Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – What you need to know

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is the latest iteration of the off-road wagon originally named Challenger.

When the Challenger badge failed to cut through in the Aussie market, Mitsubishi turned to its other venerable SUV nameplate for inspiration – the smaller (but still substantial) Challenger was renamed the Pajero Sport.

The NX-series Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been with us since 2015 and is currently offered in four trim levels, each variant powered by the same 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and driving all four wheels.

Let’s familiarise ourselves with the range so you can select the one that best suits you.

At $46,990 plus on-road costs, the Pajero Sport GLX base model has the following standard equipment:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with a full-size spare
• 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
• Cruise control
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Water-repellent seat fabric
• Roof rails and side steps

Options are limited to seven exterior colours; the GLX and two GLS variants are available in a variety of solid and premium paints and there are just four hues on offer in the top-spec Exceed model.

Premium paint adds $740, with White Diamond prestige paint costing $940.

All NX-series models in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport range have seven airbags plus the mandatory anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist and electronic traction and stability controls.

There are LED lights all round with an auto-levelling headlight function on all models.

Additionally, all models feature a forward collision mitigation system, a speed limiter and, to make life easier, hill start assist, descent control, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

The stress of towing a trailer is reduced thanks to trailer stability control, and all Pajero Sport variants have two ISOFIX child seat anchor points and three top-tether points.

A step up to the GLS in either five- or seven-seat configuration brings adaptive cruise control, auto dusk-sensing headlights, an electro-chromatic (auto-dipping) rear-view mirror and rain-sensing auto wipers.

Moving to the range-topping Pajero Sport Exceed gets you the complete arsenal of driver-assist tech with blind spot warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, front parking sensors, 360-degree monitoring, colour digital instrumentation, speed limit display and ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation.

An 8.0-inch touchscreen graces the dash of each Mitsubishi Pajero Sport variant and from here you access Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB/AM/FM radio and Bluetooth phone and music streaming connectivity. There are also two USB ports and a single HDMI input.

Stroll past the GLS and over to the Exceed if you want satellite navigation and a premium eight-speaker audio system. The GLX makes do with half as many speakers while the GLS has six.

If leather seats is a ‘must have’ to complement the leather-bound steering wheel and gearshift knob on the base model, make a beeline for the GLS and benefit from powered front seats as well, but if you want them heated you must open your purse strings further and get the Exceed.

To keep the sun off the kids in the second row there is privacy glass in the GLS, and for convenience the tailgate is power-operated, however if you opt for the seven-seat variant you also get a storage box in the rear.

All variants come with a rear cooler and rear air-conditioning vents, along with a pollen and dust filter. While the GLX makes do with a single-zone system, the GLS and Exceed both have dual-zone climate control. All variants are equipped with six cup holders and four bottle holders so you can enjoy a beverage on the run.

If you want the ultimate convenience features to impress your friends, grab the Pajero Sport Exceed and its smartphone app that can remotely control the tailgate, check the vehicle status, monitor fuel consumption, activate the car finder function, set up notifications and hook up to your Apple watch.      

The NX Mitsubishi Pajero Sport range employs a one-size-fits-all driveline: a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 133kW and 430Nm.

Bolted to the engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. A high/low ratio is also standard, along with selectable off-road modes, and all bar the GLX offer a rear differential lock as standard.

As all versions of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport have the same driveline, it comes down to how much you want to splash out on the goodies. The GLX seems too basic for me and the Exceed is hard to justify.

For the sake of a grand I’d park the seven-seat GLS in the shed knowing if I have a crew on board they can all have a chair.

How much does the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport cost?
GLX five-seat – $46,990
GLS five-seat – $51,490
GLS seven-seat – $52,490
Exceed seven-seat – $57,190
* Prices exclude on-road costs