Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.5DiD & Outlander 2.4 test drive

hung720

It started like this:

Last Christmas, a friend of mine went on a family holiday with group of other friends in everyone's repective cars. They had a jol, and on the way home one of them suggested since they'll drive pass his farm anyway. So they should all go and spent a night there; which sounded like a very good idea. But when they reached the gate, as with most of South African farms.... gravel road. So X5 led the way since he's owner, no problem. Q7 followed, no problem; Canynne, no problem; Grand Cherokee, no problem; last is my friend's W203... big problem...

So they've been bitching about their W203 and want a SUV ever since. And this friend of mine doesn't feel the need to buy a German trio or even the ridiculously overpriced Evoque (albeit very very very attractive) to show off; and doesn't mind Japenese. So here came the experience:

Pajero Sport 2.5DiD Auto

2.5-litre Common Rail Intercooled
Turbocharged Di-D (High Power)  2.5-litre Common Rail Intercooled
Max. Output 131kW@4000rpm 131kW@4000rpm 131kW@4000rpm
Max. Torque 350Nm@1800-3500rpm 400Nm@2000-2850rpm 350Nm@1800-3500rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity 70L
Transmission 5-speed Automatic
Fuel Consumption and Emissions 8.5L/100km 225grams/km
Max. Static Roof Load 80kg
Boot Capacity with only 3rd Row Seats down 1149 litres

Essentially a 1ton pick-up truck turned into a 5(7) seater, but comes with a bit more comfort and luxury. The problem with a car (or pickup truck, depends on how you look at it) like this has always been the body roll. To obtain its off-road and loading capability, it has fairly high ground clearence (20.5cm on paper, but 22cm in life); so it comes with inevitable bodyroll even when I drive this car sensibily. But the Pajero Sport behaves much much better than Toyota's Fortuner which comes with 25cm...

Being an 'entry level' SUV, Mitsubishi has added as much 'luxury' as they can. The plastics used here are not top quality, unfortunely. But fortunetly it doesn't feel cheap (like previous Subarus) that makes wonder where the hell your money goes to? I specifically like the gearkonb borrowed from Pajero! The interior certain is not fancy as German trio; but the standard list is comprehensive: LCD touch screen, steering button, blue-tooth, parking sensors and camera, climate control; and the 5-forward 'box even has paddles at the back of steering! Although I can't think of any use of it...

Compare to a double-cab (2 roll seats) pickup, the Pajero Sport has pushed back 2nd roll into load bay to allow leg room at the back; which will make most adults feel fine if not comfortable when sitting at 2nd roll. There're also a 3rd roll seat folded flat at the boot space which is enough to 'hold' 2 or 3 children no more than 5 when up, with a little space left (just enough for a golf set); but a major draw card to this type of car is that most people buy this car for 1)price 2)ground clearence and 3)loading space. I wouldn't say it's as massive as Q7, but it will easily pack a week's camping supply and more (say a 40" TV with generator?).

Performance is definitely not an issue here, coz it has none.
But I wouldn't call it slow leg as it easily goes up to 120km/h on highway at altitude (1660m average) with a bit more in reserve. And since it's a diesel, so it has plenty torque to pull it off the traffic light, fully loaded or not.

Verdict
Space, comfort, decent start and a good price, all rounded practility for a family getaway. Pity it's a Japenese...
But I told this friend of mine that this car worth his serious consideration.

hung720

2014 Outlander 2.4L 4X4

Ever since the brent crude price went over the moon; I always tell people that if you want to buy a car that wights more than 1.0 ton, go get a diesel...
Nontheless, the sales said it wouldn't hurt to test this one also, so I obliged.

Engine Type 2.4-litre 16-Valve DOHC MIVEC
Fuel Type Petrol
Max. Output 123kW@6000rpm
Max. Torque 222Nm@4100rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity 60L
Transmission 6-speed CVT
Fuel Consumption and Emissions 8.2L/100km; 192grams/km
Seating Capacity 7



The Outlander is perceivably lower than the Pajero Sport, and smaller, by looking the outside. When seat inside, however, such differences is minimised unless you are姚明...


On the road, the behaviour is much better than the Pajero Sport, but I am not sure if it's the 4X4 working  or lower ground clearence. Before I pulled off, I actually said to the sales: I doubt a 2.4L petrol SUV will pull-off better than a 2.5D; but I was wrong! Okay, you can't race the Outlander, but it certainly feels nimble and agile in traffic; a large part contributed by the 6-speed CVT I guess. All in all, if you don't mind a more frequent visit to petrol station, then I would recommand this car over Pajero Sport; because: 1) it's not much more expensive than Pajero Sport 2) it rides and feels smoother than Pajero Sport.

Verdict
If there's no Pajero Sport and Brent crude was still @$70; then this is the car to go to. It just pipped the Pajero Sport off in every single criteria except 1 major: fuel consumption, and 1 minor: ground clearance. And I am willing to overlook ground clearence since most people don't need more than 20cm anyway.

Both very good SUV from the struggling Japanese firm, Mitsubishi certainly can do better than what it's currently doing with products like this when 1) they get rid of their useless top managements 2) a better marketing strategy.

掂過碌蔗

期待..三菱SUV一向都係實力派.

toppas

三菱汽車，pajaro is the best.