Review of the Pajero Sport GLS like Star Trek
In my head, there is a debate going on. There is a realistic, pragmatic man who uses evidence and logic on the other side. This man claims that the Pajero Sport is a very capable car that can do a range of duties well for the price. It has good off-road performance, is relatively fuel-efficient, has seating for seven people, and is both contemporary and powerful.
The more erratic guy whose thoughts are mostly determined by emotional responses and knee-jerk sensations is on the other side of my splotchy brain. The Pajero Sport is despised by this man. He considers it to be incredibly ugly, monotonous, and unsatisfying to drive due to its confined interior and little effective suspension. The back view is worse than a porthole in choppy water, and the driveline seems like a lawnmower attached to a huge rubber band.
It is undeniable that the Pajero Sport is highly expensive. The GLS we’ve been driving costs $48,500 and is considered to be mid-spec. The Exceed costs $53,000 while the GLX is a $45,000 automobile. The degree of inclusions is fairly high all around.
The Pajero Sport’s main rivals in the segment of affordable mid-sized seven-seaters are probably the Toyota Fortuner ($47,990 to $61,990), Holden’s Trailblazer ($47,990 to $52,490), and Isuzu’s MU-X ($41,800 to $54,800). The Fortuner is a little more expensive. The Mitsubishi delivers much more value in its inclusions than just the asking price. With a leather interior, automatic lights, keyless entry, and a locking rear differential, the GLS is more akin to a top-spec model.
The interior has been completely redesigned with lots of piano black, beautiful plastics, and buttons; it is not a repeat of the Triton interior. Although it’s briefly attractive to look at, you quickly realize that there is absolutely no storage and that it is extremely crowded. When there isn’t enough place for your belongings and you continually bumping your knees, the interior rapidly turns unsightly and the driver’s footwell reminds me of a Pringles tin. Due to the ridiculously small rear window and steep D-pillar, visibility in the rear is awful. However, you do have a reverse camera, right?
Put your belongings someplace and, without fastening your seatbelt (is it really necessary? ), endure the beeping of the engine as it begins. Is starting the engine before fastening your seatbelt such a dreadful crime that you need to be taken to the gates of madness with the constant beeping? ), and then get behind the wheel.
Oddly, the first row is the only one that resembles a coffin with a leather and plastic interior. Given that the Pajero Sport’s size and wheelbase are both very tiny, the second row is quite roomy, and the third row is also quite nice. It’s vital to keep in mind that the third row is not as flexible as other vehicles in this class because it can only fold flat when the second row is thrown forward. When those rows are removed, a relatively voluminous, flat loading area becomes available (with a 12V plug and tie-down points).
The Pajero Sport’s driving style can best be summed up in one word: unoffensive. Neither nice nor evil, it is neither. The 8-speed automated transmission provides good access to all the 2.4-liter Mivec diesel has to offer, even though it is not as smooth and seamless as other gearboxes. The engine produces enough power in the middle of the rpm range for passable performance. When you truly strain the engine, it begins to lose control. Although the car rides and steers quite well, when the going gets rough, it may quickly become like driving a marshmallow.
It’s not really a problem, but if you’re planning on doing some heavy towing or heavier off-road miles, you should at the very least put in some firmer shocks. The Pajero Sport is a good commuter since it is simple and painless. But as you go further, your vulnerabilities do start to surface.
Once you get acclimated to the limited visibility outside of the windscreen, the Pajero Sport is a quick and potent weapon off-road. With the exception of that large balancing weight on the front of the rear diff, the undercarriage is all neatly tucked up away from collisions and the short wheelbase allows for a superb turning circle and respectable rampover angle (23 degrees). A good off-roading 4X4 has good articulation from the three-link rear end, a locking rear diff, and good traction control. Low-range gearing is not awful, despite the driveline’s limited use of engine brakes (HDC is present) (2.566 reduction). It is a pretty narrow vehicle, which helps on narrow tracks but doesn’t help with how crowded the interior is. We managed to bottom ours out over a very sharp whoop-de-doo, but with the rear locker engaged, we were able to glide right over it. It takes a damn decent traction control system to compete with a good, ol’-fashioned locker, though.
When I first glanced at the Pajero Sport, I was unimpressed. The front end is, in my opinion, quite beautiful, but the back end is just horrible. Although the inside is attractive and the dynamics are somewhat dull, the off-road performance is quite good, which left me perplexed while I was driving it. My rational side understands that this is a reliable automobile with excellent features at a competitive price. But that crazy automobile aficionado who is also there laments the fact that I didn’t care (or give it much thought) in the interim.
In This Article...
Are Pajero 4WDs reliable?
Generally speaking, the Pajero is underappreciated as a 4WD touring and towing vehicle. Our extensive testing over the years has demonstrated that it can make a great bush travel vehicle.
The Pajero is it an off-road vehicle?
The Pajero is similar to the Jimmy in that it is very simple to position on any track since you always know precisely where each wheel is. This is true more so when you are 4WDing at moderate speeds than it is when you are driving at high speeds on bitumen or gravel trails.
Yes, there are times when it seems a little underpowered, but if you don’t hesitate to “give it the boot,” you should usually be in the right.
The simple-to-use Super Select II has four driving modes: 2H (two-wheel drive, rear), 4H (four-wheel drive, high range, safe for use at high speed on bitumen), 4H LC (four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, locked center differential, suitable for off-road driving at a speed of about 30 km/h), and 4L LC (four-wheel drive, locked center differential, low-range gearing engaged, suitable only for low-speed 4WDing It turns out that 4H is a decent playing state for everyday driving.
The Pajero’s off-road specs include a 225mm ground clearance (minimum, unladen), a 700mm wading depth, and respectable but not class-leading approach (36.6 degrees), departure (25) and ramp-over (22.5 degrees) angles. I did drive the Pajero into a couple deep, dish-shaped mud holes, but I never came close to the 700mm fording depth.
The Pajero can traverse extremely difficult terrain thanks to its effective low-range gearing, engine brakes, and diff locking, especially when 4L LC is activated (centre and rear diffs locked).
It rides on 18-inch Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 All-Terrain tires (265/60R18), which don’t assist its off-road credentials, and has coil springs all around. It also includes a full-size spare tire.
The Pajero can tow 750kg of unbraked weight and 3000kg of braked weight, with a maximum payload of 711kg and a maximum roof load of 100kg.
A 4WD is a Mitsubishi Pajeros?
Since 1983, Pajero has reinvented the 4WD from Dakar to the Outback. An Australian off-road legend, capable of overcoming the most difficult 4WD obstacles. The 4WD community holds a special place in their hearts for it. The Pajero set the standard for monocoque body structure in the large 4×4 off-road SUV market. Additionally, Super Select 4WD has a lockable transfer case that enhances 4WD’s traction on bitumen surfaces for greater control. Let’s not forget that the Pajero was the first major off-road SUV to feature independent rear suspension; before to that, rigid axles were the norm in this class. The DNA of Mitsubishi is fundamentally one of forward thinking.
Does the Mitsubishi Outlander handle off-road well?
The ride is adequate, but the PHEV’s substantial additional kerbweight makes it feel stiff and unsteady over severe city bumps. Most owners are prepared to accept that in exchange for the loss in fuel efficiency. The Outlander is highly good off-road, and its abilities is enhanced by a locking center differential. The petrol model should be your pick if you intend to travel off-road because it has a 4WD lock mode for more difficult terrain. The PHEV, in contrast, only has 4WD due to the electric motor being located at the rear of the vehicle. Since there is no propshaft connecting the front and rear axles, you must rely on the car’s electronics to direct power to the wheels that have the most traction.
How long is the lifespan of a Mitsubishi Pajero?
The Mitsubishi Pajero will cease manufacturing in the first half of 2021, after years of rumors and numerous attempts to save it from extinction.
The information was released at the same time that Mitsubishi reported its biggest financial loss in 18 years and said it will slowly withdraw from Europe to concentrate on Asia, where its brand is more profitable.
The news was made overnight in Japan at a high-level board meeting that paradoxically highlighted the Mitsubishi Pajero’s dominance of the Paris-Dakar Rally from 1985 to 2007a period in which it amassed a record 12 victories, including seven straight victories from 2001 to 2007.
According to a statement from Mitsubishi Japan: “At its July 27, 2020 board of directors meeting, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation decided to halt manufacturing in the first half of 2021 and shut down the facility of its domestic production subsidiary Pajero Manufacturing.
The statement went on to say: “We have made the decision to halt production and close the Pajero Manufacturing factory in order to develop suitable production capacity based on the revised mid-term strategy. Pajero Manufacturing’s vehicle production will be moved to the Okazaki factory of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
What distinguishes the Pajero GLX from the GLS?
What is the price of a Pajero Sport? A five-seat variant of the midrange GLS grade and extra features were added to the Sport in April 2018, although the price was also marginally raised.
The starting price for the GLX is now $45,500 (up $500 from the previous model), followed by the five-seat GLS at $48,500, the seven-seat GLS at $49,500 (up $1000), and the top-spec Exceed at $53,650 (up $650).
Given that much of the cutting-edge safety equipment that was previously only offered on the Exceed has now been included into the rest of the lineup, the price rise is well warranted. In the safety section below, you may find further information on this.
In addition, the GLX received new 18-inch alloy wheels, a 150W/220V outlet, two USB power ports for the back seats, and soft-finish center console trim.
Other standard equipment include roof rails, side steps, a leather steering wheel, carpeted floors, cloth seats, climate control with rear air vents, proximity keys, and push-button start. LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights (DRLs) are also included. Rear parking sensors, a 7.0-inch screen with Apple CarPlay, a back-view camera, a four-speaker audio, and dark-tinted rear windows are all included.
All of the GLX’s features are standard on the GLS, but it also adds two more audio speakers, leather seats instead of cloth ones, auto headlights and wipers, and dual-zone climate control.
The GLX gets a rear differential lock mechanically as well. Additionally, the seven-seat GLS receives a third row (obviously). Do the airbags extend all the way back there? To learn more, go to the safety section.
The top-tier Exceed has all the features of the GLS plus two more speakers for a total of eight in the radio, heated front seats, and headlamp washers. On the GLS, a third row of seats is also standard.
How do the prices of the Pajero Sport’s competitors compare? As a point of comparison, the Ford Everest has a price range of $47,990 to $74,701; the Toyota Fortuner runs from $44,590 to $56,990; and the Isuzu MU-X from $42,900 to $56,200.
Given the number of standard equipment and the extremely low price, the Pajero Sport offers excellent value.
Are vintage Mitsubishi Pajeros trustworthy?
Your experience is not typical because the Mitsubishi Pajero is thought to be a fairly dependable car. There are a number of probable causes for this, but the air filter is the first thing I’d check. Is it conceivable that the recent service missed this? Unclean or clogged air filters can undoubtedly cause an engine to smoke and perform poorly.
Your car is probably a diesel, thus it would be wise to also check the suction-control valve on the fuel pump’s back. Injectors that are stuck and leaking fuel into the engine may also cause these symptoms. I’ve also heard that the Pajero diesel can experience an accumulation of black sludge in the intake system, which can also result in symptoms similar to what you’ve said.
Has the Pajero a diff lock?
Additionally, the Pajero Sport sports a suite of features for off-road driving. With the center differential locked, it can be put into a four-wheel high-range or four-wheel low-range mode, where a low-range gearbox is utilized as a torque multiplier. Only use this option when you are off-road.