Top 5: Best-selling Bush Wagons - 4. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 5343 sales Year To Date, October 2018
Starting at just $46,000, the Pajero Sport is arguably even better value for money than the Isuzu MU-X, but it’s slightly smaller, with a smaller capacity engine, and has some polarising styling features, particularly the taillights that fall down the sides of the rear-end like teardrops.
In some respects, however, the Pajero Sport has it all over the MU-X, such as its better active safety package, standard fitment eight-speed automatic transmission and Mitsubishi’s excellent Super Select II selectable full-time 4x4 system. It also pips the MU-X for peak power output and matches it for peak torque.
Based on the Triton ute platform, the Pajero Sport has a separate body-on-chassis construction, with a double wishbone, coil strut IFS and a live-axle rear with coil springs. It’s powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that makes a claimed 133kW of power at 3500rpm and 430Nm of torque at 2500rpm.
The Pajero Sport’s on-road performance is good and it’s a comfortable and refined long-distance tourer, with relatively dynamic handling and good off-road capability.
The base-spec five-seat GLX model is well appointed and standard gear includes 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille and door mirrors, side steps, fog lights, LED headlights and DRLs, roof rails, climate control air conditioning, 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, steering wheel audio controls, keyless entry and start, cruise control, three 12V power outlets, a 220V outlet and engine immobiliser.
On the safety front the $46,000 Pajero Sport GLX packs a lot of gear, including Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Speed limiter, Emergency Stop Signal function (ESS), Emergency Brake Assist system (EBA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Active Stability Control (ASC), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), Active Traction Control (ATC), ABS, EBD, Brake Override System (BOS) and a full suite of SRS air bags.
Additional equipment on the $49,000 Pajero Sport GLS includes a rear differential lock, two-zone climate control air conditioning, dusk sensing headlights, front fog lights, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, leather seat trim, power adjustable front seats and a rear spoiler. Third-row seats are a $1000 option.
The top-spec $65,990 Pajero Sport Exceed also scores Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Ultrasonic misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), as well as a Multi Around Monitor (MAM), front parking sensors, headlight washers and heated front seats.
There’s no doubt the well-appointed Pajero Sport represents excellent value for money, regardless of the trim level, and you can’t help but wonder how many more units Mitsubishi would move if it weren’t for the unfortunate rear-end stying. Nevertheless, look past that and the Pajero Sport is a more than capable bush tourer, although it’s not as well catered to by the 4x4 aftermarket as the other vehicles on this list.
