SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Aspirations: 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Aspire 4x2

Unfussy

Exterior pics by Quickpic
Interior by author
Posted: August 10, 2022

The numbers
Price: R704 990
Engine: Mitsubishi 4N15, 2442 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder commonrail diesel with VGT
Power: 133 kW between 3200 and 4000 rpm
Torque: 430 Nm at 2500 rpm
0 to 100 km/h: 10.8 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 9.5 l/100 km
Tank: 68 litres
Luggage: 131-502-1488 litres
Ground clearance: 218 mm
Turning circle: 11.2 metres
Approach/departure/ramp over angles: 30/24.2/23.1 degrees
Wading depth: 700 mm
Maximum towing mass (braked): 2700 kg
Standard tyre: 265/60R18 110H, A/T
Spare: Full size alloy, stored under body
Fit into garage: 4825mm long x 1815mm wide x 1835mm high
Will your load fit: Length: 303mm - 965mm - 1575mm, Width: 1000mm between wheel arches -1370mm max, Height: 885mm
Warranty: Three years, 100 000 km
Roadside assistance: Five years, unlimited km
Service plan: Five years, 90 000 km at 10 000 km intervals

Think of Aspire as the “Woolies” level of Mitsubishi kit; a little bit fancier and a touch more exclusive but never excessive. This Pajero Sport model is the first to be dolled up like this although Mitsubishi plans to progressively introduce Aspire versions across its product range.

Panthera Pajeros is the small Pampas cat after which Pajero is named (Pic from Wikipedia)
We in South Africa have two; 4x2 and 4x4, each priced about R20 000 higher than its plainer sister. What does one get for the extra money? Exclusive paintwork, dual zone automatic climate control, single-touch electric windows, three selectable instrument views and a powered lumbar support upgrade for the driver. Seven seats, seven airbags and more safety kit than one can shake a stick at, remain part of the deal.

Paintwork offerings are simple; Jet Black or White Diamond.  Roofs are available only in black, with matching rails, making the white car a two-tone. Wheels and grille are similarly glossy black.

Apart from the above, the car remains relatively unfussy – no headspace-stealing sunroof, no automatic tailgate and no remote-control gadgetry. What one does get is practicality in the form of side steps, climb-in handles at each door, panic grips for six out of seven occupants, ample storage spaces, rooftop ventilation slots with fan speed control for those in the back, usable third-row seats, spacious accommodation for second row occupants, unfussy electronics, an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission and solid body-on-frame construction with decent ‘country road’ specifications. Even though this is ‘just’ a 4x2.

Like its 4x4 counterpart, you can sense the toughness. Steering is mildly heavy during low-speed manoeuvres and it feels solid; a man’s kind of truck. But it has a softer side too; illuminated vanity mirrors on both sun visors, lots of useful power points, a box for sunglasses, and keyless operation. It’s also pleasantly manoeuvrable thanks to a turning circle tighter than those of most competitors of similar size.

Performance, despite its 133-kilowatt and 430-Nm power output, is comparatively leisurely thanks to its hefty build that results in an unladen mass of 1960 kg. But one can’t have everything.

Finally: Pajero Sport Aspire is solid, a little old-fashioned in some ways but practical - with all the modern kit you really need and not too much of what you don’t. And, like that upmarket grocery store, it’s a little bit fancier and slightly exclusive. But never over the top.

Test unit from Mitsubishi Motors SA press fleet


For more technical detail, see our review of the 2021 Pajero Sport 4x4

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is thoroughly researched, given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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