2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 7 Seat RWD: Fit for Gay Campers?

The question on everyone’s lips is: Why a 2-wheel drive Pajero Sport SUV? Can it really hold its head up against the fully fledged, hairy-chested 4X4 sisters?

Mitsubishi quietly dropped all of its passenger cars leaving only the SUV and ute range to carry the can. The ancient Pajero is gone, with the Final Edition selling out, leaving the completely unrelated Pajero Sport for the large SUV buyer in a Mitsubishi show room.

Pajero Sport is based in the humble Triton ute with several major changes. The tray is replaced by a proper SUV wagon-style rear, but more importantly, the prehistoric leaf springs and drum brakes at the back are replaced with a refined disc, and multi-link rear end. Toyota did the same thing with Hilux by creating the Fortuner.

We’ve driven the top models which come fully loaded (See pics). The base models come as 2 or 4-wheel drive. We’ve been on the sand, and playing amongst the rocks, because nothing can compare to a day getting dirty.

My gripe isn’t that the base models don’t get blind spot monitor and lane control, it is that they come in rear wheel drive.

It gives them the ground clearance to tackle a muddy track, but not the grip to you out of strife. This limits the RWD Pajero Sport to city driving and touring, neither of which show it to its best. Like all tough off-roaders, Pajero Sport comes camping ready, but what drives as a demon in the dunes, rarely drives like a limo on tarmac. Such is the case here.

The Cabin:

The infotainment system is nice and simple, and has CarPlay and Android auto. Seats are comfortable, in a plush retro looking fabric velour, a-la 80’s. The 3^rd row is for kids so don’t get any bright ideas about taking 6 mates on tour. Besides, that only leaves 151L of luggage space, hardly enough for a make-up bag.

2^nd rowers sit tall, and have outlets for climate and power.

This Week Review: 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 7 Seater 2WD REVIEW – Can a 2-wheel drive Pajero Sport cut the mustard?

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ABOVE: 2022 Pajero Sport GLS 2WD 7 Seat Review (Exceed Shown from Previous Reviews)

The Drive:

The 2.4 turbo diesel has an 8-sp automatic. Official figures of 133kw and 430Nm make for a leisurely driving experience, and like the 4X4 models with Super Select II, can tow 3000kg of braked beauteousness.

We took the Pajero Sport 4X4 into the dunes, and it was magnificent. See the story HERE

Steering is somewhat fluffy but the brakes are as sharp as a tack.

Ride typifies pucker 4X4’s but alas, is not really as its best on tour. You feel a little floaty, and while the bumps are soaked up with a decent amount of panache, directional change is more akin to docking a yacht. Oddly, parking is incredibly easy, with the assistance of a clear reversing camera. You really need to rely on it as the rear window is oddly small.

The 68L fuel tank is going to get you a long way on the open road. 8L/100km worth of range will probably get you to Melbs if you’re a Sydney Sider.

Smooth tarmac makes the cabin blissfully quiet, and indeed is quiet except when tackling the most uncooperative road surfaces.

OK, there are gay families, but most gay couples don’t have kids. Gay boys might choose Pajero Sport in 4X4 form, because camping is fun. 2 wheel drive may limit choice.

Let’s look at the Use Case:

For peeps wanting to tote tons, Pajero Sport is brilliant. The 49k price for a 7 seater is impressive, but I can’t help but feel buyers would want to drive all the 7 seaters they could find by comparison.

The cabin is not luxurious, and the drive is not as on-point as the softer-roaders against which it is pitched. Hyundai, Kia and others, make more comfortable SUVs, if crossing roadless expanses is not on your bucket list.

In 4X4 form, Pajero Sport is brilliant because it is squarely aimed at happy campers heading off-piste.

In rear-wheel-drive, I found the handling easy, if slightly tiresome. Things you forgive a tough bush basher for, become something else in town. Mitsubishi’s claim that Pajero Sport is “refined” might be a marketing claim too far, and although it is very capable, 2-wheel drive versions sell it short.

Mitsubishi Pajero GLS 2-wheel drive 7 Seat