You might be able to make it more capable than a Pajero down the road with more money of course, but you wont like it more that the Pajero. The Grand Cherokees are nice with a V8, but you guys dont even do any huge flexing to need a solid axle, So I would think the Pajero would be better all around than a Jeep.

You'll find that american SUVs compared to a Mitsu are more "cheap-like". Sure the interior and outside might look great, but you'll have loose ends here and there over time. I think the Montero/Pajero is a solid SUV, inside and out.

Good luck,
Angelo