Mitsubishi Pajero Sport wins big in Top 12 Best Buys for 2021
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport won its category as Large SUV/Crossover in the coveted CAR Magazine’s annual Top 12 Best Buys awards for 2021. Announced last week Friday, the CAR team said “it is the excellence of your product that drives our content and shared success”.
“We are extremely proud of our victory in the CAR Top 12 Best Buys awards,” said Nic Campbell, General Manager of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa. “It is our first victory in the category known as Large SUV/Crossover, and our Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2,4 DI-D 4x4 Exceed, was singled out as the favourite.”
All three Mitsubishi Pajero Sport models – the 2.4 MIVEC 4x2 A/T, the 2.4 MIVEC 4x4 A/T and the flagship 2.4 MIVEC 4x4 A/T Exceed – were driven and judged by the CAR team.
“Only vehicles that at least five of the sevenmember CAR editorial team have driven are eligible for entry,” explained CAR Magazine editor Ray Leathern in the April issue of the magazine.
Judging criteria
“We factor in the findings of road tests and driving impressions we’ve published up until the April issue,” said Leathern. The members
of the CAR Magazine team have tested or driven each of the three models and were most impressed by the flagship 2.4 MIVEC 4x4 A/T Exceed.
Each model in the range is driven by Mitsubishi’s renowned 2.4-litre MIVEC DOHC intercooled turbodiesel engine with Common Rail Direct Injection, where the 4x4 models are coupled to Mitsubishi’s unique Super Select II 4WD System with Electronic Off-road Assistance, Hill Descent Control and a Rear Diff Lock.
All models have a 2 700 kg Towing Mass
(Braked), a 30 degree Approach Angle, 24.2 degree Departure Angle and 23.1 degree Ramp Breakover Angle.
“Our Pajero Sport, which was comprehensively upgraded towards the end of 2020, was designed and built to help you escape the everyday and ignite your spirit for adventure, as it has clearly done for the CAR Magazine team,” said Campbell.
“Think of any terrain and Pajero Sport will take you there. At the core of this highperformance machine its powerful 2.4L DOHC MIVEC engine is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing the optimum balance of engine power, fuel economy and interior quietness. Together with the Super Select II-4WD system, the engine offers performance that makes driving through the most challenging conditions and rugged terrains a pure joy”.
The Pajero Sport’s Super Select II-4WD system provides four driving modes: 2WD High Range, 4WD and 4WD High and Low Range with locked centre differential, while the selectable Off-Road Mode maximises traction on unsealed surfaces. The Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand or Rock setting can be selected to suit surface conditions and optimises engine output, transmission settings and braking, for superior traction.
“An easy-to-operate four-wheel-drive selector dial allows switching between 2WD and 4WD on the move at speeds under 100km/h. Hill Descent Control (HDC) can be initiated when you start travelling down a steep gradient more than 5° and can be set at any speed between 2-20km/h. This system adjusts engine output and automatically applies the all-round disc brakes to maintain the set speed, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering”.