New-look Mitsubishi Pajero Sport revealed

The upgraded Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been revealed ahead of its confirmed Australian release early next year.

Launched today in Thailand, where it is produced, the revised seven-seat SUV borrows heavily from the latest Mitsubishi Triton ute on which it’s based, bringing design, interior tech and safety updates.

Local pricing and specification is yet to be confirmed, but Mitsubishi says the new Pajero Sport will offer more refinement both inside and out while remaining just as capable off-road.

The most obvious changes are in line with the 2019 Triton, meaning a more aggressive front-end design including a new bumper, grille, headlights and fog lights.

There are also new alloy wheels, a roof-mounted rear spoiler and relocated rear reflectors, and although the droopy tail-lights remain, they contain revised LED internals and they no longer plunge into the rear bumper.

Updates include an 8.0-inch colour touch-screen infotainment unit with smartphone monitoring (apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and the availability of a digital instrument cluster and a powered tailgate that can be opened via foot motioning or a smartphone app.

The Mitsubishi Remote Control app can also set the desired tailgate opening height and remind drivers to lock the doors remotely when leaving the vehicle.

Other upgrades include a revised centre console and armrests covered in softer padding than before, plus a new AC power outlet alongside the USB port for the middle-row seat.

Perhaps most importantly, the 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport brings new active safety technologies including lane keeping assist and rear cross traffic alert for the first time.

There are no changes to the 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, eight-speed automatic transmission or Super-Select 4WD-II system.

The all-diesel Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is one of Australia’s more popular ute-based large off-road SUVs, with sales trailing only the cheaper Isuzu MU-X in a growing class that also includes the Ford Everest, Holden Trailblazer, Toyota Fortuner, SsangYong Rexton, Haval H9 and LDV D90.