Finally, the new Pajero Sport

The long-awaited Pajero Sport has just arrived. We had to wait two years, because of the rand’s poor performance against other currencies, and Mitsubishi South Africa not wanting to bring the model in at an uncompetitive price. The 2017 Pajero Sport is equipped with Mitsubishi’s new Super Select 4-II fourwheel-drive system, which promises the same respectable off-road ability the company is known for. The previous 3.2 turbodiesel (120 kW, 343 Nm) has been replaced with a smaller but stronger 2.4 D4 MIVEC turbodiesel that delivers 133 kW power at 3 500 rpm and 430 Nm torque at a relatively low 2 500 rpm. A V6 petrol and 2.5 diesel model are available overseas, but South Africa will only get the 2.4. The Pajero Sport is available in two- and four-wheel-drive models and both have an eightspeed automatic gearbox with a sport mode that can be used by tapping shift paddles on the steering wheel. The bodywork is mounted on a ladder frame chassis and independent suspension with coil springs and stabiliser bars on both axles. These updates ensure a smoother ride than before and compares favourably with the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner. Prices range from R569 995 for the two-wheel-drive Pajero Sport to R599 995 for the fourwheel-drive version.