Discovering the New Pajero 2012 Edition

July 19, 2011

The new Pajero will be sold under different labels in various global automotive markets. It is known as Nativa in Latin America, Montero Sport in South America, and Challenger in Australia.

The new Pajero Sport probably won’t sell in North America, or Central & Western Europe, where other types of SUVs have an edge.

Interior and Exterior

The new Pajero SUV features sporty and dynamic exterior lines, complemented by a trendy and bigger interior space that creates a sense of purpose, safety, and renders superior comfort levels.

It is offered in a second-row (five-passenger) version as well as with third-row (seven-passenger) seating configuration that’s quite practical with waterproof luggage compartment floor, and water-repellent seats, ideal for leisure trips.

The exteriors of the SUV look very simple, yet are very elegant. With reasonably good top speed and ground clearance (215mm thus on the street), it has easy egress and ingress.

The body-on-ladder design of the vehicle gives it a sturdy appearance, and bulky silver colored bumpers, six-spoke alloy wheels, plus chrome front grille add to its overall appeal.

New Pajero’s dual-toned interiors look great, making the cabin appear big with a touch of elegance. The features that provide relaxing drive experience during long journey include –

• Height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support,
• Rear seat occupants get hand-rests with cup-holders, and
• Foldable third-row seats, proving extra boot space

Under the Hood

The new Pajero 2012 edition will be equipped with a 2.8-L turbocharged inter-cooled diesel engine that would deliver 118 PS at 4000 rpm and torsion of about 292 Nm at 2000 rpm, mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

2012 Mitsubishi Pajero V6 Diesel

The short wheelbase version of the new edition gets a refreshed body shell along with horizontal chrome beams and wider grille.

Engines of the new 2012 Pajero are beefed up with 3.2-L Diesel, delivering power up to 147kW @ 3800rpm and torsion of about 441Nm @ 2000rpm- nearly 20% improvement in both torque and horsepower over the former diesel engine.

MMC’s advanced variable valve timing system resulted in fuel efficiency improvement.

Gas Mileage

It promises to achieve a fuel economy of 7.8 km/l in the city streets and 11.1 km/l on the highway roads and a top speed of 150 kmph.

Ride and handling

The suspension system absorbs all the potholes and bumps on uneven roads. Driving this SUV is very comfortable, both on highways as well as within cramped city traffic. The off-roader maintains stability extremely smooth on highways and is a tough contender even in rugged terrain.

Price in India

In India, Pajero 2012 is offered in 3 variants – GL, SFX, and GLX CRZ. The base price of this SUV starts at Rs 21 lakhs and it’s available in distinctive exterior colors, ranging from Graphite, Navy, Granite, Limestone, Carbon grey, to Blaze, and Purple.

Bottom Line

Pajero’s sales figures have been quite satisfactory, and it is one of the top contenders in the segment of midsize SUVs. The new Mitsubishi Pajero 2012 version is also expected to follow the legacy, and make a solid impression in Asian as well as global markets.