Mitsubishi’s all-new Pajero Sport is here and is set to take on the likes of the Ford Everest and the Toyota Fortuner, with a pretty competitive price tag.
Testing the new Pajero Sport
I’ve just spent a week driving the new Pajero 4WD derivative and was fortunate enough to experience it both on- and off-road.
Its 2,4-litre turbodiesel engine, taken from its bakkie sibling, the Triton, produces 133 kw at 3500 rpm and 430 N.m of torque at 2500 rpm. Mitsubishi’s latest version of its Super Select 4-II system for its 4WD models now offers electronic off-road assistance. Improved driving dynamics also include a new 8-speed automatic transmission for both the 2WD and 4WD models, and it all comes in at under R600 000.
On the outside
It’s a bold, modern and sleek-looking SUV which looks good in most environments. Mitsubishi’s new family face, also known as the Dynamic Shield concept, makes this car looks sophisticated enough for the city, yet robust and rugged enough for somewhere like the dunes of Atlantis. Even after I’d managed to get it covered in dirt and dust, the new Pajero Sport’s good-looking exterior still maintained its element of luxury.
From the front, the Pajero Sport exudes a stylish personality and now features LED driving lamps and Daytime Running Lights. The rear end design, however, with its vertically positioned rear lights, is up for debate, and I’m not sure I’ve yet taken to it. Having said that, I wouldn’t write off the Pajero Sport based on design – there are so many other important qualities that is has to offer.
Although a lot comes as standard, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, my favourite feature has to be the integrated side-step, which makes it so much easier for vertically challenged people like myself to jump in and out of the cabin.
On the inside
Mitsubishi has revamped most of its interior. There are plenty of features I enjoyed, from its handsome looking multi-functional steering-wheel to its sporty paddle shifts that allow you to change gears without removing your hands from the steering-wheel.
With the rear seats folded forward, you’ve got 810 litres of usable space, increasing to 1 250 litres if the second row is also down. That’s a considerable amount of space, especially considering everything still looks neat and tidy, even with the seats down. Up front, space is plentiful. There is loads of head- and legroom and everything seems to wrap around the cabin neatly and elegantly.
There are two cup holders situated behind the gear lever and some space in the doors, but I felt it could do with a bit more storage space in which to place things like cellphones and key fobs.
The new Pajero Sport’s electrically adjustable driver’s seat is a comfortable place to be, while everything feels and looks great with its plush surfaces. Fully automatic dual air-conditioning is standard as well as rear passenger controls.
Driving the new Pajero
Around the city, the new Pajero Sport is very comfortable, although things can become somewhat jittery over uneven road surfaces. Its 2,4-litre lightweight turbodiesel engine is big
on torque and pushes through the city really well. It’s also extremely quiet both on- and off-road.
Its eight-speed automatic transmission gives a wider gear range and closer gear ratio that provides responsive acceleration, but also a low fuel consumption at an acclaimed 8,1 litres/100 km. Gear shifting feels smooth and almost perfectly timed, whether on- or off-road.
Out in the dunes of Atlantis is where I really got to experience the new Pajero Sport’s off-roading capabilities. The new Pajero Sport makes it easy for someone like me, a fairly new lover of off-roading adventures, to tackle various obstacles on different terrains. Some true off-roading fanatics might consider this to be ‘cheating’, but it does give me a bit more confidence, especially when certain parts of a 4×4 track seem scary or almost impossible to conquer.
A rotary dial situated between the front passenger and driver’s seats enables you to select your drive modes via its Super Select 4 II system, and you can change modes while you’re driving! An off-road terrain selection gives you the option of Gravel (default), Snow/Mud and Sand when in 4HLc, with the addition of Rock Mode when in 4LLc. One off-road feature I loved in the new Pajero Sport is its Hill-Descent Control, which has been added for additional safety when you’re on tricky or dangerous ground. When it comes to going down steep hills, Hill-Descent Control controls speed and traction and you can practically stick your feet out the window while the Pajero does all the work for you.
After my week spent with the new Pajero Sport and considering how much it allowed me to experience both on- and off-road, I do hope that customers looking for an SUV capable of bakkie-like tasks will get out there and test Mistubishi’s newest product!
Pricing
The new Pajero Sport line-up consists of two high-specification derivatives, 4×4 and 4×2, powered by Mitsubishi’s new-generation super-responsive MIVEC turbodiesel engine, mated to a smooth all-new, class-leading 8-speed automatic transmission (including transfer gearing with low range for the four-wheel drive derivative).
Pajero Sport 2,4 D4 MIVEC 2WD 8-speed A/T R569 995
Pajero Sport 2,4 D4 MIVEC 4WD 8-speed A/T R599 995
“If it’s value for money you crave, you’d be hard pressed to look beyond the keenly-priced and well-equipped Pajero Sport 4WD derivative,” says Nic Campbell, General Manager at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa. “We are confident that the all-new Pajero Sport will fit in nicely with our existing product line-up and customer base, while luring new lifestyle customers with its sophisticated car-like driving dynamics, luxurious comfort and elegant style as well as its admirable off-road reputation,” adds Campbell.
Source: Mitsubishi Motors South Africa
Feature image accreditation: Black Swart
