The third era Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is approaching a significant milestone – get able to want it a contented tenth birthday in 2025!
That’s an extended innings for a contemporary automobile, and a few fashions age extra gracefully than others. Mitsubishi has up to date the present Pajero Sport a number of instances over its lengthy life, however right this moment’s rivals are younger and more energizing.
Because the flip of the last decade, Ford and Isuzu have all launched new variations of the Everest and MU-X, respectively. In the meantime, the Pajero Sport appears a lot the identical because it did again in 2015.
The automobile on take a look at here’s a pre-update mannequin. There are exterior beauty tweaks and a brand new three-spoke steering wheel for 2024, however it’s hardly a significant replace. Costs are up as properly, to the tune of $1700 for the GLS on take a look at right here.
The massive, cumbersome Triton-based SUV clearly nonetheless holds enchantment to Australian new automobile patrons, as 4356 had been bought over the primary half of this yr.
However is it time to pivot in the direction of more energizing steel, leaving the Pajero Sport to get pleasure from a quiet retirement?
How does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport towards equally sized automobiles.
Mitsubishi
Pajero Sport
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport price?
The GLS on take a look at right here sits in the midst of the Pajero Sport vary, as the most cost effective of the seven-seat variants.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX 4×4 5-seat | $51,540 |
| 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4×4 7-seat | $56,890 |
| 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed 4×4 7-seat | $62,590 |
| 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GSR 4×4 7-seat | $64,840 |
Our tester was optioned with Impulse Blue exterior paint ($740) and the Deluxe Choice ($2350), bringing the whole drive-away worth to $63,030 for Victorian patrons.
To see how the Pajero Sport traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.
What’s the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport like on the within?
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is sort of a large time machine – clamber in and also you’re transported again to 2015.
-
-
MY24 inside
Word there are slight variations between the Pajero Sport on take a look at right here and the MY24 replace. The latter has the brand new Triton’s steering wheel, and the Exceed and up obtain up to date graphics of their 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster.
From the motive force’s seat your eyes are instantly drawn to the old-school infotainment and instrument setups on this GLS spec.
Entrance and centre is the 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, with its pixelated graphics and primary set of options. You get a dated navigation system, DAB radio, a alternative of audio outputs, and never a lot else.
As such, I defaulted to smartphone mirroring each time I fired up the Pajero Sport, which requires a wired connection. Apple CarPlay was dependable, and it disguises the shortfalls of the system.
The instrument cluster can be a throwback, with a small central show flanked by analogue gauges. For a household off-roader like this it’s not so unhealthy, and the display screen nonetheless shows essential information equivalent to journey data, gasoline financial system, and 4WD settings.
Of all the inside expertise within the Pajero Sport, the local weather controls have held up finest. It has a row of bodily buttons complemented by user-friendly rotary knobs and an oblong display screen, which isn’t too dissimilar from many fashionable setups. The GLS variant good points dual-zone local weather management over decrease grades.
It represents a quick distraction from the remainder of the cabin, which stays frozen in time. Take the twin USB-A retailers positioned instantly under, for instance.
Materials high quality advantages from the non-obligatory Deluxe Package deal fitted to our tester, consisting of leather-based seats (powered up entrance) and a surround-view digicam.
Seat heating would’ve been good for the $2350 you spend, although. The pews are a bit slippery and never probably the most snug I’ve sampled, though you sit good and excessive with a commanding view of the street.
Surrounding surfaces are trimmed in a mix of soppy and exhausting plastics, in addition to some faux-leather. Every thing seems hard-wearing, which inserts the rugged, workmanlike character of the automobile.
The primary contact factors are nice to return into contact with – the centre console is smooth and there’s padding on the door panel to relaxation your elbow on.
Equally, the steering wheel feels smooth but sturdy and comes geared up with strong steel shift paddles. The button structure is a bit messy, although.
For a big SUV, the Pajero Sport ought to supply extra cabin storage. Skinny door bins and an unimpressive centre console undermine the ample area out there, so bigger objects will find yourself within the beneficiant glovebox.
There’s a cellphone slot beneath the sprint, and a sun shades holder that pops down from the ceiling.
Area can be a difficulty again within the second row, each from a passenger consolation and storage perspective.
I used to be nearly capable of get snug behind my driving place, however leggy adults shall be cramped. Headroom can be a difficulty for taller adults – the bench doesn’t slide both, so there’s no approach to enhance the state of affairs.
Between the ceiling-mounted air vents, massive home windows and light-coloured headliner the rear rows at the least really feel vivid and ethereal, which retains claustrophobia at bay.
Storage is proscribed to average-sized door bins and map pockets, with flimsy retractable cupholders positioned within the armrest. Two USB-A retailers are there to maintain the youngsters on-line.
Contemplating what’s on provide within the second row, I used to be shocked to seek out that third row passengers get a good deal.
The second row folds over itself, enabling simpler ingress into the ‘back-back’.
As soon as seated, you’ll discover there’s sufficient room for youngsters and smaller adults, and the reclined chairs present a snug seating place. Facilities embrace cupholders, ceiling vents and a 12V outlet.
With the college footy group occupying all seven seats, the Pajero Sport has 131L of boot area. Drop the third row and also you get 502L, which is extra usable however lower than the 673L within the base five-seat GLX.
No matter configuration, it’s much less cargo room than you get in an Isuzu MU-X or Ford Everest.
With that mentioned, additional space for storing is on the market beneath the boot flooring in seven-seat Pajero Sport fashions. In contrast to the bottom five-seater, the GLS additionally comes with an influence tailgate.
| Dimensions | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS |
|---|---|
| Size | 4825mm |
| Width | 1815mm |
| Top | 1835mm |
| Wheelbase | 2800mm |
| Floor clearance | 218mm |
| Kerb weight | 2195kg |
| Cargo capability | 131L (7 seats) 502L (5 seats) 1575L (2 seats) |
To see how the Pajero Sport traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is completely powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which produces 133kW of energy and 430Nm of torque.
| Specs | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4L 4cyl turbo-diesel |
| Transmission | 8-speed automated |
| Energy | 133kW |
| Torque | 430Nm |
| Drive sort | 4-wheel drive |
| Gasoline sort | Diesel |
| Gasoline tank capability | 68L |
| Gasoline financial system (claimed) | 8.0L/100km |
| Gasoline financial system (as examined) | 11.0L/100km |
| Towing capability | 3100kg |
| Towball obtain | 310kg |
| Gross Car Mass (GVM) | 2775kg |
| Gross Mixed Mass (GCM) | 5565kg |
| Floor clearance | 218mm |
To see how the Pajero Sport traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.
How does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport drive?
Many points of the Pajero Sport are courting after practically a decade of manufacturing, however it stays aggressive within the driving stakes.
The automobile is ready up for off-road duties, geared up with drive modes to configure the automobile for various off-road surfaces, switchable four-wheel drive with low-range, hill descent management, and a rear differential locker.
In contrast to rivals just like the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Fortuner, the four-wheel drive system within the Pajero Sport may be operated on sealed surfaces with out danger of differential binding. Meaning when it rains, you could have the added safety of four-wheel drive traction on the college run.
You additionally get 218mm of floor clearance, 30-degree method and 24-degree departure angles, 700mm wading depth, and an 11.2m turning circle.
It’s at residence off the blacktop, which makes up an enormous portion of the enchantment of the Pajero Sport. A number of inexpensive 4×4 seven-seaters trump the Mitsubishi for luxurious and refinement, however not all are as succesful when the tarmac disappears – as we found throughout our 4WD SUV Mega Check.
On the street, the Pajero Sport feels just like different ladder-frame SUVs such because the Isuzu MU-X and Ford Everest.
The two.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine produces 133kW, which is par for the phase apart from the 154kW Ford Everest, and its 430Nm of torque is a bit down on ute-based SUV rivals.
As such, the Pajero Sport will get round at an informal tempo. Attempting to drive some urgency results in lots of noise and minimal progress – we’ve beforehand recorded a 0-100km/h dash of 11.7 seconds – so the motor works finest when operated gently and easily.
The transmission can even thanks, because it’s programmed to maintain revs down and save gasoline. Don’t let these large, metallic paddle shifters tempt you into some motorsport-inspired driving.
It feels comparatively refined when pushed sensibly, and also you get respectable gasoline financial system. This take a look at produced a median of 11L/100km, which may be chalked all the way down to peak-hour commuting, however the official declare of 8.0L/100km tops each the Skoda Kodiaq and Isuzu MU-X.
Auto-hold is readily available once you get caught in site visitors, as I usually did in Melbourne. It’s a useful function that provides your proper foot a break.
In addition to being down on grunt, the Pajero Sport lacks any actual dynamism when taking over corners, each in city and rural settings.
The smooth, floaty suspension tune makes the Pajero Sport really feel extra snug than some rivals within the metropolis, though it’s not a category chief. There’s a number of physique roll on twisty roads, regardless of the Sport identify.
-
Exceed proven
Sluggish, heavy steering at low speeds contributes to the cumbersome driving expertise, particularly when matched up towards an Everest or MU-X. With that mentioned, the surround-view digicam got here in useful when parking this cumbersome beast at crowded procuring centres.
The Pajero is finest geared up for cruising on the freeway, somewhat than lumbering across the metropolis.
The diesel engine settles down properly at a cruise, and the smooth suspension offers the Pajero Sport a relaxed feeling on the authorized restrict in Australia. Overtakes require some advance planning although; once you put your foot down the transmission takes its time kicking down, and the four-cylinder diesel isn’t what you’d name a monster.
Adaptive cruise management does the job, though the four-cylinder beneath the bonnet generally lacks the grunt to return to the set velocity in a well timed method after slowing in site visitors.
What do you get?
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is available in 4 trim ranges and two seating configurations.
Pajero Sport GLX commonplace gear:
- 5 seats
- Revised 18-inch alloy wheels
- Automated LED headlights
- LED fog lights, daytime working lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB digital radio
- Paddle shifters
- Digital parking brake
- Adjustable velocity limiter
- Keyless entry and begin
- Three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Local weather management air-conditioning
- Black material upholstery
- 4-speaker sound system
Pajero Sport GLS provides:
- Two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels
- 7 seats
- Twin-zone local weather management
- 6-speaker sound system
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Automated headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear flooring storage field
- Privateness glass
- Energy tailgate
Choices
The next non-obligatory options had been fitted to our take a look at car.
Value as examined: $63,030 D/A (Victorian postcode)
Is the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport protected?
The 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is presently unrated by ANCAP, as its five-star score from 2015 expired after six years.
Normal security options embrace:
- 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise management
- Reversing digicam
- Rear parking sensors
The Pajero Sport Exceed and GSR achieve blind-spot monitoring, entrance parking sensors, a surround-view digicam (with a steering wheel swap) and rear cross-traffic alert.
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport price to run?
Mitsubishi’s commonplace guarantee covers 5 years or 100,000km of driving, however you possibly can lengthen this to 10 years or 200,000km of protection offering it’s serviced on time by way of a Mitsubishi supplier.
The 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport requires servicing each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
| Service interval | Value |
|---|---|
| 12 months/15,000km | $449 |
| 24 months/30,000km | $549 |
| 36 months/45,000km | $499 |
| 48 months/60,000km | $849 |
| 60 months/75,000km | $549 |
| 72 months/90,000km | $949 |
| 84 months/105,000km | $749 |
| 96 months/120,000km | $999 |
| 108 months/135,000km | $899 |
| 120 months/150,000km | $999 |
| Whole | $7490 |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport isn’t the worth household 4WD it was.
It’s dated inside, with much less space for storing and fewer options to get enthusiastic about. Key security tech can be lacking in comparison with newer rivals, and the Pajero Sport doesn’t make a lot sense for the college run.
Positive, it’s been strong off-road in our earlier testing, however that’s particular to 1 group of patrons. Aggressive pricing as soon as set this large household four-wheel drive aside, and will excuse its rising record of flaws. That’s not the case.
For the worth of the GLS with Deluxe Choice examined right here, patrons who gained’t head off-road can get behind the wheel of a completely loaded Nissan X-Path Ti-L with 1000’s to spare.
In the event you’re set on a ladder-frame SUV for combined college run and campground duties, it’s a small step to a Ford Everest Ambiente or Isuzu MU-X LS-T. Each provide a extra refined driving expertise, and the Isuzu specifically matches the Pajero Sport in terms of inside niceties like leather-based trim.
No matter the way you choice it, the Pajero Sport doesn’t look or really feel notably luxurious. Meaning you’re smarter to go for the GLS with out the Deluxe Pack, pocket the additional money, and make investments it in a driving vacation… or some off-road modifications.
With a barely decrease sticker worth the Mitsubishi makes extra sense as strong, rugged household transport.
Click on the photographs for the gallery
MORE: Purchase a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
MORE: Every thing Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
