Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2020 Car Review

Size-wise, the Pajero Sport fits between the larger standard Pajero and the compact Outlander, and we’d expect it to be just the right size for many Kiwi drivers looking at larger SUVs.

Bold Looks

The current model sports a bolder design than ever before.

Clever enhancements like new bumpers have helped to increase the length by 40mm and, combined with Mitsubishi’s signature Dynamic shield grill, help create a striking profile and chunkier appearance.

The Pajero Sport is around 1.8m tall and 1.8m wide so still holds a strong presence on the road - you’ll sure stand out amongst other SUVs!

All aboard

With seven seats, the interior of the Pajero Sport is unsurprisingly expansive, and the cockpit is spacious and has been tastefully appointed with leather stitching on the comfortable heated seats. The heated seat buttons are quite large and industrial-looking, perhaps to remind you of the utilitarian vehicle you are in.

The dashboard is accented thoughtfully with piano black and matt silver touches, which give a very clean look.

The instrument cluster has been revised with a gorgeous 8” multi-functional display which lets you change the speedometer and tachometer to match your taste, giving the Pajero Sport a much more modern feel than before.

You will also find an improved 8" touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, backed up by a 510W amp with eight Speakers and titanium tweeters - plenty of power for playing your favorite tunes on a summer roadie.

There are a total of four USB ports in the Pajero Sport, including two for passengers in the second row. Oddly, you will also find a HDMI input in the front, and a conventional 220V wall socket in the middle row. The latter is splendid for plugging in a laptop for a quick charge on your way to work, and it would be sure to come in handy if you were to venture into the wilderness.  

Storage-wise there’s a large boot with a 673 litre capacity, however, this is only with the last row tucked away. If you need all three rows, then storage is reduced significantly to just 131 litres. With both the second and third rows down, the Pajero Sport becomes capable of carrying an epic 1,488 litres of storage.

Everyday driving

Behind the wheel of the Pajero Sport is a pleasant place to be - the elevated seating position delivers a very reassuring feeling when driving around, and it goes deeper than that with Forward Collision Mitigation, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Blind Spot Monitoring, meaning it’s a very safe space to be. An impressive nine airbags have also been distributed throughout the cabin.

This relationship is moving too fast?

You may have some apprehension about a vehicle that still has an archaic ladder chassis, but know that the Pajero is not alone - the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuna also jumped on the band wagon. Normally attributed only to utes and classic cars of yesteryear, the Pajero Sport is living proof that the technology can work in a modern passenger car.

The engineers must have been pulling their hair out trying to eliminate squeaks and creeks, but they did it. It’s still a reasonably firm ride around town but you do feel the difference – Mitsubishi seem to have found an excellent balance.

Highly capable off roader

The Pajero Sport is a capable off roader thanks to Mitsubishi’s Super Select II 4WD system, which is an easy system to use with its bold selector dial on the center console. It also possesses four off-road modes so you really are spoilt for choice when you head off the beaten track.

To top it off, a 30-degree approach and 23-degree departure angle lets you navigate reasonably tricky terrain. The ground clearance remains the same from the previous model (218mm).

How about dumping the boat in the water?

Again the Pajero sport has this thought out, connecting a boat should be easy with its birds eye view and reversing camera for easy hitching. When you’re on the road after your day of fun in the water, trailer stability assist is fitted to keep your boat in control during your drive home. The 3100kg braked towing capacity should be enough for most, especially when you have 437Nm of torque at just 2500 RPM, and 135kW at 3500 RPM. Even with all this brawn, the Pajero Sport still manages to slurp 8L/100km.

The eight-speed transmission also one ups the Mitsubishi Triton’s recently updated six-speed unit, especially during open road driving which is where this transmission shines.

Verdict

Mitsubishi has strong competition in this segment from the likes of the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuna, but it’s putting up a brilliant fight. Its overall package is good value for money, especially considering all of its safety equipment and the capabilities it has both on the road and off it.

As you start to do a deep dive into the specs of this model, it's certainly a valuable offering. It’s a bit of a shame about the storage with all the seats up, but there’s only so much room on hand, and we’d probably be complaining about its length if it was any longer.

Safety systems

• Nine airbags
• Active Traction Control (ATC)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
• Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM)
• Parking sensors (front/rear) with reversing camera
• Smart Brake & Brake Assist
• Multi Around View Monitor

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