Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2020 Review

The 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX is priced from $45,990 (drive-away). The five-door, five-seater Pajero Sport shares its platform with the much-celebrated Mitsubishi Triton 4WD ute, but its large SUV body-style adds versatility and family-friendly creature comforts – without sacrificing its go-anywhere off road ability.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport range was recently updated for the 2020 model year.

The GLX’s entry-level status (and pricing) does mean you forgo some of the kit and premium finishes you’ll find as you climb the range. It’s also only offered in a five-seat variant where the mid-spec GLS and top-spec Exceed bring you seven-seat functionality. But overall performance and practicality remains unchanged.

Cloth-trimmed, manual-adjust driver and passenger seats are comfortable and supportive but there’s a budget look and feel to the water-repellent fabric upholstery and I wonder how well the seating will wear.

Inside the cabin you’ll find touches of leather on the steering wheel and gearshift but beyond that there’s plenty of plastic.

Single-zone climate control does a good job of maintaining cabin temperature and second-row roof-mounted air vents with fan speed control are standard.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport’s interior storage is excellent, making good use of its substantial interior dimensions. A centre storage tray up front looks after your smaller bits and pieces. There’s a large lidded centre armrest, six cup holders, four bottle holders, sunglasses storage and, for the second-row occupants, seat back pockets.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX is priced to suit its paired-back packaging. It’s a step change from the premium spec Pajero Sport Exceed (priced from $59,990 drive-away) and it’ll make you think twice about the must-have versus nice-to-have extras.

The updated 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport brings new driver-assist and infotainment technology, including autonomous emergency braking and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity via a new 8.0-inch touchscreen. The GLX’s four-speaker sound system won’t rock your world but will be enough to drown out the sound of your second-row occupants.

There’s no satellite navigation in the GLX (or GLS), so you’ll be relying your smartphone for route guidance.

It’s not until you climb the Pajero Sport ranks (and price range) that you benefit from the full suite of driver-assist technology and safety updates that include adaptive cruise control, adjustable speed limiter, rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing headlights.

The top-spec Pajero Sport Exceed also features a 360-degree parking camera, colour digital instrument display and speed-limit display. It also expands its active safety kit with blind-spot warning, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert. These are all features I found particularly useful when driving the top-spec Exceed, and especially given the footprint and challenging rear vision of this vehicle. Their absence on the GLX was duly noted.

Two ISOFIX child seat anchors and three top-tether child-seat points are common to all Pajero Sport models.

Dual front, side, head and driver’s knee airbags also contribute to the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport’s five-star ANCAP safety rating but overall the paired-back safety suite diminishes the GLX’s value proposition somewhat.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport features a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (133kW/430Nm) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with dual-range 4x4 capability. No other powertrain options are offered.

Rivals such as the Ford Everest offer buyers more choice in this regard but the most affordable 4x4 Everest, the Ford Everest Ambiente 4WD, is priced from $54,490 (plus ORCs).

The Pajero Sport’s keen entry-level pricing sees it more in line with the Isuzu MU-X, priced from $46,300 (plus ORCs).

For the duration of this road test the Pajero Sport GLX spent its time on the tarmac, in the suburbs and undertaking regular family duties where it felt right at home despite its sizeable proportions.

We’ve previously tested the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed off-road and can attest to its commendable 4x4 credentials. But let’s remember that these large 4x4 SUVs play an equally rigorous role as the family vehicle – particularly the seven-seaters.

The engine is hard to fault. The turbo-diesel delivers maximum torque at 2500rpm and moves the Pajero Sport’s two-tonne mass with a punchy rigour. It does so quietly, too.

The steering is light enough to wrangle this large SUV around town without feeling cumbersome and it gives enough feel at freeway speeds. It’s by no means crisp, but perfectly fit for purpose.

A heavy hauler, the Pajero Sport will tow 3100kg (braked).

The 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX is a straightforward proposition where dynamics and handling are concerned – it’ll get you from A to B no matter which route you choose and do so in relative comfort.

If you’re looking for a fun steer that bunkers down through the bends, look elsewhere. The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport strikes a great balance for everyday driving, but dynamically its key strengths lie off-road.

Notwithstanding, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport boasts family-friendly features that make this large 4x4 SUV pretty likeable. With ample room for five occupants and a huge boot (673-1575 litres), you’ll be overpacking before you know it.

The GLX’s heavy manual tailgate was a downer. Higher grades only get the automated option.

Good ground clearance (218mm) is one thing, but it means entry and exit of the Pajero Sport is a solid step up, so younger kids or the vertically challenged will definitely make use of the side step and grab handles – as did I.

Second-row seating is comfortable and spacious. Two USB charge points and a 150W outlet are welcome additions.

Confined to the suburbs for this test, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport returned a fuel consumption average of around 9.4L/100km.

Our test vehicle rides on 18-inch alloys and you’ll find a full-size spare secured under the rear of the vehicle.

At the time of writing, the 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is covered by a limited-offer seven-year/150,000km warranty.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is not all things to all buyers but it absolutely nails the fit-for-purpose brief, including affordability. This large dual-range 4x4 SUV combines family-friendly features with an abundance of space and off-road credentials that will see families move from school drop-offs to off-road adventure without missing a beat.

The omission of some key driver assist and safety features on the GLX entry model is likely to force buyers up the model range – or at least make them question the packaging of the GLX.

These omissions remain a sticking point for me. On the other hand, infotainment inclusions such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are as important for some buyers.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX is a good all-rounder that ticks a lot of boxes, but not all of them.

It’s good value for money, but if your budget stretches further, I’d be chasing the additional features found in the GLS or Exceed.

How much does the 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX cost?
Price: $46,990 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 133kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0XL/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 212g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)