rendition of the Pajero Sport

By Ray Cully

Introduced in 2015 to replace the Challenger, the third generation Pajero Sport from Mitsubishi has been refreshed with more bells and whistles. Now fitted with an impressive array of safety features, creature comforts and off-road arsenal, does the Sport still meet the demands of an active family needing a practical, comfortable daily driver, a competent off-road adventure machine for fun filled weekends and a reliable long-distance tourer for hauling the camper trailer to the back of beyond?

Our test vehicle was Mitsubishi’s latest rendition of the Pajero Sport, the Exceed. This is the flagship of the range and carries the appropriate price tag. A few tweaks to the front-end styling include a reshaped bonnet with less taper at the front edge, giving the Sport a wider and a taller appearance. Fog lamps move up from the front spoiler together with indicators and turning lamps in a bold new design set back into the front guards parallel to the radiator grille. The earlier twin bar grille has become three with a chunky, more robust appearance intersecting at the new headlamps which are encapsulated by modern daytime running lights. Down the side, the integrated decorative sidestep has been raised for better offroad clearance and round back those controversial love ‘em or hate ‘em tail lights are now LED. New on the Exceed is a kick motion sensor, wave your foot under the rear left corner to open the rear tailgate door. Plus, you can add this functionality to your smart phone via a Mitsubishi app. Taller drivers may have to duck their heads to enter as the A-pillar’s low swept back position can smack the unwary. Lower yourself into the very comfortable leather seats via the large well positioned grab handles and it's easy to find the right position thanks to adjustable seatbelt shoulder mounts and convenient power adjustment on both driver and passenger seats. Sadly, neither offer lumbar support. The bolstering to the upper back rest provides support and holds you in the seat through corners, while the base is broad and somewhat flatter, making ingress and egress easier. New in the Exceed was the easily legible 8-inch colour digital instrumentation cluster. There are three configuration layouts, with speedo or taco being the prominent gauge in either of the first two. This was perfect off-road, as I prefer to monitor the rpm range in challenging sand work. The third

was an odd-looking combination of rotating cylinders. A pop-up display shows GPS direction prompts, current audio selection or phone. The steering wheel is a little busy with so many switches and cryptic icons take some deciphering - the 360-degree camera button had me stumped. The infotainment system is a mix of nice features and surprising absences. Bluetooth and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as expected but still requires a cable. DAB radio and old-school CD player. Which might suggest an audiophile bias … until you realise the eight-speaker sound system is nothing to make your ears sing. The navigation system in the 8” touchscreen relies on TOM TOM and, politely speaking, feels retro. What I did like was the ability to run a 60\40 screen split, combining reverse camera with trajectory lines and the 360-degree top-down view of the vehicle. Essential when reversing to compensate for the lack of vision on rear corners. Even better was auto switch of camera view from front to rear, depending on gear selection. However, even after fiddling with the settings the monitor was too dark for my liking - especially if you favour polarised sunglasses. And clarity from the rear camera isn’t on par with competitors. The dual climate controls are within easy reach and I do prefer those rotary dials for ease of operation when bounding around off-road. Unfortunately, the radio lacked rotary control. Rear vents are roof mounted on the side, which are an intimate surprise for taller passengers as the Exceed blows a gentle breeze into your ear. I liked the subtle changes to the raised centre console and door grips, with soft pads on the console sides for your knee to rest against on those long trips. Further down the console is the electric park brake and the off-road modes button to select gravel, sand, mud or rocks (the latter only in low range). But the auto-hold button is unexpected. Rather than holding a gear for take-offs in soft sand, it holds the park brake on whilst in gear until you touch the throttle. The rest of the cab is well laid out, in a mix of gray and silver highlights, and Mitsubishi have done a decent job of the switchgear on the console. It looks premium and feels the same except for the heated seat switches, which look at odds to the rest of the interior. And the hard plastics on the upper dash age the design. There are twin USBs and a HDMI port up front with dual USBs and a 220V 150W power outlet on the rear of the console.

Storage is reasonable including glove box, console bin, door pockets that will hold the average sized drink bottles for kids, and cup holders for all three rows with sunglasses storage in the roof console. Rear seat pockets for maps and a tray for odd bits and bobs under the rear floor. With the third-row seats folded away, rear cabin space is impressive at 502 litres, drop the second row and that jumps to a whopping 1,488 litres. Of course, having all seven seats in use limits the rear cargo area to a few shopping bags. With stadium style seating, the raised second row is very comfortable. Dual grab handles on the B pillar and roof along with the sidestep make entry very easy. There's a fold down arm rest and Isofix mounting points on the outer two seats with three tethers across the top. I wouldn’t recommend three adults across the back seat for long trips. The narrow waistline of the Sport is advantageous off-road but does limit shoulder room. Third row seats are junior kids only with limited leg and foot room. The backrest of the third row folds flat into the floor when not in use, the base sits upright all the time pressed against the second row chewing into available space. When the second row is down, there is a slight gap before the third-row seats, so check if anything may have fallen down there before folding the seats back up. When pushing the second row back into place, I noticed that the thirdrow base would stop the latch from locking in properly. I had to push and hold the base back to allow the second row to lock into its return position. At only 2.4 litres, the Sport’s direct injection turbo diesel might be small, but it includes a variable geometry turbo force feeding 200kpa (29psi old school) of boost into the cylinders and adjustable valve lift and cam timing catering for low and high rpm demands. This stout lightweight alloy block churns out a respectable 430Nm of torque and a solid 133kWs of power. Given the Sport’s weight and size that’s nearly 64kW/tonne.

The engine is coupled to an 8-speed auto which allows you to move the gear lever to the left for manual sequential shifts or engage the paddle shifters for direct control without taking your hands off the steering wheel. In another smart design for off-road usage, Mitsubishi have mounted paddle shifters to the steering column and not the wheel. Regardless of multiple swings of the wheel off road, the paddles remain in the correct orientation irrelevant of wheel position. Mitsubishi’s brilliant Super Select transfer case allows you to rotate a dial to go from 2WD high range to constant 4WD high range with open centre without stopping the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to drive on hard surfaces without axle wind up, great for rainy days or ice on the road. Then 4HLc provides a locked 50/50 split between front and rear - ideal for low friction surfaces, gravel and sand. Or stop the vehicle, depress the rotary dial and engage 4LLc low range 4WD for covering rocky or challenging terrain where higher torque is needed. Underpinning the Sport’s nose, is an independent double wishbone setup with coil springs which is set up on the softer side for comfort cruising. In the tail, is a coil spring three-link setup comprising dual control arms with a panhard rod locating a live axle. Ground clearance isn’t stellar at 218mm. But for those not wanting to do much more than explore a gravel trail on the way to the campsite or do a little beach work, it will clear most things. Mind you, given the Sport’s genuine wading depth of 700mm, it's no wall flower for off-road ability. So if you want to get a little more adventurous, look at a moderate lift for added belly clearance on rocky terrain and to improve the approach, departure and ramp over angles of 30°, 24.2° and 23.1° respectively. On the open road, the brake pedal feels firm with plenty of ability to put the squeeze on the four-wheel disc brakes to arrest the Sport’s movements. Even on gravel, the Sport maintains composure during an aggressive stop with the electronic brake force distribution balancing the braking force between front and rear axles. And the ABS avoids individual wheels locking up, so it maintains directional steering control. The Exceed is reasonably well appointed with tech and safety systems. In addition to driver and passenger front and side airbags, the driver gains a knee airbag and rear-seat passengers receive curtain airbags. The adaptive cruise control works well on the open road and in freeway traffic, monitoring the distance to the vehicle in front and includes forward collision mitigation should you get distracted. Auto wipers and headlights are standard. Both the Exceed and GLX gain the rear diff lock, power tail gate and that retro Tom Tom navigation system. But at this stage, only the Exceed is worthy of Mitsubishi’s LCD multi-information display meter, or Blind Spot Warning with mirror warnings of something just out of

sight, before you swing over. Lane Change Assist will warn when you’re about to move into the lane of a vehicle rapidly approaching from behind. This one’s a winner on the Autobahn. Carpark and driveway accidents are less likely with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. And who could be without Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation to save you from driving into the parked car in front of you, because you thought you were in reverse. Plus, the party trick Mitsubishi’s Multi-Around Monitor or 360° camera in layman's terms. But wait, tech geeks will love Mitsubishi’s smartphone app. Surveying a sea of vehicles in a car park and wondering where you parked? No problem, operate the headlights from your phone to light up your parking bay. How many times have you got a beeper or bell indicating a problem but you have no idea what to turn, press or prod? Easy, the smart app will identify the problem, for example, showing if a door or a window has been left open, or the lights left on. Need to open up from a distance? The app controls tailgate operation. So, what’s in a name? Not a lot, if you push aside the flamboyant marketing and Photoshop enhanced action shots. Keep in mind, Mitsubishi call this Pajero a Sport, a moniker that alludes to an engaging drive. Think Range Rover Sport, which delivers exactly what's on the tin with the point and shoot accuracy of a finely crafted bow in the hands of an experienced archer. The Exceed has two-tone 18” alloy wheels wrapped in 265/60R18 road rubber, not a bad place to start for a vehicle wearing the Sport badge, and it’s exterior aesthetics suggest a sporty feel. But the Sports onroad dynamics are a double-edged sword. This is a tall vehicle, and its higher centre of gravity doesn’t like energetic steering inputs. Directional change is easily executed as long as you’re not wanting to explore if the ‘Sport’ has a playful side and engage the paddle shifters for a more interactive driver experience. Steering response is slow and, even at moderate speed, tight bends will have the roadbiased tyres squealing in disapproval as the body progressively leans over on the suspension. The independent front end is willing but the live axle three link commercial carry over from its Triton heritage doesn’t want to play, despite having upped the ante with

coil springs. Its increased unsprung weight is noticeable on bumps or dips and there’s a mid-corner slight shimming in the tail as if it were a duck having just walked out of a pond. Sure, the Sport will do it, and will hang on tooth and nail if pushed even harder, but it won’t appreciate it, nor reward you for your efforts. Stand on the gas and there’s a huge lag as it takes a large breath before propelling the vehicle forward in a sudden surge of torque. As it runs the gauntlet to 100km/h, the 8-speed auto keeps a tight rein on the gear changes to restrict any enthusiastic rpm swings and attempt to keep the engine in its peak torque curve. With each cog swap there’s a brief asthmatic hesitation as the power curve halts momentarily then pulls again as if it were checking for a successful gear change. But let’s put that performance into context. This is a proper 4WD. It has a two-speed transfer case, heavy flexible suspension, differentials front and rear, raised body height and sufficient ground clearance underneath to clear general obstacles off-road. Expecting it to handle with the manners of its road-going counterparts is an unfair request. If you let the vehicle find its own rhythm, the Sport will trade a track suit for a comfortable pair of jeans and a chambray shirt. Motor through picturesque countryside while enjoying a barista coffee, breathing in the crisp cool air as the cabin slowly warms to dawn's early morning sunshine, and that softer ride works in perfect harmony with road irregularities, allowing the Sport to glide along effortlessly. The more the road deteriorated, the better the Sport’s comfortable ride felt. This is one vehicle I’d happily spend time in to eat the k’s over the blacktop or enjoy lengthy journeys over scenic secondary gravel roads. With the warm sun at our backs and clear blue sky overhead, the Sport begged for a play date on the beach. Airing down prior to heading down to the white sand, I didn’t experience any significant performance change in sand setting other than a slight enhancement on the flatter sections of the beach. As some conditions were reasonably challenging and quickly changing, with dynamic stability control turned off, I enjoyed using the gear lever to exploit the engine torque. On sand this is a weapon, get the tyre pressures right, and it will go anywhere. Soft powdery sand and the 2.4 diesel punched above its weight, confidently devouring any challenge before it. Only once did the Exceed succumb to a short, steep sandy climb because the powdery surface was deeply scalloped in a succession of deep dips due to a previous vehicle bouncing

its way to the top on hard tyres. Simply reversing down to compress and smooth out the sand, saw the Sport up and over without hesitation. When forward progress was eventually halted by crossing up wheels and exceeding the Sport’s limit of articulation on the independent front end, the traction control worked hard to get as far as possible to the top. Engaging the rear diff lock saw the Exceed walk through the same challenge of deep, soft sandy moguls with effortless ease to crest the climb at a very controlled doddle. Moving through narrower tracks proved the advantage of the Sport’s slender waistline, allowing it to slip between the scrub rather than brush past it. And having a turning circle of only 11.2m meant I could sneak around obstacles where others needed a three-point turn. I didn’t enjoy the poor visibility out the rear when needing to reverse around blind corners on a narrow track. The upswept C pillar and matching tapered side glass are clearly a styling design element, which unfortunately significantly hinders outward visibility off-road. It's near impossible to know what’s below that high belt line. The 360° cameras do a fine job with highly visible marked parking bays, but aren’t so helpful with tree stumps or sharp rocks covered in a blanket of dusty dry leaves. Exiting the coastal area and traveling back on firm corrugated tracks, the Sport can get a little twitchy if hustled as that live axle rear end has a tendency to oscillate. It's nothing to be concerned about and it's quickly controlled by easing the right foot to allow the road-biased shocks and springs time to deal with a succession of rapid and uneven compression and rebound movements. Interestingly, should the Sport step out of line the Active Stability and Traction Control Systems will quickly reduce engine power and apply the brakes to straighten the vehicle, handing control back to the driver. Like every modern 4WD, it’s a balancing act for manufacturers to get the best compromise between on and offroad performance. Investing in quality aftermarket shocks and springs that are better suited to the challenges of off-road conditions, will provide greater stability over bumps and dips to allow the Sport to take full advantage of its innate capability. Doing a small bit of trail work, I wanted to test out the hill descent control. Primarily coming into play when engine braking alone just isn’t enough, the system will function at speeds of up to 20km/h. What I really appreciated was the manner in which you control the system speed. No fiddling with cruise control toggle switches or paddle shifters is required, just apply the brake or accelerator to adjust momentum. The hill start assist was handy on the occasional climb, maintaining brake pressure after lifting your foot from the

pedal to allow sufficient time to apply the throttle for a smooth transition and to avoid rolling backwards. With a pay load of 670kg and a braked tow rating of 3100kg, the Sport is no featherweight. Drinking habits of the 2.4L diesel is listed as 8L/100. I covered stop-start city traffic, suburban, freeway, secondary gravel roads, and sand dunes and averaged a little over 9.6L/100 demonstrating the Sports power plant and 8-speed auto work well together and are relatively economical. However, having only 68L in the tank, long hauls with the caravan will require regular bowser top ups.

Conclusion A sporty exterior, tail lights aside, is as close as the Sport delivers on the promise of an enthusiastic, engaging drive through tight winding roads. But as a family-friendly SUV it covers all the bases as a functional and comfortable daily driver. Plus, this is a genuine 4WD with the strength and durability to master tough, challenging terrain. It provides cavernous storage and a good payload with a heavy weight towing capacity, all in a fuel-efficient easy-to-use package. Don’t let this one slip from the list of must-see options for midsized off-road SUVs.

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