PAJERO SPORT Exceed
THE PAJERO SPORT EXCEED IS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE REFRESHED FOUR-MODEL RANGE
THE Pajero Sport was launched back in 2015 but received a mid-life refresh at the start of 2020. This included updated styling and new features such as a power tailgate and remote operation via a phone app.
The Exceed is the top end of the fourtier Pajero Sport range which includes variants with five or seven seats and all are 4WD. The Exceed is priced from $59,990 driveaway for private buyers.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
PAJERO Sport comes with a 2.4-litre diesel that makes 133kw and 430Nm and is only offered with an eight-speed auto – no manual gearbox is available.
Four-wheel drive comes from Mitsubishi’s proven Super Select 2 system that gives the driver the choice of 2WD, full-time 4x4 and locked 4x4 in high and low range in the transfer case. It is backed by a driver-selectable rear diff lock for when the going gets tricky. The Sport also gets a drive-mode selector that optimises the chassis electronic systems for various terrain conditions including Sand, Mud and Snow, Gravel, and Rocks.
The engine delivers adequate performance for a family wagon but could never be described as sporty. The acceleration is linear from the initial throttle input through to the upshift, and it’s relatively quiet and refined for a fourcylinder diesel engine.
For its part, the eight-speed auto is smooth and does its job without complaint.
ON ROAD RIDE & HANDLING
AS mentioned, the Pajero Sport employs a traditional ladder-frame chassis derived from that found beneath the Triton ute. Under its back end, the live axle is located by a three-link system with coil springs and a Panhard rod in lieu of the leaf springs under the Triton. The front end shares the double wishbone and coil design with the Triton.
The suspension is soft and delivers a supple and comfortable ride across sealed roads and rough terrain. That compliance also allows the chassis to pitch and wallow on its suspension and – similar to the performance of the engine – the suspension could never be called sporty, which leaves us looking for the ‘Sport’ in the model name. In fact, the old fully independent, monocoque chassis Pajero was more sporty than this vehicle. The suspension borders on loose and felt like it had more kilometers on it than the 14,000 on the odometer. This wouldn’t be helped by the weight of steel bullbar fitted to the front end on the factory suspension.
OFF-ROAD
THE shorter wheelbase when compared to the Triton means the Pajero Sport has a tighter turning radius than the load-hauling ute and thus is more manoeuvrable wherever you are driving it. The shorter distance between the axles is also beneficial when off-road as it improved the ramp-over angle, meaning the wagon is less likely to get hung up on the sills or chassis in the middle of the car.
The Paj didn’t suffer any clearance problems on our test but its tractive ability was found lacking on our set hill climb. Using just the electronic traction control with and without the rear diff lock (RDL) employed, and in the various modes of the terrain selector, the Paj failed to get up the hill, which was greasy on the first day of our test. It did get up on day two when the track was dry and with the RDL on – the Toyota did it relatively easy on both days.
CABIN & ACCOMMODATION
THE Pajero Sport feels big and airy inside, even if not as spacious as the now discontinued Pajero proper. The power-adjustable, heated leather front seats are comfortable and, with the tiltand-reach adjustable steering column, allow you to find the best position. The second row is comfortable and both sides tilt and roll forward to access the third row which is quite spacious for an average adult; although, it’s best for kids on anything but short trips.
The Exceed has dual-zone climate control, a large AV screen with inbuilt navigation and Apple Carplay and Android Auto, but only small, fiddly buttons for volume control.
Part of the 2020 update to the Sport included a phone app to remotely access vehicle status including fuel level, ‘find the car’, and open and close the power tailgate. Extra points for the abundance of power options in the cabin with two USB ports in the front of the console, two more for the rear seat as well as three 12-volt outlets and a 150W-220V inverter outlet. There’s another 12-volt plug in the cargo area.
PRACTICALITIES
THE Sport is a rugged 4x4 wagon built to take on any road with the right accessories. Thankfully, it is wellsupported by the aftermarket as well as Mitsubishi which offers a range of kit such as the bullbar on the test car.
In Exceed spec, it has a 670kg payload and is rated to tow 3100kg. The wading depth is quoted at 700mm and the fuel tank carries 68 litres, so it’s on the small side for touring in Australia.
The Exceed rolls on 18-inch alloys with a matching spare, and the tyres are a now common 265/60R18 size.
Mitsubishi bolstered the Pajero Sport’s safety systems with the 2020 update adding autonomous emergency brakes (AEB), radar cruiser control, blind spot warning, lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alerts to the usual ETC, ABS and ESC. There’s also what Mitsubishi calls Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System, which warns the driver if the car thinks he or she has accidentally hit the accelerator pedal instead of the brake.