Multiple meters on the dashboard have been present for a long time, providing drivers who wanted to know more about operating conditions of their vehicle with extra information. Sportscars have usually had extra meters such as an oil pressure gauge and for those with turbocharged engines, a boost gauge. Some models even have a g-force meter to show just how hard you’re taking a corner.
Where SUVs are concerned, Mitsubishi Motors can be credited with having installed the first multiple meter cluster in a SUV – then called a dual-purpose vehicle or just 4×4 – with the first generation of the Pajero launched in 1981.
Analogue meters
The cluster consisted of three meters mounted as individual meters on top of the middle of the dashboard. Two gave information on the oil pressure and battery voltage while the centre one was something new – an inclinometer which showed the angle of the vehicle in the longitudinal axis (angle up and down) and sideways axis (tilt angle).
The inclinometer got a lot of attention as drivers could be very specific about how steep the slope they drove up was. It was a simple meter but its novelty value was great. In time, it became an iconic feature of the Pajero that many will recall when thinking about the dashboard of the SUV.
The Pajero was discontinued after the fourth generation and production ended in 2019. Although popular, conditions at Mitsubishi Motors made it necessary to use its resources for the development of other models, even though the SUV segment was a growing one.
Soon, an all-new fifth generation of the Pajero will return and as with other automakers these days, there are teasers which preview features of the new model.
Bringing back an iconic feature
The latest is a single picture of a 3-meter display which is called the Multi Meter and replicates the iconic feature in previous generations. With digi-graphic panels now commonplace, the designers have switched from the analogue meters of previous models to a flat panel digital display.
Switching to a digital display enables a wider range of information to be provided as the individual meter displays can be changed. Information available includes altitude, compass heading, ambient temperature, vehicle angles, and even torque distribution between the wheels on the left and right sides. Being able to get such information in real-time can help improve safety and confidence in difficult conditions.
Already in Xforce
The new Pajero is not the first to bring back this Multi Meter concept; it’s already in the Xforce which was launched in Malaysia in early February 2026. Though integrated in a 12.3-inch monolithic panel, three meters are distinctly shown and can be customised to show preferred information.
Basically, it’s the same as what the new Pajero will have so if you want to get an early look, check it out in the Xforce at a Mitsubishi Motors showroom.
Click here to find a Mitsubishi Motors showroom in Malaysia
