Pajero Re-born

We had two-time Paris-Dakar champion Hiroshi Matsuoka drive us in the Pajero Sport around the gravel tracks of the Selangor Fruit Farm.

We went around the track with wheels more in the air than on the ground. The direction in which the vehicle was heading was more important than where the front wheels were pointing.

Being piloted by world-class drivers is always something to look forward to and is one of the high points of a motoring journalist's job.

"We're in a standard Pajero Sports, no special suspension," Matsuoka pointed out as we drifted around a curve.

Then, with barely any change in his laconic manner, he set up the vehicle for the upcoming jump and right-hander with mere twitches of the steering wheel and the left foot braking.

We crested the hill and four wheels settled firmly on the ground, stones and gravel rushing under the wheels.

The only problem was that there were not enough handles for the front passenger to hang on to.

The Pajero Sport uses the traditional truck-type ladder chassis. Where it improves on is the coil springs on all four corners. We must remember that the Pajero L047/049 series had one of the best sprung chassis in the Japanese 4x4 sector. That was achieved with mere leaf springs.

The Pajero Sports is a worthy successor in this respect.

A second important aspect of the Pajero Sports is that there is a middle differential and this uses a viscuous coupling.

This means that the SUV can be driven at high speed in 4x4 high range, like a Range Rover all-wheel drive system, where the tarmac road is slippery and demands more traction and control.

The centre differential can also be locked out in high range so that the torque split is exactly 50:50.

In this mode, the vehicle should be driven only in more slippery conditions where the front and rear wheels have more chances to spin so as to avoid differential wind-up.

And 4x4High Locked mode requires that the truck is driven at a slower pace than 4x4High.

For normal highway driving, two-wheel drive is sufficient and with the 135Ps engine, the truck holds 160 kph at just a shade over 3,000 rpm.

The Pajero Sport raises the barrier in the SUV category and offers a good alternative to what has been the only contender to date, the Toyota Fortuner.

The 2.5-diesel engine tilts the balance in favour of the Pajero Sport in terms of fuel economy and reliability.

"We think we'll be able to sell about 100 to 150 units a month," said Omar Harun, chief operating officer of Mitsubishi Motor Malaysia.

"We don't want to boast but we're quite confident that we've got a winner," he said.

By Yamin Vong

Specifications

Pajero Sport

Engine: 2,477cc 16-valve intercooled turbocharged, common-rail direct injection diesel engine

Max power: 100kW(136PS) @ 3,500rpm

Max torque: 314N-m (kg-m) @2,000rpm

Transmission: 4-speed auto with manual option

Curb weight: 2,055kg

Price: RM158,609.80 OTR w/o insurance