Mitsubishi Pajero

While the old school appeal of the exterior design of the Mitsubishi Pajero is digestive, the dated appeal of the cabin on the inside of this gigantic SUV feels a bit unacceptable in today’s day and age.

The cabin of the Mitsubishi Pajero welcomes you with a dated looking four-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and a set of analog dials behind it, which lack the glitzy appeal of modern-day SUV cockpits. The bulky design for the dashboard and centre console make the cabin look huge but at the same time, dated as well. Though the good mix of soft-touch black and beige leather and faux wood inserts feel premium to the core.

While the Mitsubishi Pajero lacks many modern-day features, it tries to justify its premium positioning with a kit like full leather upholstery, powered front seats, touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, powered sunroof and many more. While the seats in all the three rows are very supportive, the third row is lacking in knee room and legroom, and is best suited just for small kids.

There are very few full-sized SUVs that come close to the intimidating stance and old school appeal of the Mitsubishi Pajero. Yes, it does look a bit dated when compared to new generation SUVs, but its size and butch looks still have got the undisputed macho appeal of a true blue SUV.

The Mitsubishi Pajero has got a bulky looking front end, which looks quote squared with flat and wide big chrome grille with chrome slats and chrome bordering, as well as block shaped headlamps with projector bulbs within them. The sleek daytime running LEDs are placed with the small fog lamps on the front bumper.

The side profile of the Mitsubishi Pajero has been more or less unchanged all these years, but still looks commanding with big design for doors, side windows, wheel arches and alloy wheels. At the rear, the Mitsubishi Pajero is one of the very few SUVs which still come with spare tyre mounted on the rear door, which does make it look macho and muscular.

The bulky and old school ladder on frame chassis of the Mitsubishi Pajero doesn’t impart a plush and sophisticated ride quality of a current-generation SUV, thus making the ride quality a bit bouncy on low speeds and soft tarmac. However, as the going gets tough, the Pajero comes in its true elements with an unmatched performance off the road with an excellent four-wheel-drive system in all the variants offered as standard.

Mitsubishi has made the Pajero available with three old school naturally aspirated V6 petrol engines, all of which are coupled to a common 5-speed torque converter. The smallest 3.0-litre engine develops 177 PS of power and 259 Nm of torque. The mid-spec 3.5-litre unit pumps out 189 PS of power and 306 Nm of torque. The range-topping 3.8-litre engine produces 243 PS of power and 327 Nm of torque.

The Mitsubishi Pajero is fitted with basic safety features one expects in a premium full-size luxury SUV, like the front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, vehicle stability assist, traction control, rear parking sensors, and tire pressure monitoring system. A range of modern-day electronic driving aids would have made a world of difference on the Pajero though.

The Mitsubishi Pajero is not for those who aspire for car-like driving dynamics and poshness in the overall appeal and finish in a full-size luxury SUV. Instead, it is purely for those old school macho SUV lovers, which has got the traditional roots intact both in the way it looks and performs on the tarmac and off it as well.