Mitsubishi Pajero GLX Review

Are you officially a ‘grey nomad’ or a family who enjoys weekend getaways? If the answer is ‘yes’ then no doubt the Mitsubishi Pajero is on your mind.

Fact is the list of seven-seat SUVs with a towing rating (braked) of 3,000kgs isn’t massive. So in many ways the Mitsubishi Pajero sells itself.

No matter then this generation is now nine years old and we’ve heard a whisper we may see the all-new model at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The point is the current Mitsubishi Pajero is perfectly suited to its required tasks.

Mitsubishi Pajero Overview

Yes, this year the current generation Mitsubishi Pajero is just 12 months away from a decade on the road. That’s normal as all SUVs have longer model life cycles than passenger cars.

Some minor styling changes were part of 2015 model year updates but the most significant bullet points were a revision of the model lineup with corresponding price cuts and adoption of the family-friendly seven-seat configuration across the entire model range. No price changes for the entry-level Mitsubishi Pajero GLX with the five-speed manual version listed at $50,990 and the five-speed automatic – as tested by www.carshowroom.com.au - slated at $53,990.

Mitsubishi Pajero’s mid-grade GLS model ($58,990) is exclusively five-speed automatic. Over the GLX model we tested the GLS adds a few handy extras such as satellite navigation, seats trimmed in sports cloth (heated and electronically-operated fronts) and reversing sensors.

Range-topper is the Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed ($65,990). Over the GLS, Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed scores items such as leather-trimmed seats, a leather/wood steering wheel, electric sunroof and 12-speaker premium Rockford Fosgate audio.

Mitsubishi Pajero Engine

Mitsubishi’s 3.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel is of course very familiar. Rival brand engine development hasn’t stood still the last decade (in fact European turbo-diesel work has been frenetic!) so the Pajero is far from the most refined in this league

That said, the Pajero is a hearty worker with 147kW of power at 3800rpm and peak torque of 441Nm from 2000rpm. And with combined-cycle fuel consumption for the five-speed auto we tested listed at 9.0l/100kms (8.4-l/100kms for the manual) - plus an 88-litre fuel tank - you’ll be logging some distance between refills.

Turning specifically to towing (a major reason why folks buy Mitsubishi Pajeros), our GLX automatic tipped the scales at 3,030kgs. So we’re looking at a towball down load rating of 180 or 250kgs and a braked towing capacity of 3,000kgs (750kgs unbraked).

Mitsubishi Pajero The Interior

When this generation Mitsubishi Pajero was launched, John Howard was Australia’s Prime Minister and over in ‘DC’, George W Bush was in the White House. Not sure how many Pajeros we’ve driven since then, but it’s safe to say this time around when we opened the door and climbed inside…well, acclimatization was brief.

Yes the Pajero doesn’t present the freshest look inside but there’s no doubt it all works very well.

No better example than the instruments which, alongside some rivals, look ‘industrial strength’. But can you name one of the newer, more creative designs which are more practical/informative?

Same for the steering wheel and gear lever. Very heavy duty but again well-suited to the job at-hand.

The layout of the centre console for audio and climate-control was updated for 2015 and is straight-forward and intuitive. And there’s now chrome surrounds for the air-conditioning controls.

Seats are familiarly comfortable and you sit high with the commanding view buyers in this league demand. And we know from first-hand experience a long interstate haul in a Mitsubishi Pajero isn’t taxing.

Rear seat space is likewise very comfortable and spacious with separate climate control adjustment.

And of course cargo space is massive – 1081-litres with just the third-row folded or 1789-litres with both second and third rows folded. As with all seven-seat SUVs, cargo space with all three-rows in-place gets a little squeezy – which sort of defeats the purpose somewhat.  

Mitsubishi Pajero Exterior & Styling

Much like Nissan’s Y61 Patrol, the Mitsubishi Pajero boasts a unique look which, while not unattractive, is showing the march of ‘Father Time’. Well both have been around for so long now we feel like we’re familiar with every crease and door handle.

Where newcomers like the Isuzu MU-X sport some curves, the Pajero – like the Y61 Patrol – is set square-like straight. Although at least the Pajero sports some curves around its front fenders and wheel-arches.

For the 2015 update, the Mitsubishi Pajero scores a new front grille which extends downwards and blends with the also new front bumper. There’s also some extra chrome up-front.

At the rear, look for a new spare wheel cover.

Mitsubishi Pajero On The Road

In the same way you feel like the ‘King Of The Road’ driving a Range Rover, you get the same impression behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero. That’s to say they’re L-A-R-G-E.

But you know what you’re getting into and we must take issue with some of our colleagues who have taken to labeling the on-road dynamics of the Mitsubishi Pajero as ‘ponderous’. Hey fellas, hook-up a full-size dual-axle caravan to a Pajero and revise your thinking please.

There’s that familiar growl from the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel on start-up and the equally familiar surge of power from a standing start and also in the mid-range when asked to accelerate into a freeway gap. Our issue with the engine is its noise at cruising speed – a factor of its ‘last-generation’ design we reckon.

Through the twisty stuff the Mitsubishi Pajero does show some noticeable body roll and the steering isn’t as sharp as newer designs but it’s all very safe and predictable. And we must say the Pajero is very light to operate – first-time SUV buyers will have no trouble maneuvering or parking (once you get used to the size of course).

Mitsubishi Pajero Issues

In terms of the Mitsubishi product range, the Pajero isn’t ‘Robinson Crusoe’ in being dated. We’re sure there’s a plan and some new models are in the pipeline.

Mitsubishi Pajero Verdict

Good mates are long-term ‘Grey Nomads’ who have owned several Mitsubishi Pajeros and covered just about all of Australia towing a large dual-axle caravan. They’re massively experienced and, over the journey, have owned Nissan Patrols as well as Toyota LandCruisers - but they are super-positive about Pajeros and have not had the slightest problem with them.

We’ve not covered as many kilometers as them in Pajeros but we’ve driven a few. Sure if the task is towing you’d have to put the Mitsubishi Pajero up there with the best of them.

But if you don’t need seven seats or you’re not going to tow a large trailer, some newer SUV models might be a better bet. Or you could wait until the all-new Pajero arrives…it must be soon.

Mitsubishi Pajero The Competition

The big question to be asked in this market segment is whether or not you need seven seats. If that’s not negotiable your field gets limited and there are two favourites for www.carshowroom.com.au

First-up it’s the locally-made Ford Territory - the last generation Territory is now on-sale and no question it’s the best-ever. Of course the Territory gets a tremendous bonus in the form of the 140kW/440Nm V6 turbo-diesel engine and slick six-speed automatic transmission. For on-road driving dynamics the Ford Territory is the Dux of this class.

Due in 2015 is the Australian designed and engineered Ford Everest SUV which is based on the Ranger ute. Crucial details like prices, towing capacity and fuel consumption have not been published as we write.

Our other favourite is the Isuzu MU-X (all-wheel-drive models start at $45,600). We’ve tackled a very tough 4WD test track in Thailand behind the wheel of an Isuzu MU-X so we have first-hand experience of its skills in that department and we can also vouch for its refinement on-road.