Upgraded Pajero has Prado in its sights

Mitsubishi has just fired a new salvo in the eternal war between Pajero and the Toyota Prado. After years of seeing the Toyota outsell Pajero (initially in a guise appearing to mimic the Pajero), Mitsubishi has cried 'enough'.

While it's only a mild reworking of the NS model cosmetically, the upgraded NT model boasts more power and torque, fewer decibels, improved economy, better towing and -- most importantly -- a larger number of variants in the range to tackle the Toyota head on.

And in a further gesture of defiance, Mitsubishi has priced the new Pajero at a level that gives the new range a specification-adjusted pricing advantage over the Prado at every level. That advantage is bound to improve further from January 1, when Toyota increases the prices of its models across the range, although Mitsubishi admits that it may not be able to hold current pricing for more than a few months.

The new entry-level GL grade Pajero is only available in the long-wheelbase five-door style and seats just five, whereas other long-wheelbase variants seat seven. Unlike earlier efforts by Mitsubishi to market a Pajero for committed offroaders, the new Pajero GL is fitted with standard ABS and airbags, making the vehicle potentially more appealing to fleets and private buyers alike.

It's the one vehicle in the range to get around on steel wheels (17-inch diameter), rather than alloys, and the only engine available in the GL variant is the upgraded 4M41 common-rail diesel, which continues to displace 3.2 litres, but now produces 147kW of power and 441Nm of torque. According to Mitsubishi, this represents an 18 per cent improvement in both figures, compared with the corresponding engine in the NS models.

Along with the engine update to Euro IV compliance, the diesel Pajero now returns city consumption figures of 8.8L/100km for the SWB models with automatic transmission, 8.4L/100km for the LWB manual variants and 9.2L/100km for the LWB auto variants. Mitsubishi claims that these figures are up to 13 per cent better than corresponding figures for the NS range.

Automatic models with the diesel engine are now matched to an Aisin five-speed transmission, in lieu of the Jatco job fitted to the NS models. Mitsubishi's Product Manager for SUVs, Tom Pitman, describes the diesel Pajero's first-gear acceleration as "punchier" than before. The Pajero with this drivetrain combo is 1.6 seconds faster to 100km/h from a standing start than the NS equivalents.

Only GL, GLX and GLS grades are fitted with the five-speed manual transmission as standard -- and all three are available with the five-speed automatic as an extra-cost option. The auto box is standard for the SWB models, VRX and Exceed.

By improving the towing capacity -- now 3000kg, a gain of 500kg -- Mitsubishi not only scores an advantage over the Prado, but has also set up the Pajero to take on Nissan's Patrol, a vehicle in a different market segment altogether.

Mechanically, the diesel engine is a 3.2-litre four-cylinder with direct-injection fuel delivery and a variable geometry (vane) turbocharger. Diesel-engined vehicles equipped with automatic transmission come with a diesel particulate filter also.

The SOHC/24-valve petrol V6 displaces 3.8 litres and develops 175kW of power driving through the manual transmission in the LWB variants. SWB variants driven by this engine are only available with automatic transmission and the power output is raised to 182kW. LWB variants with automatic produce as much as 184kW of power. Peak torque for all petrol variants is the same: 329Nm at 2750rpm.

Drive for the Pajero's Super Select II system runs through either a five-speed manual transmission (N/A in SWB, VRX or Exceed variants), or one of two five-speed automatic transmissions, according to which engine is specified. Super Select II is an electronically controlled version of the system used in the latest Triton (explained here). The system allows two-wheel drive and high-range four-wheel drive modes (one mode through the open centre diff, the other with the diff locked) to be selected on the fly, up to 100km/h.

In one of three four-wheel drive modes, the torque is transferred to the front wheels via a double-wishbone independent suspension system with coil springs. Steering is effected by means of a power-assisted rack-and-pinion set-up and the front brakes are ventilated discs. At the rear, the IRS is a multi-link system and the brakes are also ventilated discs.

Mitsubishi is offering the revised Pajero range with a colour selection (including a new colour, 'Ironbark'), comprising: White, Cool Silver metallic, Black Mica pearl, Gunmetal pearl, Red metallic, Champagne metallic, Ironbark pearl, Deep Blue pearl and Warm White pearl.

From a marketing perspective, the Pajero now has a counterpunch for every Prado variant. The Pajero GL battles the standard Prado, Pajero GLX competes against Prado GX, the Pajero GLS (identified by its chrome grille) is up against the Prado GXL, Pajero VRX is in the ring with Prado VX and Pajero Exceed is slugging it out with the Prado Grande. In addition, the Pajero is available in the R and X variants of the SWB (Short-wheelbase) model, for which Toyota has no response.

Standard safety features for all variants include ABS/EBD, Brake Assist, stability control, traction control, dual front airbags and three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters. All models other than the GL and GLX grades are fitted with side-impact and side curtain airbags also.

All models are fitted with the following comfort or convenience features as standard: MP3-compatible CD audio system, multi-mode information and entertainment system, cruise control, height-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40 split-fold rear seat, climate control, rear-seat heating, tilt-adjustable steering column, electric windows/mirrors, variable-dwell intermittent wipers and remote central locking.

The information and entertainment system integrates trip computer, compass, altimeter, barometer, external temperature and time and date functions.

For the entry level GL Pajero, the standard specification also includes: 17x7.5 steel wheels, 265/65 R17 tyres, six speakers for the single-disc CD audio system, 'Dakar' fabric seat trim and six cupholders.

One step up from the GL is the Pajero GLX, which additionally comes with: 17x7.5 alloy wheels in a seven-spoke design, roof rails (finished in silver), six-disc in-dash CD audio system, leather-bound steering wheel with remote controls for audio, leather-bound gear knob and third-row seat.

Above the GLX, the Pajero GLS gains body-colour mirrors and door handles, front fog lights, chrome grille, side steps and dual-zone climate control with roof-mounted ducts.

Added to the standard specification of the GLS, the VRX boasts: rear diff lock, 18x7.5 alloy wheels in a six-spoke design, 265/60 R18 tyres, side indicators integrated with the exterior mirrors, silver front skid-plate, darkened headlight clusters, aluminium decorative trim, titanium-look window switch bezels, high-contrast instrument binnacle, sports pedals, auto-dimming mirrors, heated exterior mirrors, reverse-parking sensors, leather seat trim, privacy glass, electrically-adjustable front seats and heated front seats.

At the top of the range, the Exceed adds: 18x7.5 alloy wheels in a nine-spoke design, chrome door mirrors with integrated indicators, chrome door handles, HID headlights with auto-levelling and auto-on/off facility, rain-sensing wipers, Rockford Fosgate 12-speaker audio, rear entertainment system with headphones and auxiliary input jack, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation, wood-and-leather combination trim for steering wheel with remote audio controls, walnut decorative trim, matching carpet mats, reversing camera and a cargo blind.

The rear differential lock is an option for the Pajero GLS and can be specified as part of an option pack for the GL and GLX grades, but is standard for VRX and Exceed.

In the main, the short-wheelbase models are trimmed in line with the mid-range GLS and sporty VRX grades in the long-wheelbase set. The SWB Pajero R roughly equates to the GLS and the Pajero X is a SWB counterpart to the Pajero VRX, although it's not a direct line-up. Pajero R lacks the rear diff lock -- even as an option -- and Pajero X gains two-tone wheelarch flares that are not available on any other variant. The HID headlights standard for the Pajero Exceed are also standard for the Pajero X -- and as for the Exceed, the Pajero X also offers buyers rain-sensing wipers and auto-on/off headlights with auto-levelling and washers -- but the SWB model misses out on the Exceed's electrically-adjustable front-passenger seat. To compensate, it is fitted as standard with an electric tilt/slide sunroof, which is only available as an option for the Exceed.

Both SWB variants feature black roof rails in lieu of the silver rails fitted to LWB variants other than the GL. Pajero X is unique in the Pajero range by offering Mitsubishi Power Sound System (MPSS) with eight speakers.

Prices for the new range follow:

Pajero R (SWB) $43,990 -- V6 auto
Pajero R (SWB) $45,990 -- diesel auto
Pajero X (SWB) $50,990 -- V6 auto
Pajero X (SWB) $53,490 -- diesel auto

Pajero GL (LWB) $47,990 -- diesel manual
Pajero GL (LWB) $50,790 -- diesel auto
Pajero GLX (LWB) $50,790 -- V6 manual
Pajero GLX (LWB) $53,790 -- V6 auto
Pajero GLX (LWB) $52,790 -- diesel manual
Pajero GLX (LWB) $55,790 -- diesel auto
Pajero GLS (LWB) $54,790 -- V6 manual
Pajero GLS (LWB) $57,790 -- V6 auto
Pajero GLS (LWB) $56,790 -- diesel manual
Pajero GLS (LWB) $59,790 -- diesel auto
Pajero VRX (LWB) $63,990 -- V6 auto
Pajero VRX (LWB) $66,490 -- diesel auto
Pajero Exceed (LWB) $72,290 -- V6 auto
Pajero Exceed (LWB) $74,790 -- diesel auto