Like its Triton sibling, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport usually loses the limelight to phase favourites – just like the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.
That’s not as a result of it’s a foul automobile, removed from it. It stays one of many extra sharply-priced entrants within the body-on-frame SUV class as rivals proceed to push upmarket with their value positioning.
Mitsubishi has utilized some operating adjustments over the previous couple of years or so, including tyre stress monitoring throughout the majority of the line-up earlier this 12 months and bringing in new entry-level and flagship variants the 12 months prior.
Whereas the Triton is about to enter a brand new technology in 2024, the next-gen Pajero Sport isn’t anticipated till at the least 2025 in keeping with a latest product roadmap – so the automotive you see right here has some life in it but.
On take a look at now we have the penultimate Exceed variant, which sits just below the blacked-out GSR however gives a lot of the identical luxurious and comfort gear at a value level that may see you in a mid-spec rival.
Is it nonetheless price a glance in its twilight years?
How does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
Mitsubishi
Pajero Sport
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed value?
The Pajero Sport Exceed 4×4 lists for $60,690 plus on-road prices. The corporate’s on-line configurator exhibits $63,740 drive-away based mostly on a Melbourne postcode.
That cash barely will get you right into a base Everest Ambiente 4×4, or a mid-spec Isuzu MU-X LS-U 4×4. The up to date SsangYong Rexton Final is $58,000 plus on-roads, if you would like a rival decide for worth.
Whereas it stacks up nicely on paper in opposition to the established favourites within the phase, even the bottom Everest and MU-X characteristic extra complete security help and infotainment tech suites, largely attributable to their relative youth in comparison with the Mitsi.
2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport pricing:
- Pajero Sport GLX 4×2: $44,940
- Pajero Sport GLS 4×2: $50,190
- Pajero Sport GLX 4×4: $49,490
- Pajero Sport GLS 4×4: $55,190
- Pajero Sport Exceed 4×4: $60,690
- Pajero Sport GSR 4×4: $62,440
Costs are earlier than on-road prices
What’s the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed like on the within?
Very similar to it was when this technology first launched virtually a decade in the past.
A digital instrument cluster and an even bigger central touchscreen have been added over the automobile’s life, however the design is in any other case largely the identical – balancing utility and luxury moderately nicely.
In comparison with the outgoing Triton, the Pajero Sport was already a bit nicer largely as a result of completely different centre console remedy that has a padded lining to your knees to relaxation on. The addition of a digital instrument cluster on high-spec fashions positively lifts the atmosphere and is a marked enchancment over Mitsubishi’s ageing analogue gauges.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel isn’t the smoothest or most supple conceal, and the identical goes for the seat trim which appears a bit like toad pores and skin after a bit of wear and tear.
Electrical adjustment for the entrance seats is a pleasant contact, although the pews themselves aren’t the very best at school in terms of bolstering and assist, notably below your thigh when you’ve got lengthy legs like me. The slippery leather-based trim doesn’t actually maintain you in both.
Total, the format and ergonomics are practical, if a bit dated. Orange backlighting for the local weather controls and swatches of piano black trim wouldn’t be my first decide (notably the latter) as gloss black is susceptible to scuffs and scratches – particularly in a automobile like this.
All of it feels fairly nicely screwed collectively; though, its industrial origins shine by within the supplies used to line the cabin – no soft-touch surfaces in sight right here. It’s all very sturdy and exhausting carrying, however removed from plush or upmarket given the $60,000 price ticket.
The 8.0-inch touchscreen options embedded TomTom navigation in increased grades like this Exceed, and likewise includes a DAB radio tuner along with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Whereas these are all useful field ticks on the spec sheet, the very fact there’s nowhere to retailer your telephone when it’s plugged in is solely an oversight.
Audio high quality from the improved eight-speaker audio system can be nice, however there are higher programs on the market throughout the phase.
Storage is in any other case nice, with first rate cupholders, a shelf below the centre stack for keys or a pockets, and shallow door bins with bottle holders. The front-centre armrest additionally acts as a lid to a good cubby house as nicely.
Hop into the again and there’s quantity of house for adults, and youngsters might be more than pleased again there.
Sturdy seize handles on the B-pillars and aspect steps make getting in simpler, although it’s on the narrower aspect. The elevated seat peak means head room is a bit tight for taller folks like a few of my colleagues – although 6’1 me matches simply nice.
Facilities embrace roof-mounted air vents and seize handles; rear USB ports (4 within the cabin all up); and a useful 220V energy socket. Plus there are pockets in every seat-back and a flip-down armrest with cupholders.
The third row is useful to have for emergencies, however is finest suited to children. The ‘sporty’ design additionally means these rearmost home windows are fairly small, which means that smaller passengers could discover them tougher to see out of. The seats do fold down into the ground when not in use; although, as the photographs present not fairly as neatly as quite a few rival SUVs.
The additional seating row does affect boot house although. The bottom five-seat GLX has 673 litres of capability; whereas, with the third row folded the seven-seater solely has 502L.
With the third row in use this shrinks to 131L, and with each rows folded you get 1488L. The boot in five-seater mode measures 1370mm lengthy by 885mm tall by 1000mm between the wheel arch covers. A full-size spare tyre is mounted beneath the automobile.
What’s below the bonnet?
Beneath the bonnet is a tried and examined 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.
Outputs are rated at 133kW (3500rpm) and 430Nm (2500rpm), with drive within the Exceed despatched to Mitsubishi’s Tremendous Choose 4WD system through an eight-speed computerized transmission with Evo-sourced paddle shifters.
The Pajero Sport is a bit down on grunt in comparison with rivals, which as of late maintain to a basic benchmark of 150kW and 450-500Nm, and that’s mirrored in automobile efficiency in addition to issues like braked towing ranking.
In our latest 4WD SUV Mega Take a look at the Pajero Sport proved to be the slowest automobile on take a look at, with a leisurely 0-100km/h time of 12.61 seconds and a ten.17s window between 80 and 120km/h. It was the one automobile to take greater than 18 seconds to finish the 1/4 mile, additionally.
For reference, the MU-X was over a second faster throughout all measurements, whereas the Everest Bi-Turbo was one other half-second faster once more in all workouts.
Mixed gasoline consumption is rated at 8.0L/100km with CO2 emissions of 212g/km, whereas the gasoline tank measures 68L. We averaged an indicated 8.1L/100km over 440km of combined driving together with loads of each day commuting – not unhealthy.
The Pajero Sport is also rated to tow as much as 3100kg with a braked trailer, which is under the overall benchmark of three.5t on this phase. Towball obtain most is 310kg.
How does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed drive?
Not a lot has modified for the Pajero Sport all through its life, maybe bar the eight-speed auto that was launched as a part of the mid-life facelift a few years again.
Being a bit older than a few of its rivals, basic refinement of the powertrain isn’t up there with the very best in phase. It has a rumbly diesel clatter on start-up and idle; though, it’s nonetheless not too unhealthy all issues thought of.
In regular driving round city the Pajero Sport seems like most ladder-frame 4×4’s of its time; the controls are heavy, the diesel is lazy, and it lopes round like a giant heavy factor.
That mentioned, the eight-speed auto is fairly good at holding the turbo-diesel in its torque band for driving on the town and shifts very easily and reliably. You’d not often really feel the necessity to pull on one of many paddles in regular driving.
I spent most of my time on this commuting to and from the CarExpert Melbourne workplace in the course of the week and whereas it felt like a step again in time, the Pajero Sport is among the extra agreeable 4×4’s in each day eventualities. For instance, the previous D-Max was a shocker to drive everyday, and the Everest was a bit clumsy, if properly damped ride-wise.
There’s a little bit of noise from the diesel engine below acceleration whatever the depth, particularly should you’re evaluating the Pajero Sport to a car-based SUV like a Kia Sorento. Might be higher, however might be worse.
No less than efficiency is fairly responsive and linear as famous earlier. When stopped there’s no idle cease/begin tech to save lots of gasoline and emissions and visitors, so that you’re simply left with the drone of the diesel clatter in metropolis gridlock – dugdugdug.
The place the Pajero Sport begins to point out off its strengths is on the freeway, the place the engine and transmission can settle right into a quiet cruise. The experience settles with a extra wafty really feel quite than the wobbly and at instances jittery vibe it can provide you on the town when the rugged suspension and massive wheels hit tram tracks and potholes.
It’s not a match for the superb locally-developed Everest, which just about seems like a luxurious SUV at instances, however given its age and value level the Pajero Sport does a strong job at touring, and you may see why it has confirmed widespread with adventurous Australian familes.
We didn’t take the Pajero Sport off the overwhelmed observe on this specific week, however we noticed spectacular outcomes in the course of the 4WD SUV Mega Take a look at. There it carried out moderately nicely on the rollers, rolling again barely in 2H earlier than the traction management labored issues out – it was very spectacular in 4H, shifting ahead with barely any slip.
Its age confirmed within the flex take a look at, the place the door caught barely on the physique. It wasn’t the worst performer in that take a look at, nonetheless. Mitsubishi’s traction management system walked the automotive out of the moguls with a minimal of fuss, even within the road-oriented 4A four-wheel drive setting. With 4H and Mud Mode engaged it was “much more easy”.
It scaled Mogul Mountain with out an excessive amount of wheel slip, and the hill-descent management stored the automotive good and managed. Utilizing the throttle you can also make the automotive descend sooner; though, you may’t use the cruise management buttons to do it as in some rivals.
Rev flaring was noticeable within the Pajero Sport going up Gravel Mountain, but it surely managed to scale the hill on the second try with its rear differential locked.
Driver help isn’t a specific energy for the large Mitsi, given it lags behind key rivals when it comes to inclusions.
Customary adaptive cruise management works moderately nicely, however solely works till low speeds after which cancels itself. It doesn’t characteristic any type of cease/go or visitors jam help features like we’re seeing extra of as of late from rivals.
Likewise an energetic lane holding assistant – or departure warning, for that matter. The Exceed and GSR are the one variants within the vary to attain blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert programs, the previous of which might detect a automobile inside 3.5 metres of the Pajero Sport’s aspect or 70m from the rear bumper.
You additionally decide up a Multi Round View Monitor within the Exceed and GSR, which is useful for visibility given the scale of the automobile however not the final phrase in decision or readability.
What do you get?
Pajero Sport GLX highlights:
- 5 seats
- 4×2 or 4×4
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size spare tyre
- LED headlights and DRLs
- Electrical park brake with brake auto maintain
- Sensible key with button begin
- Leather-based-wrapped wheel
- Single-zone local weather management
- Water-repellent cloth seats, handbook modify
- Reversing sensors
- Reverse-view digicam
- 8.0-inch touchscreen
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 4-speaker audio
- Bluetooth telephone and streaming
- AM/FM/DAB tuning
- 4 x USB ports in cabin
- 1 x 220V plus and three x 12V sockets
- Roof rails and aspect steps
Pajero Sport GLS provides:
- 7 seats
- 4×2 or 4×4
- Nightfall-sensing headlights
- Computerized rain-sensing wipers
- Powered tailgate
- Privateness glass
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Tyre-pressure monitor system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 6-speaker audio
Pajero Sport GLS ‘Deluxe’ pack ($2250) provides:
- Leather-based seats (mixture of actual and artificial)
- Powered entrance seats
- Encompass-view digicam
Pajero Sport Exceed provides:
- GLS ‘Deluxe’ possibility pack
- Entrance parking sensors
- 8.0-inch color LCD data show
- Heated Entrance Seats
- 8-speaker audio system
- Distant Smartphone App:
- Function tailgate
- Test automobile standing
- Activate automotive finder operate
- Apple Watch connectivity
Pajero Sport GSR provides:
- Black alloy wheels
- Black rear spoiler
- Black bumper garnishes
- Black radiator grille
- Black headlight garnish
- Black roof rails
- Two tone roof – black
- ‘Pajero’ Sport bonnet emblem
- ‘GSR’ tailgate badge
Is the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed protected?
The Pajero Sport obtained a five-star ANCAP security ranking again in 2015, although the ranking is now expired. It’s price noting the crash rating was additionally based mostly on checks of the Triton ute.
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2015 Mitsubishi Triton
This ranking was based mostly on a frontal offset rating of 15.22 out of 16 and a aspect affect rating of 16 out of 16. Whiplash and pedestrian safety have been rated Good and Acceptable, respectively.
Customary security options embrace:
- 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise management
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
Pajero Sport Exceed provides:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Encompass-view cameras
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed value to run?
Mitsubishi’s normal guarantee covers 5 years or 100,000km, however as long as you come to one among its dealerships at every service this extends to 10 years or 200,000km.
Servicing at dealerships additionally helps you to reap the benefits of Mitsubishi’s 10 years of capped-price servicing. The Pajero Sport requires servicing each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport service pricing:
- Service 1: $399
- Service 2: $399
- Service 3: $499
- Service 4: $699
- Service 5: $499
- Service 6: $699
- Service 7: $499
- Service 8: $999
- Service 9: $599
- Service 10: $699
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed
The Pajero Sport places in a strong exhibiting, but it surely’s shortly being outpaced by newer competitors.
With rivals just like the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X within the combine, the Pajero Sport isn’t essentially one among my high picks within the 4×4 SUV phase – notably on this increased specification given the worth level.
You’ll be able to cowl extra bases on the protection and tech fronts in decrease grades of the Everest and MU-X for related if not much less cash, mixed with higher efficiency and towing functionality ought to these be priorities for you. The up to date SsangYong Rexton will even really feel extra trendy for much less cash.
However that’s to not say there isn’t lots of good happening right here. The Pajero Sport has remained widespread for quite a few causes and like its Triton sibling, stays a strong and dependable possibility amongst its opponents by performing nicely throughout most metrics.
It’s very no-nonsense however drives with relative refinement and has loads of functionality out of the field to suite a variety of wants. There’s additionally a really lengthy guarantee on the proviso you service the Pajero Sport inside Mitsubishi’s nationwide vendor community.
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