Driven | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport | New Car Review

Does size really matter anymore? Or do Kilowatts and Newton Metres tell us more about the MY21 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport?

Ok, so I’m not an offroader or someone who tows something heavy. I can’t imagine swapping my seat in an aeroplane for the driver’s seat in a 4wd to visit FNQ (Far North Queensland for you southern heathens) or venture to the Cape. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in the answer

But I know plenty of people who do and despite its lack of size compared to say a Toyota Landcruiser (and the sniggering of Toyota owners) the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been there and importantly got back safely without any fuss at all.

What does Mitsubishi say?

TOUGHNESS, REFINED. Pajero Sport is a striking fusion of contemporary design, cutting-edge technology and genuine four-wheel drive capability, with an enviable off-road heritage. A luxury 4WD that is as comfortable off-road as it is prowling the urban jungle, Pajero Sport embodies style and substance in one sleek, purposeful package.

What is it?

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a medium/large SUV capable of seating 5 people comfortably and 7 in a pinch. Based on the brand’s Triton chassis, it’s a tough go-anywhere real 4WD

Competitors?

Very hard opinion to be had. Let’s consider Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner and Nissan Pathfinder for size, power and comfort. if you’re looking for that combination of size and towing capability it’s very close, but for price or rather value for money, the Everest and Pajero Sport are line ball.

Having driven both, the latest model Everest may be slightly up on engine performance, but the Pajero Sport wins on overall value for money

How much? There are three models in the range. Pajero Sport GLX, Pajero Sport GLS and Exceed. The GLX 5-seater kicks off the range at $47,490 with the GLS 7-seater for $53,740 and the range-topping Exceed at $60,990 all drive away.

Exterior

The Pajero Sport is getting a bit dated design-wise, but it’s still got the goods to do a thorough job. A new model is expected later in 2021 or early 2022 following the launch of the Mitsubishi Eclipse-Cross and Mitsubishi Outlander. The rear overhang is perhaps a bit much for some observers, but that’s where row three fits in.

Interior

It’s roomy (for the first and second row) but a bit squeezy for those taking a seat in the 3rd row. But the 3rd row is generally saved for smaller people. The driver’s cockpit is pretty up to date. Driving is easy, infotainment is comprehensive apart from what I consider to be a sub-standard navigation system. Use the included Apple Car Play or Android Auto if you want to get market-leading navigation with Google Maps.

MY VERDICT

At a Glance.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a 7-seat turbo diesel SUV. Plenty enough for the beach or bush – go-anywhere family-friendly. 

Price:                           Pajero Sport 4WD (5-seater) starts off at $47,490 while the one I’m in (GLS 7 Seater) is $56,603. Top of the Wazza is the Exceed at $60,990.  

Engine/Transmission  Pajero Sport has a 2.4L MIVEC DID Turbo Diesel Engine with an 8-Speed Automatic transmission with low range 4wd. The engine puts out 133kW of power and more importantly for a 4WD, 430 Nm of Torque. Fuel consumption in combination result (Green Vehicle Guide) is 8.0 Litres per 100klm, but please note that this isn’t in 4WD mode.

Warranty/Service       Mitsubishi has set the cat amongst the pigeons with their 10-year warranty. Whilst limited to 150,000 kilometres, the 10-year plan, 10 years roadside assistance (provided you service with a Mitsubishi dealer) and 10-years capped-price service, will suit most regular users of the SUV. I’ve been waiting for other brands to step up, given that it now has ACCC approval.

Towing Capacity –      3100 kilograms with electric brakes fitted and 750kg without   

Safety                           Sadly, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport hasn’t been tested by ANCAP since 2015 and that’s 6 years ago. And because of that length of time, and the safety specifications upgraded in 6 years, be careful. I’ve no doubt that the Pajero Sport ranks amongst the best 4WD SUV’s on the market, but still, you should be aware. 

Load Area                      502 litres with the 3rd row stowed (Massive), 131 litres with the 3rd row in use (Not so much)  and 1488 kg if both second and third rows are stowed. (Football field big)

Active Safety  

Whenever I’m looking for a new car dealer, I always search on Google.

In this case, I’d search for “Mitsubishi Dealers” and then the city (Brisbane) or even the suburb I live in. In South-East Queensland for Mitsubishi, here are the 6 dealers I’d consider visiting. Google provides a star rating and I suggest that you look for dealers who score more than 4 stars in the Google rankings with at least 10 reviews and stay clear of dealers who don’t measure up to the Google standard – after all its real customers who are rating the dealers.

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Hello. I’m Bob Aldons, the owner and editor of The Car Guy.

The Car Guy is an independently owned car review website. I’m currently testing cars for Mazda, Nissan, Kia, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Renault, Subaru, and Hyundai. Through Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport I’m also writing about the 2020 Formula 1 season

I’m not paid by any car company for my opinion and my companies don’t receive advertising revenue to say nice things about them. I call it as I see it.

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