demand never really dips, GCC-spec examples hold value stubbornly, and you'll have no trouble selling one when the time comes. Nissan's five-star resale reputation here isn't marketing. It's the accumulated weight of decades of Patrols surviving everything this climate throws at them. The flip side is the buy-in: insurance, tyres, and fuel for a 400-plus horsepower SUV all cost real money.
The Pajero holds roughly 40 percent of its value after five years, which is respectable rather than brilliant. But because used prices are already low, depreciation in dirham terms is gentle. Parts are cheap, servicing is cheap, and the mechanical simplicity means fewer expensive surprises. As a pure cost-per-kilometre proposition, a well-kept Pajero is one of the smartest 4x4 buys in the country.
Also Read: Toyota Land Cruiser 70 vs Land Cruiser Prado: Car Comparison
Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Patrol prices in the UAE
Here's where the two nameplates stop competing and start serving different budgets entirely.
The 2026 Nissan Patrol starts at AED 239,900 for the XE and climbs to AED 389,900 for the LE Platinum City, with the NISMO sitting at AED 449,900. On the used market, older Y62 Patrols start from roughly AED 60,000 for high-mileage early examples, with clean 2020 to 2023 trucks commonly asking between AED 150,000 and AED 250,000 depending on trim and history.
The Mitsubishi Pajero has no official new price because there's no new car to buy yet. Estimates for the returning model suggest a starting price somewhere between AED 160,000 and AED 220,000, but treat that as informed speculation until Mitsubishi confirms it. Used Pajeros are where the real action is: tidy 2015 to 2017 examples sit around AED 35,000 to AED 55,000, five-to-six-year-old cars run AED 60,000 to AED 80,000, and the final 2020 and 2021 model years top out near AED 100,000 to AED 110,000.
Whichever way you lean on the used side, the same rules apply. Insist on GCC specification, because imported American or Canadian cars weren't built for our summers and resell for less. Get a full service history, pay for a proper pre-purchase inspection, and walk away from anything with patchy records. A slightly more expensive car with a clean file is almost always the cheaper car over three years of ownership.
So the honest framing is this: for the price of a base new Patrol, you could buy two excellent used Pajeros and still pay for years of fuel.
Which one should you actually buy? If you want the best full-size SUV the UAE market sells today, with modern power, tech, and bulletproof resale, buy the Patrol and don't overthink it. If you want maximum capability per dirham, a proven desert companion, and a car you won't cry over when a dune scratches it, a late-model used Pajero is quietly one of the best deals on four wheels. And if the Pajero badge is what you really want, with modern kit to match, the smart move is to hold your deposit until the new generation lands and Mitsubishi shows its hand on pricing.
FAQs
1. Is the Mitsubishi Pajero still sold new in the UAE?
No. Mitsubishi ended Pajero production in 2021, so only used fourth-generation models are available in the UAE today. A new-generation Pajero has been confirmed and is expected to launch around late 2026, but Mitsubishi has not announced official UAE pricing or final specifications yet.
2. How much does a new Nissan Patrol cost in the UAE?
The 2026 Nissan Patrol starts at AED 239,900 for the XE trim and rises to about AED 389,900 for the LE Platinum City. The performance-focused NISMO version costs AED 449,900. Used Y62 Patrols in the UAE start from roughly AED 60,000, with clean recent examples asking considerably more.
3. Which is better for desert driving, the Pajero or the Patrol?
The Nissan Patrol is stronger on big dunes thanks to its power, weight, and terrain modes, making fast sand driving easier. The Mitsubishi Pajero is lighter and narrower, so it shines in tight wadis and rocky tracks. For serious dune bashing, the Patrol wins; for precision work, the Pajero does.
4. Does the Nissan Patrol hold its value in the UAE?
Yes, exceptionally well. The Patrol is among the strongest resale performers in the UAE because demand stays high across every generation. GCC-spec examples with full service history hold value stubbornly, and owners rarely struggle to sell. The Pajero retains roughly 40 percent after five years.
5. What engines does the used Mitsubishi Pajero come with?
Used fourth-generation Pajeros in the UAE come with naturally aspirated V6 petrol engines: a 3.0-litre, a 3.5-litre producing about 202 horsepower, or a 3.8-litre with 248 horsepower. They are not fast or frugal, but they are simple, proven, and cheap to maintain at any independent garage.
Don't miss out on more informative reads from AutoVoB blogs.
AutoVoB, one global platform for all your vehicle buying and selling needs.
