2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS Review

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been a stalwart of Aussie backroads since it was first revealed in 3rd Generation guise in 2015.

However, as we delve further into 2024, the once-budget pick of the off-road SUV segment has since seen the rise of alternative manufacturers in Australia like SsangYong and their Rexton, or even Mahindra and their Scorpio.

Today we take a look at the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 2WD, which forgoes Mitsubishi’s trick ‘Super Select II’ permanent 4WD system to save $5,000 off drive-away pricing.

However, in my opinion, it’s not money well saved. Today we’ll go through everything we love about the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, but also everything we don’t.

How much does the Pajero Sport GLS cost?

Including on-road costs, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS in 2WD guise is $53,240 driveaway.

That is significantly cheaper than the mid-range Isuzu MU-X LS-U 4x2 which will set you back $60,631 driveaway, though that does come with more standard equipment including safety equipment.

Most similar to me is the SsangYong Rexton, which for $53,000 driveaway in mid-range ‘Adventure’ trim comes again with more standard equipment, though misses out on adaptive cruise control.

2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport pricing:

• Pajero Sport GLX 4×2: $44,940
• Pajero Sport GLS 4×2: $50,190
• Pajero Sport GLX 4×4: $49,490
• Pajero Sport GLS 4×4: $55,190
• Pajero Sport Exceed 4×4: $60,690
• Pajero Sport GSR 4×4: $62,440

Prices above are before on-road costs

What’s the interior and tech like of the Pajero Sport GLS?

Not much has changed since the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport first went on sale almost a decade ago.

We’ve done a three video reviews now of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in the same number of years, and every year the interior feels more and more outdated.

The 8.0” infotainment display might look old (and have quite an outdated user-interface) but it actually works very well. 

Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto works flawlessly, and the processor behind the display has clearly been updated so that the screen feels snappy and responsive.

However viewing angles and brightness are quite bad, so any direct sunlight can make it difficult to see.

It also has an HDMI port, so you can hook up a DVD player to it (if that still exists?) and play shows through the infotainment display.

The leather steering wheel, however, looks like it has not changed since the early 2000s, but thankfully is nice to hold onto.

Up in front of the driver are analogue gauges, which would be fine if the digital screen showed a speed readout. However, apparently, it is too basic to do so.

Hard scratchy plastics adorn the interior, with some cloth material that feels rather cheap even at this price point.

Unfortunately that also extends to the seats, which over longer journey’s do not provide much support and again feel lackluster.

Thankfully IO is good, with 2 USB-A ports up front, 2 more in the back, a 12v socket (3 in total across the car) and a 220V household socket in the back seats.

Storage is about average, with no dual gloveboxes found on some competitors, but a large enough single glovebox, a couple of cupholders (again, unlike 4 offered in some competitors) and decently sized doorbins.

In all, the interior is starting to look and feel a disappointing as we continue into 2024. However, if the upcoming Mitsubishi Triton is anything to go by, expect a far nicer interior in the next generation Pajero Sport.

What about the back seats of the Pajero Sport GLS?

The back seats of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport are surprisingly fantastic.

I say surprising, as even now competitors like the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X aren’t quite as well laid out as the Pajero Sport.

At 5’11”, I have plenty of leg-room, head-room and toe-room behind my normal driving position.

The seats are also ‘stadium style’, meaning the rear seats are raised and have a better view over the front seats.

Unfortunately, for the GLS trim anyway, the rear seats are again a rather disappointing cloth trim that feel rather cheap.

You do get a drop-down armrest with a couple of cupholders and roof-mounted fan controls and vents for individual control in the rear.

The Pajero Sport’s third row is also rather spacious, however due to the raised floor leg angle is very poor and would not be comfortable for most adults.

Climbing in is also made more difficult due to the raised floor of the Pajero Sport.

How much can fit in the boot of the Pajero Sport GLS?

The Pajero Sport's versatile seating arrangement affects its cargo space significantly. 

In its base five-seat GLX configuration, it offers a substantial 673 litres of boot capacity. However, when equipped with the optional third row, this space is reduced; with the third row folded, cargo volume is limited to 502 litres.

 When the third row is in use, the available space shrinks further to just 131 litres. 

For maximum cargo capacity, folding down both the second and third rows expands the space to a generous 1488 litres, however the process to fold the third row specifically is rather cumbersome..

The boot dimensions in five-seater mode are 1370mm in length, 885mm in height, and 1000mm in width between the wheel arches. Additionally, a full-size spare tyre is conveniently located under the vehicle.

What’s under the bonnet of the Pajero Sport GLS?

Powering the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, pushing out a modest 133kW at 3500RPM and 430Nm of torque at 2500RPM.

This is less than most competitors, with the SsangYong Rexton pushing out 148kW and 441Nm, the Isuzu MU-X at 140kW and 450Nm, and the Ford Everest at 154kW and 500Nm.

For us at CarSauce, the biggest drawcard of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is its trick permanent 4WD system, but the Super Select II has been de-optioned here.

Fuel economy however is fantastic, if not class leading. Over a mix of urban and highway driving, we managed a return of 7.5L/100km which is frankly incredible for such a large vehicle.

How does the Pajero Sport GLS drive?

Apart from saving $5,000 (though arguably hurting resale value), the lack of 4WD does mean less weight and, therefore a faster SUV.

In fact, we timed the 0-100km/h sprint at just 10.17 seconds which is rapid for a big-fat SUV.

So before you go out and say the Pajero Sport is slow, well at least the 2WD is not too bad.

Planting your foot down, you can feel the 8-speed Aisin sourced torque converter transmission shifting down a few gears relatively fast, before hooking into the right gear and giving you a little shove along the road.

It’s certainly not the most inspiring powerplant, but really for this class, not many are.

Steering is rather heavy thanks to its hydraulic nature, and suspension is nice and soft though that does lead to some body-roll around corners.

Really, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is in its element cruising at highway speeds in 8th gear.

If I’m being totally honest, I prefer the ride of the more expensive Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X, and even the SsangYong Rexton manages a more comfortable ride and handling experience, including a quieter cabin.

Still, the Pajero Sport is never bad to drive, and in fact, manages to mostly keep up with the newer utes in the segment.

Is the Pajero Sport GLS Safe?

The Pajero Sport received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, but this expired at the end of 2022. The ANCAP's policy dictates that ratings more than six years old expire, and without a recent retest, the Pajero Sport's previous rating can't be claimed for newer models.

This rating, when it was applicable, was based on impressive scores in several key areas: a frontal offset score of 15.22 out of 16 and a side impact score of 16 out of 16. Additionally, whiplash and pedestrian protection were evaluated as Good and Acceptable, respectively.

As for safety features in the latest models, the Pajero Sport comes equipped with a good suite of safety tech that includes seven airbags, encompassing a driver’s knee airbag, which is a thoughtful addition. 

It also offers autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.

However, active safety features are much more comprehensive in the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.

Be aware though that the safety rating based on the Mitsubishi Triton platform may not directly translate to the current Pajero Sport, especially under the more stringent contemporary testing protocols. 

As such, while the vehicle does include a range of modern safety features, its exact performance under the latest ANCAP testing regime remains unverified.

What are the specs and features of the Pajero Sport GLS?

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport range offers a variety of models, each with its own set of features and specifications. Here's a consolidated overview of what each model in the lineup brings to the table:

Pajero Sport GLX

• Seats: 5 (Cloth seats with driver’s lumbar adjustment)
• Drivetrain: 4×2 or 4×4 options
• Wheels & Lighting: 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs)
• Infotainment: 8.0-inch screen, wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Digital radio, four-speaker sound system
• Convenience: Keyless entry, push-button start, single-zone climate control, electric park brake with brake auto hold, smart key with button start
• Safety & Assistance: Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), rear parking sensors, reversing camera, emergency brake assist, hill start assist, speed limiter, trailer stability assist
• Additional Features: Available in four paint colors, full-size spare tyre, roof rails and side steps

Pajero Sport GLS (includes GLX features plus)

• Seats: 7
• Wheels: Two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels
• Infotainment: Satellite navigation, six-speaker sound system
• Convenience: Electrochromatic rear-view mirror, automatic dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, power tailgate, privacy glass
• Safety & Assistance: Tyre pressure monitoring system (new)
• Additional Features: Rear spoiler, rear differential lock (4x4 only), available in seven paint colors

Pajero Sport GLS 'Deluxe' Package (adds over GLS)

• Interior: Leather seats (mix of real and synthetic), power-adjustable front seats
• Convenience: 360-degree camera with steering wheel switch

Pajero Sport Exceed (includes GLS Deluxe features plus)

• Infotainment: 8.0-inch color digital instrument display, 860-watt sound system, eight-speaker audio
• Convenience: Heated front seats, front parking sensors, remote tailgate open function, remote smartphone app, Apple Watch connectivity
• Safety & Assistance: Lane change assist, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert

Pajero Sport GSR (adds over Exceed)

• Exterior: Black 18-inch alloy wheels, black bonnet emblem, front and rear bumper garnish, grille, tailgate badge, roof, and rear spoiler, black headlight garnish, black roof rails, two-tone roof option
• Additional Features: Available in three paint colors, ‘Pajero’ Sport bonnet emblem, ‘GSR’ tailgate badge

Optional Packs

• Signature Pack: Black fender flares, bonnet emblem in black or silver, illuminated scuff plates, interior emblem, silver front and rear under garnish
• Signature Plus Pack: Includes Signature Pack features plus headlamp protector, nudge bar with integrated LED light bar, towbar and 50mm towball, weathershields
• Expedition Pack: Bonnet emblem in black or silver, frontal protection bar, Redarc electric brake controller kit, Rola ‘Titan Mk2’ roof tray, roof rack cross bars, snorkel, towbar and 50mm towball

How much can the Pajero Sport GLS tow?

The Pajero Sport has a towing capacity of 3100kg, which is below the class benchmark of 3500kg.

Like the incoming all-new Triton, the next Pajero Sport will probably be 3.5t as the current 3.1-tonne towing capacity is relatively weak in the segment and a big criticism.

The maximum tow ball download is 310kg.

How much does the Pajero Sport GLS cost to run?

When considering the running costs of the 2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GSR, there are several key factors to take into account: servicing, warranty, and roadside assistance.

The Pajero Sport requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Mitsubishi’s capped-price servicing for 10 years offers predictability in maintenance costs. The cost for each service varies:

• Service 1-2: $399 each
• Service 3: $499
• Service 4: $699
• Service 5: $499
• Service 6: $699
• Service 7: $499
• Service 8: $999
• Service 9: $599
• Service 10: $699

When broken down, the maintenance costs amount to approximately $1497 over the first three visits, scaling up to $2895 over five years.

Mitsubishi's warranty terms can be seen as either generous or poor, depending on your servicing choices. If you adhere to servicing within Mitsubishi’s network, the warranty extends up to 10 years or 200,000km, whichever comes first. However, opting for servicing outside of Mitsubishi’s network limits the warranty to 5 years or 100,000km.

With the purchase of the Pajero Sport, Mitsubishi offers 12 months of roadside assistance. Notably, each service at a Mitsubishi dealership extends this roadside assistance by an additional 12 months, up to a maximum of four years.

What’s CarSauce’s take on the Pajero Sport GLS?

For us, the 2WD Pajero Sport doesn’t make sense. If you’re looking to save money, buy a SsangYong Rexton, which comes standard with a part-time 4WD and is arguably just as reliable of a powertrain.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, you’ll find a much nicer interior in both the Isuzu MU-X and Ford Everest, and better driving dynamics too.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport still has a soft place in my heart, but its nearly decade on sale is showing and the ute-based SUV requires a bigger refresh to remain competitive in the segment.

At least get the Pajero Sport with the Super Select II permanent 4WD system - it’s much better for it.