Comments on: 2009 Mitsubishi Pajero Review & Road Test

By: ScottT

ScottT — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:37:11 +0000

Well had my GLS 3.2 for 2 months now and loving it, great to drive, makes my R51 Pathfinder feel like a tractor. Couldnt be happier. Only issue I have is the rear door, cant be opened when towing. Well not far anyway. But its all about comprimises isnt it?

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:53:18 +0000

Just to clarify few things about the NT Pajero’s engine. The Pajero’s main rivals are Toyota Land cruiser Prado & Nissan Path finder. The Toyota Land cruiser Prado hasn’t had a significant upgrade since 2003. This cheap looking plastic is perception. I have rented a few new Holden’s the interior plastic is soft and brittle breaks easily, they might not look cheap, but breaks like egg shell. The Mitsubishi’s chap looking plastic interior is hard and won’t break. What is the use in having nice looking cracked plastic interior.

NT Pajero DI-D – 147kW/441Nm

Toyota Land cruiser Prado 127kW/410Nm
Nissan Pathfinder 126kW/403Nm

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:10:38 +0000

Can anyone advise on the running and service costs?

Thanks.

By: Swanny

Swanny — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:08:56 +0000

I just picked up my 09 Pajero Exceed. I had a 2002 and it lasted 270,000 km off road and towing a double horse float most weekends with out a fault. If this one is as good i will be happy.
The Sat Nav is fiddly and locks you out when the car is moving. Plus my weekender is not on the map. The Garmin Nuvi portable is way better so may be I should have got a VX.
Any way does any one know how to upload speed cameras and school zones into it ?

I always buy petrol as I can never work out how the life time cost of a Diesel is cheaper with inital cost feul price and serviceing plus smell noise and lower power.

By: Regger

Regger — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:11:59 +0000

Went to trade my petrol NM in on a Paj DiD Exceed but was really dissapointed in the unchanged interior, general unchanged build quality, bloody noisy engine and shocking trade in valuation.
I bought a V6 Tdi Touareg….. and I can’t stop smiling. (both on and off road)

By: G

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:14:15 +0000

Just had one of these as a hire car yesterday and it was fantastic. Did about 1000km of highway driving – pretty quiet for a 4WD, and far better handling on the road than any other true 4WD I have driven.

Also did some serious dirt track driving with large pot holes. Averaged 100km/h and the car lapped it up. Handled very well.

Averaged 10L/100k. Agree that the interior finish is missing something, or has too much of something, but can’t put my finger on it exactly. I could put up with it though.

Have always hated mitsubishis, but I was impressed and felt compelled to defend it here. It’s a bit expensive for me, but has made me re-evaluate the triton as an option for a ute. I hadn’t even considered it up to this point.

As long as the reliability is OK, the pajero would make a fine family 4wd.

Cheers.

By: Slugger

Slugger — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:22:48 +0000

Hi All.
Dunno where Scott the tester comes from. I road tested a paj GLS yesterday, with my better half on board, who also had a drive. She liked it a lot. We could easily carry on a conversation at 110kph, speaking normally. Yes, it’s a bit prone to body roll if you chuck it around, but we can’t take the BMW into the Tanami, so I guess that’s the choice. The idea of comparing like to like should be mandatory, ‘coz anything else is just silly. But, if the vehicle is easy on the juice, comfy, will go up sandy roads, tow 3 tonnes, and feels good on HER bum, who could argue? None of the medium 4WDs are cheap, or particularly well-finished, but for equipment level, terms on warranty, and price the mitsu is a bit ahead. They also make nuclear reactors, where the reliability HAS to be good.
So, think what you want the machine to do, exactly, and make your choice based on how well it will do what YOU want. Any review that presupposes the intended uses [other than what the vehicle is primarily designed for] is probably out of line, even tho’ I take the point that many buyers use these things as taxis for the kids. Perhaps that could be built into the reviews, ie, tell how it is for use as mum’s shopping trolly, and ALSO how it stacks up as a vehicle to take the van around Oz, with some off-roading mixed in.
Happy test-drives,
Slugger

By: George

George — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:05:43 +0000

Just bought the GLS 2009 Diesel Pajero asked for rear parking sensors to be installed, thinking they would be the same as advertised as for the VRX and Exceed, silly me the opitional extra rear parking sensors are different aren’t they, they have all four sensors on the rear bumper not two on the bumper and two on the spare wheel cover, and also there is no button to switch it between towbar mode or no towbar mode as shown in the book. Annoying isn’t it.

By: gaz

gaz — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:00:03 +0000

Having owned 4 pajero’s and currently on my 5th which is a limited edition, and having driven to the top of cape york. across the simpson desert, dozens of weekend off road trips, and every christmas on the beach at Moreton island I have only one thing to say about 19 years of safe 4w driving with no breakdowns ever! keep up the good work mitsubishi and I will keep on buying.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:29:01 +0000

IMHO The best looking 4×4 made by a major manufacturer would have to be the Mitsubishi Pajero EVO-K Concept from a couple of years ago.

Unlike most 4×4s it didn’t look like a mobile fortress it was sleek and sporty with a range of innovative features [like an X6] yet it still had the ability to go off road

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:38:29 +0000

Oi Matt when you told me you were excited at picking up the Monaro a few weekends back I thought you were driving it hun!

Sorry but after towing another hefty piece of Ozzie Muscle from one side of Oz to the other 12 years ago a 80 series Cruiser sitting on over 130 clicks at times did the job superbly……..not sure I would feel as happy with new 200 series with all the bad reports though!

By: Tomas79

Tomas79 — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:06:13 +0000

Blinky Bill and Richo,
I have been in the same position pondering over these two.
Although they both a very similar vehicles, the Prado’s body on frame construction, solid rear axle, and better wheel articulation, not to mention it’s 180L fuel tank give it a slight advantage offroad.
The Pajero has an on-road advantage thanks to it’s car like monocoque construction, and rear independent suspension.
In australia Mitsubishy offers rear diff-lock for the Pajero, which is a great bonus offroad. But I prefer the aftermarket ARB air-lockers.

Looks a very subjective, but i also prefer the look of the prado, and the look of the prado’s interior.

By: Richo

Richo — Sat, 16 May 2009 08:09:15 +0000

and you would hope that next years Prado is better considering it will have all the latest technology and the latest design, but next year is also when an all new Pajero is due out which should also be better, but bottom line is its impossible to tell what a model that hasn’t been launched yet will be like

By: Richo

Richo — Sat, 16 May 2009 08:07:40 +0000

Blink Bill – That is more or less the question I am asking myself right now… I’m looking at buying either the Prado or Pajero but having quite a bit of trouble deciding between the two.. The Prado is a bit quieter and looks a bit nicer, Pajero seems to drive slightly better and goes WAY harder… I dunno probably leaning towards the Pajero at the moment but not sure.

As for how they will go when their warranty expires, both the current model Prado and Pajero have been around for quite a while now, the current Pajero dates back to 2000 (it looks different but underneath is very similar to the model introduced in 2000) and the current Prado since 2002, both have solid reliability records

By: Blinky Bill from Bellingen

Blinky Bill from Bellingen — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:37:32 +0000

So what’s better the Pajero or the Prado? And ………will next year’s Prado be better than this year’s Pajero? And while they all seem great now….how will they be when their warranty expires?

By: Jo

Jo — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:29:37 +0000

The DID is loud.

Car advice recently reviewed the Sorento diesel, Freelander2 diesel etc and apart from sounding like diesels at idle, the rattle disappears when the car takes off. This isnt the case with the paj. Its unrefined compared to rivals, but offers a hell of a lot of bang for buck.

By: Richo

Richo — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:25:29 +0000

Gibbo – I’d consider an LC70 and defender a commercial vehicle more then a 4WD

By: Gibbo

Gibbo — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:39:00 +0000

Matt I agree with you about the interior quality. Ive looked in the Exceed and for a $75000 motor vehicle the quality just doesnt cut it. The dash just looks too cheap and the over all interior is just bland. I like that you did a tow test in the article.
Quick question how did the rear tyres look? Ive seen NM-NS pajeros towing heavy trailers and they always look like they are eating the inside edges out on the rear tyres badly. As for those complaining about the comaprison between this vehicle and a conventional car, The Pajero is a proper 4WD(one with a transfer case) that is the closest thing to a car on the market- 4 wheel independent suspension and a monocoque body are supose to make it the best of both worlds smooth on the road and capable off it. I wouldnt call the Pajero a “heavy duty” 4WD as it has been quoted in the comments section, with its car like under pinnings I’d call it a meduim duty 4WD. Id class a heavy duty 4WD salong the lines of a Landcruiser 70 series, Defender etc

By: Captain Mainwaring

Captain Mainwaring — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:01:49 +0000

This vehicle is a good example of why Mitsubishi is dead in the water, worldwide. A below-average product in a declining segment.

By: Sumodog

Sumodog — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:44:05 +0000

Mercedes 2.1 L found in 250CDI produces 150kW and 500Nm of torque.