More style and creature comforts make the Pajero X a serious luxury four-wheel drive.
Here's a vehicle that is easy to drive and park, has distinctive looks with the bonus of being able to take on the best off-road. It's the Mitsubishi Pajero short wheelbase (SWB) in standard R and luxury X form.
Mitsubishi Pajero full-size 4WD wagon is big, strong, comfortable and has praiseworthy off-road credentials. Its drawback is in town driving, where its size and turning circle mean U-turns and parking are not always easy.
The shorter three-door overcomes these problems. The weight saving of being 515mm shorter with two less doors means the Pajero SWB becomes the hot-rod star of the Pajero range.
Indeed, its distinct looks and good equipment levels make the Pajero SWB very much a personal-recreation vehicle for townies and rural people, with no regular back-seat for passengers such as children.
Mitsubishi offers two levels of the short wheelbase. The R comes with climate-control air conditioning, 17in diameter alloy wheels, cruise control, front and rear fog lights, leather-clad steering wheel, front power windows, six-stack CD, vehicle stability control and extensive trip computer.
It has superior off-road credentials than the already highly-rated Pajero wagon thanks to its shorter wheelbase and less rear overhang. For example, it can maintain clearance coming out of a creek crossing with a 34.8-degree departure angle compared with 25 degrees on the longer wagon. It gets Mitsubishi's Super-Select system for engaging four-wheel drive and low-range gears for off-road work.
The three-door X version is the luxury one with even more style and creature comforts. It gets 18in diameter alloy wheels, wheel arch flares, a leather-trimmed interior where the front seats are power adjustable and heated, and body dress-up bits.
The SWB Pajero comes only with a five-speed automatic transmission and it has sequential shift for drivers who opt to be more engaged with the task.
Access to the rear seat is by a one-touch lever that moves the front seat forward. Luggage space is limited if the back seat is up and the wide B pillar robs the driver of over-the-shoulder side vision.
Small Torque
Mitsubishi Pajero - Three-door
Price: R, $40,990; X, $47,990. Add $2000 for diesel engine.
Engines: 3828cc sohc V6 petrol or 3200cc dohc four-cylinder turbocharged diesel.
Power: 184kW @ 6000rpm (petrol); 125kW @ 3800rpm (diesel).
Torque: 329Nm @ 2750rpm (petrol); 358Nm @ 2000rpm (diesel).
Transmission: Five-speed sequential automatic; part-time 4WD with low-range. Diesel runs at 2200rpm at 110km/h.
Driver aids: Stability control, traction control, ABS brakes, hill-start assist.
Dimensions: 4385mm long, 1875mm wide, 1889mm high; wheelbase 2545mm; 2085kg.
Fuel: Tank 69 litres. Our drive of the diesel, 9.6 litres/100km. Petrol engine rated at 13.5 litres/100km.
Wheels/tyres: R, 17 x 7.5 alloy, 265/65 tyres. X, 18 x 7.5, 265/60 tyres.
Tows: 750kg; with trailer brakes
2500kg.
