EXPERIENCE OUR EXPERIENCE
PAJERO SPORT GLS.
The Courier-Mail’s MICHAEL WESTLAKE takes a look
at the all-new Pajero Sport GLS.
I AM not what you would call an “early
adopter”.
I’m not the type of person that needs
to rush out to buy the latest gadget as
soon as it hits the shelves.
Nor, as anyone would tell you, do I keep
myself at the cutting edge of fashion or
musical taste.
In my mind, Jimmy Barnes hit the
zenith of both when he wore a pair
of jeans and a footy jumper in a Cold
Chisel music video in 1982.
I like books, but I’ve never read The Da
Vinci Code. I like movies, but have never
seen any that featured hobbits, rings, or
bespectacled wizards named Harry.
I own an iPhone, but I didn’t buy my
first one until the third incarnation and
the novelty value was sufficiently worn.
Until recently, I had never driven a
Mitsubishi Pajero.
Unlike the others, this was not a
conscious decision. We had just never
crossed paths.
I had been inside quite a few as a
passenger, but never driven one myself.
So when Bartons Mitsubishi gave me
one to live with for a week or three, I
was really keen to find out what the
fuss was about.
Like iPhones, it seems like every
second person either has a Pajero, had
driven one previously, or is related to
someone who does.
They have been in Australia since
about the time Barnesy was wearing
that footy jersey, and settled in for the
long haul.
While an SUV or 4WD in the driveway
is now the default setting for most
Australian homes, it was not always
that way.
But the Pajero’s reputation for
reliability and ability to transition from
daily-driver to weekend bush-basher
made them extremely popular with
Aussies looking to make the most of
the great outdoors.
That popularity is what helped drive
the modern family’s preference for the
all-round vehicle that can swap between
the school-run and roaring up Cylinder
Beach without batting an eyelid.
Climbing into the pilot’s seat, the first
thing you notice is the abundance of
space.
With the high driving position and
excellent visibility, you could be forgiven
for thinking you are watching an Imax
screen, rather than looking out of a
windscreen.
There is no chance anyone would
feel claustrophobic driving a Pajero.
The headroom and legroom are
tremendous, and the positioning
of the armrest in combination with
the supportive seats make for an
immediately comfortable driving
Around the suburban streets,
the Pajero always feels sturdy,
civilised and in control. But once
you get off the beaten track,
Mitsubishi’s years of experience
mean there are not a lot of
obstacles out there that will
frighten it.
“
MICHAEL WESTLAKE HITS THE ROAD
WITH THE NEW MITSUBISHI PAJERO
GLS
position.
In the GLS model I am testing, there is
Mitsubishi’s familiar 7-inch touchscreen
display in the centre of the console.
This is one of my favourite on-board
systems, just because it is so simple
and easy to navigate.
It connects seamlessly with your
iPhone or Android device, giving you
access to all of your apps and music
while you are on the go.
The Bluetooth phone system, with voice
recognition is also a winner and easy to
use without taking your concentration
off the road.
Climate control, cruise control, audio
controls and the simply excellent Super
Select II four-wheel drive system are all
at your fingertips.
There are rain-sensing wipers,
automatic headlights and LED driving
lights to make life simpler. At the push
of a button, the wing mirrors will retract
if you’re ever in a tight spot and need to
get skinny to sneak through.
Above the touchscreen, there is also
an electronic display which is for your
more practical information – like fuel
economy, distance until empty, average
speed and the like.
For the passengers, comfort is
paramount with those big, wide seats
meaning no one needs to travel with
hunched shoulders.
The rear seats also feature their own
air-conditioning controls, and roofmounted vents stretching all the way
back to the third row when you have
seven people to carry.
The ride and handling are also firstclass.
Even on long journeys, the ride inside
the Pajero is smooth and comfortable,
with the five-speed automatic gearbox
a joy under-appreciated by young ones
focused on colouring-in book in the
back seat.
Around the suburban streets, the
Pajero always feels sturdy, civilised
and in control. But once you get off
the beaten track, Mitsubishi’s years of
experience mean there are not a lot of
obstacles out there that will frighten it.
On the tarmac, it is not a chore to
drive by any means and with its range
of sensors and rear-vision camera, it is
mercifully simple to park.
Despite it feeling about three hectares
across inside, it is unobtrusive on the
road and able to hide in plain sight with
the best of them in a crowded carpark.
Remembering where you parked
will come in handy, because more
than likely there will be another three
Pajeros just like it wherever you go.
And that in itself is probably the best
review of all.
There is a reason why every second
person has an iPhone and why every
Harry Potter movie rates its socks off at
the box office.
Like the Pajero, those things know
their market and produce a terrific
product.
Mitsubishi have done the same here,
as they have done since Barnesy and
his perm were screaming into the
camera.
They know what people want from
a Pajero. Moreover, they know what
people expect from a Pajero. And this
model delivers on its promise, and
upholds the family’s reputation.
But like smartphones and movie
wizards, there are obviously a number
of competitors out there trying to get
your attention.
Everyone knows the Australian family
4WD market is one of the most
competitive by any standards.
So how do you choose the one that is
right for you?
If I was you I would start by having
a conversation with your friendly
Mitsubishi sales at Bartons.
As well as explaining all the other
benefits of being a part of the Bartons
family, they will also be able to give
you a very compelling reason why the
Pajero should be at the top of your list:
Price.
Everyone is looking for a bargain, and
in the world of family 4WDs, this is it.
Prices for the Pajero start at just
BARTONS WYNNUM
200 TINGAL ROAD
$55,000 drive away for the GLX model,
go up to $62,240 for the GLS model I
tested, and top out with the luxury-spec
Exceed at $69,000.
Take a look at the price tags on the
Pajero’s genuine 4WD rivals, and you
will begin to understand why there are
so many of the Mitsubishis on the road.
Toyota’s Landcruiser starts at
around $83,000 and tops out at near
$130,000.
Their smaller Prado begins at $58,900
for the base model and climbs all the
way to $92,000 for the top-of-the-range.
Nissan is similar, with the Patrol pricing
between $76,000 and $94,000.
Their Pathfinder begins at a reasonable
$49,000 for a 4WD model, but finishes
out around $74,000.
It doesn’t take long for things to add
AT A GLANCE
PRICE
GLX RRP $55,000 Drive away
GLS RRP $62,240 Drive Away
Exceed RRP $69,000 Drive Away
WARRANTY
5 year/100,000 klm New Car
Warranty / 5 years Road side Assist
CAPPED SERVICING
4 years/60,000 klm capped price
servicing
SAFETY
9 Air Bags,
R.I.S.E (Reinforced Impact Safety
Evolution)
EBD (Electronic Brake Force
Distribution)
ABS
Reverse Camera And Sensors
TSA (Trailer Stability Assist)
ENGINE / TRANS
2.4 Ltr Turbo Diesel 4Cly, 8 Speed
Automatic
FUEL ECONOMY
8 Ltrs/ 100 klms
TOWING
750 Kgs Without Trailer Brakes
3,100 Kgs (Trailer Brakes), 310kg
Down ball weight (Tow Ball)
BARTONS.NET.AU
PH 3396 7777