Pajero still an old-school SUV icon

In its press material Mitsubishi makes much of the Pajero’s Dakar Rally-winning heritage of a record 12 victories, even though it hasn’t competed there in years.
But the marketing hype isn’t unjustified because the Pajero is still one of the “real” all-terrain vehicles in the market, rather than the ever-growing number of urban soft-roaders that aren’t necessarily designed to get their tyres muddy.
Point this Mitsubishi at a rugged 4x4 trail and it has all the tools needed to plod through picturesque pastures and duel with deep dongas with minimum chance of getting stuck.
A lofty 235mm ground clearance, a 36.6 degree approach angle (superior to rivals such as Prado, Pathfinder and Discovery), 25 degree departure angle, selectable all-wheel drive, low range, and centre and rear differential locks ensured that the long-wheelbase Pajero cruised through our steep and slippery off-road trail.
The Super Select 4WD system also allows convenient shifting between two and four-wheel drive at up to 100km/h.
The three-door SWB derivative (not tested here) has even better approach and departure angles of 34.8 degrees and 36.7 degrees respectively, but the longer five-door Mitsubishi Pajero LWB still has plenty of offroading ability along with a family-sized cabin.
The 2015 model year range, in both short and long-wheelbase versions, features a number of cosmetic enhancements as the last upgrade on the current derivative before it’s replaced by the fifth-generation Pajero in about two years’ time.
A minor facelift sees a grille and bumper restyled with LED daytime running lights incorporated into the headlamps, while other cosmetic tweaks include an upgrade from 17” to 18” alloy rims and a new spare-wheel cover.
The headlamps get an auto-dimming function that switches from high to low-beam when encountering vehicles ahead.
OLD-SCHOOL HANDLING
Improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels sees the large SUV cruise along more quietly than before.

Like its more direct rivals, the Toyota Prado and Nissan Pathfinder, the Pajero’s talents lie more in its ability to cruise comfortably over rugged trails, where its soft springs and fully-independent suspension deliver an impressively cushy ride that copes gracefully with bumps and ripples. On a smooth road the test vehicle displayed vibrations at certain speeds however, as if the driveshaft or tyres needed balancing.
Comprising the SWB GLS, LWB GLS and the LWB GLS Exceed, all models in the simplified three-model Pajero range are powered by the existing 3.2-litre turbodiesel engine which runs on 50ppm or 500ppm diesel.
There have been no tweaks under the bonnet and the 140kW and 441Nm outputs feel sufficiently gutsy to move this big SUV along at an easy gallop. It slightly out-powers the Toyota Prado 3.0’s 120kW/400Nm and is basically on a par with the Pathfinder 2.5’s 140kW/450Nm.
The five-speed automatic transmission, while not having as many gears as some newer contenders, shifts smoothly and has a manual override functionality.
Our test vehicle achieved reasonably economical consumption of 9.6 litres per 100km in mostly freeway driving, but it’s a much thirstier beast when off-roading.
PRACTICAL TOUCHES
The Pajero’s interior is also showing some “senior” moments, particularly the laughably old-fashioned “calculator screen” information display. Also, the door pockets are quite thin and difficult to access because there’s not much space to stick your hand between the seats and the doors.
The steering adjusts only for height and not reach, which meant my knees touched the dashboard when I sat at my ideal arm distance.
But that said, there are some practical touches in the Pajero’s passenger quarters too, for instance the expandable flap in the sun visors which allows you to block out the sun along the entire length of the side window. The extra-large storage bin between the front seats is a great feature too, as it takes heaps of clutter.
Handy too is the third row of seats which turns the long-wheelbase Pajero into a seven-seater when needed, but folds out of sight into the floor when not.
These rear seats stow away completely flat and don’t affect luggage space, because the spare tyre is mounted on the tailgate.
In spite of the age factor this is a luxury-specced package and all derivatives come with modern niceties such as a multi-function steering wheel, Bluetooth, voice control, cruise control, automatic climate control, and a radio/CD/MP3 touchscreen audio system with USB and Aux support.
The range-topping LWB GLS Exceed, priced at R659 900, adds items such as a 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, HID xenon headlights with washers, an electric sliding/tilting panoramic sunroof and a wood/leather combination steering wheel for an added touch of luxury.
ABS brakes, stability control and six airbags provide the peace-of-mind, and the Pajero has a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating. The price includes a three-year ort 100 000km warranty and a five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan, with service intervals every 10 000km.
VERDICT
This Mitsubishi comes into its own where the road ends and adventure beckons - get behind the wheel at a Group 1 Mitsubishi dealership - book your test drive.
FACTS
Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 Di-DGLS Exceed
Engine: 3.2-litre, Four-cylinder turbo/petrol/diesel
Gearbox: Five-speed automatic
Power: 140kW @ 3800rpm
Torque: 441Nm @ 2000rpm
Top speed (claimed): 175km/h
Consumption (claimed): 10.1 litres per 100km
Warranty: Three-year/100 000km
Service/Maintenance plan: Five-year/1000 000km





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mitsubishi ASX Sport edition adds colour and tech

Image
Mitsubishi has taken some of that orange and black flavouring that it applied to the Triton ‘Athlete’ special edition and applied it to a new range-topping  Mitsubishi ASX edition called the Sport. The ASX Sport is based on the GLX model and sells for the same base price, but according to Mitsubishi it adds R30 000 worth of extras. Most notably, it adds an upgraded infotainment system that is now compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As before, the factory-fitted 17.8cm touchscreen infotainment system also features satellite navigation and Bluetooth. On the outside, the Sport has been dressed up with a number of styling accessories, including a Sport decal set that consists of various black and orange strips as well as carbon fibre inserts. The special edition can be ordered with either white or grey exterior paint, and in both cases, it rolls on a set of gloss black alloy wheels. As with the GLX it’s based on, the Sport features a lengthy list of standard feature...
Read more

Mitsubishi Triton Is A HiLux Rival Packed With Value

Image
The Mitsubishi Triton for sale is a Japanese workhorse that is often overlooked, but buyers looking for a bargain bakkie had best take notice of some of this bakkie’s best features. South Africans love their bakkies , the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have been the two most popular vehicles in the country over the past few years. But if you look past the top sellers there is some incredible value. Here is everything you need to know about the Mitsubishi Triton GSR. VALUE The GSR is a relatively new model variant in the new and used Triton models for sale that sits between the GLS and GLS Premium. It adds a dash of style to the Triton’s exterior with a black grille, 18-inch black alloy wheels and black highlights around the headlights, door mirrors, handles and sidesteps. Our test car also had an accessory pack that included a black roll-top cover for the load area, a tub liner and a sports bar. The price is sharp and includes an extended seven-year warranty and roadside assistance. S...
Read more

Mitsubishi Outlander LS 2018 new car review

Image
The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander there’s a new twin-blade grille with black mesh insert and silver garnish and new front bumper as well as new rear bumper and new 18-inch alloy wheel design to set it apart from last year’s Outlander. There’s also a number of smaller specification upgrades across various models that we’ll go into detail later. What do you get? There are no shortage of Outlanders to choose from with 10 in the conventional range (with either a petrol or diesel engine) plus the plug-in hybrid line-up. We’re driving the mid-grade LS equipped with the 2.4-litre petrol engine, continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. Standard gear includes a keyless ignition, auto headlights and wipers, a cargo blind, 7.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, digital radio, a reversing camera and dual-zone climate control. For 2019 there’s new leather-look seat trim for the LS. Safety is well covered with forward collision warning, adaptive cruise c...
Read more