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Mitsubishi’s Fortuner rival, the curiously named Pajero Sport (it’s based on the Triton actually), is now officially (finally) available at your local Mitsubishi dealer.
Based on the Triton bakkie’s mechanicals, Pajero Sport is sure to find favour with local buyers who want rugged off-road ability from SUVs, yet are constrained by current financial conditions from purchasing one of the mid-sized SUV wagons.
Cabin specification is in line with Fortuner, Pajero Sport featuring a MP3 enabled CD-player, leather seats, air-conditioning and power-windows for all four occupant access doors.
Mechanically Pajero Sport is powered by the 3.2l, common-rail injected DI-D series engine – well known to local Mitsubishi owners.
It produces 120kW at 3 500r/min and 343Nm of peak rotational force at 2 000r/min, exactly the same figures as Fortuner’s D-4D.
Drive distributed via Mitsubishi’s SuperSelect 4WD system, which is matched to a four-speed automatic.
The choice of transmission does seem a bit odd at first, yet Fortuner does not offer an automatic D-4D 4X4 locally - something Mitsubishi must have been cognisant of when positioning Pajero Sport and finalising specification.
The Pajero Sport has a maximum tow rating of 1.5t (same as Fortuner) and is suspended by double-wishbones at the front wheels and a three-link, coil-spring balanced stabiliser bar at the rear. Again, virtually the same as Fortuner.
Pajero sport has 16-inch wheels all-round. Has 16-inch brake discs rotating on the front axle, which is a monumentally tight fit in our opinion...
Deceleration is one area the Pajero Sport appears to best the Fortuner (at least on paper).
It boasts 406mm ventilated discs (according to Mitsubishi) responsible for retarding the front wheels, whilst 295mm drums slow down the rears.
We don’t quite understand how it’s possible to have 406mm discs (which are 16-inches in imperial parlance) hiding behind the 16-inch front wheels though, the caliper and rotor clearance must hairline stuff…
Those 16-inch wheels (shod with 265/65 tyres) might be smaller than Fortuner’s, yet it’s a blessing in disguise.
Serious off-road enthusiasts know full-well how difficult it is to replace 17-inch (or larger) wheels in our neighbouring countries when on Safari. Fortuner sports a 10l larger fuel tank though.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 3.2 DID GLS comes standard with Mitsubishi’s 3-year/100 000 km new vehicle warranty and Mitsubishi’s 5-year/100 000 km service plan with service intervals of 10 000 km.
Price:
R414 000
Based on the Triton bakkie’s mechanicals, Pajero Sport is sure to find favour with local buyers who want rugged off-road ability from SUVs, yet are constrained by current financial conditions from purchasing one of the mid-sized SUV wagons.
Cabin specification is in line with Fortuner, Pajero Sport featuring a MP3 enabled CD-player, leather seats, air-conditioning and power-windows for all four occupant access doors.
Mechanically Pajero Sport is powered by the 3.2l, common-rail injected DI-D series engine – well known to local Mitsubishi owners.
It produces 120kW at 3 500r/min and 343Nm of peak rotational force at 2 000r/min, exactly the same figures as Fortuner’s D-4D.
Drive distributed via Mitsubishi’s SuperSelect 4WD system, which is matched to a four-speed automatic.
The choice of transmission does seem a bit odd at first, yet Fortuner does not offer an automatic D-4D 4X4 locally - something Mitsubishi must have been cognisant of when positioning Pajero Sport and finalising specification.
The Pajero Sport has a maximum tow rating of 1.5t (same as Fortuner) and is suspended by double-wishbones at the front wheels and a three-link, coil-spring balanced stabiliser bar at the rear. Again, virtually the same as Fortuner.
Pajero sport has 16-inch wheels all-round. Has 16-inch brake discs rotating on the front axle, which is a monumentally tight fit in our opinion...
Deceleration is one area the Pajero Sport appears to best the Fortuner (at least on paper).
It boasts 406mm ventilated discs (according to Mitsubishi) responsible for retarding the front wheels, whilst 295mm drums slow down the rears.
We don’t quite understand how it’s possible to have 406mm discs (which are 16-inches in imperial parlance) hiding behind the 16-inch front wheels though, the caliper and rotor clearance must hairline stuff…
Those 16-inch wheels (shod with 265/65 tyres) might be smaller than Fortuner’s, yet it’s a blessing in disguise.
Serious off-road enthusiasts know full-well how difficult it is to replace 17-inch (or larger) wheels in our neighbouring countries when on Safari. Fortuner sports a 10l larger fuel tank though.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 3.2 DID GLS comes standard with Mitsubishi’s 3-year/100 000 km new vehicle warranty and Mitsubishi’s 5-year/100 000 km service plan with service intervals of 10 000 km.
Price:
R414 000
