Which is better: Mitsubishi Pajero Sport or old Pajero 4?

7500 km in the Russian North: Dvina, Pinega and the White Sea. In these places, simple and reliable cars are still loved, because the roads are often very bad. But is Pajero Sport with a fashionable design and stuffed with electronics like that? After all, as you know, with each generation, new cars are becoming more artificial and more adapted to asphalt. Here we will check.

During the trip, we managed to ride on completely different roads from the ideal track to primers and off-road. Now everything can be said about the car.

Let's start with the look. I will not hide, but I like Pajero Sport since the first generation. In this, he changed for the better. Aggressive front with squinted headlights and a lot of chrome, a powerful side silhouette. Looks dynamic.

But when you come up behind, the lights immediately attract attention. I would like to see them differently, but the bumper would protrude beyond the body. It's a matter of taste, some like it, some don't. Soon there will be restyling and it will be better.

Usually SUVs are bought with diesels, this is very reasonable. I also take this approach. But there are those who do not like diesel fundamentally. This time we have 3 liters of V6 petrol 209 hp under the hood. and 279 N.m. This is also a new engine, like a diesel. Rides more cheerfully than the old three-liter and consumes less fuel. The sound of the six is ​​good, overtaking is not difficult on the highway. The dynamics are quite good.

The box is automatic new, 8 speed, which is unexpected. Transmission sorts out gently. On the highway in 8th gear at 90 km / h, the engine speed is only 1500, 110-1900, 130-2200. Consumption when driving on the highway at 110 from 10-11 liters. In the city 15-18+. If you ride on forest roads, then 20 liters. More economical than Pajero 4 with 3 liters, but a diesel would still be better here.

On the move, the car does not feel as heavy as the Pajero 4. The management of the Sport is something between crossovers and the old Pajero. It is much easier to manage, the car obeys the steering wheel more easily and rolls less. By SUV standards, of course.

The steering wheel, after crossovers, seems “long”. Of the benefits — good feedback, it is clear what is happening with the car and where its limit is. If you marry him, then stabilization immediately suffices and strangles the skid in the bud.

On the pavement, excellent smoothness , soft and comfortable. You drive imposingly along the highway, but as soon as medium and large irregularities begin, it starts to shake. If this is a large series of bumps on the primer, then you will have to reset the course, it shakes. Rama makes itself known.

In general, SUVs are never for racing, but for calm driving. The main thing is that he can take you much further. What's off-road? Here is the good old super select II with modes from rear-wheel drive to downshift. The transmission has proven itself so well over the decades. Among SUVs and pickups, this is perhaps the best in stock that we have today.

Unlike classmates, you can always drive a Pajero Sport with all-wheel drive. In general, in winter it is a must have. And on a 4×4 trip, it came in handy on clay primers. By default, 60% of the power is transferred to the rear axle. In this generation, there was a system of assistance on the descent and 4 off-road modes: from mud to sand.

For Pajero lovers, this will seem like an overkill, the main thing is that there are hard differential locks, plus a lowered row. Which had to be used more than once. This summer there was a lot of rain, the water in the rivers rose, the roads were very lucky. So much so that where cars drove, now only SUVs drive.

We turn on all the locks in front of the dangerous area and go ahead. Nothing complicated, the main thing is not to stop, because even with such off-road potential, it will no longer be possible to move up a small hill. Very slippery mud, and AT tires are washed out at the moment. In general, without MT rubber , it's better not to go into ambush places alone.

In terms of geometric cross-country ability, everything is not bad, the rear suspension has a large stroke, it is difficult to tear the wheels off the ground. In the photo, far from the entire power reserve has been exhausted. The Pajero Sport has a ground clearance of 218 mm, an entry angle of 30, and an exit of 24. Pajero 4 was still better.

The headlights are fully LED. They shine brightly, but the near one shines for the near ones, I want to go further. I immediately recall the powerful spotlight that was in Pajero 4, here it would be like this.

The interior looks modern, the design is quite comparable with the exterior. Surprisingly, the engine start button is located to the left of the steering wheel, like in sports cars. Visibility is good. There is not so much space compared to the Pajero 4. But how comfortable it is to drive, here the interior really does not differ much from crossovers. Noise isolation is good, at 110-130 km / h you can talk to rear passengers without raising your voice.

Gears can also be shifted with paddles on the steering wheel, but for me this is an overkill in an SUV. Steering wheel with a scattering of buttons: music, speakerphone and cruise. He is active here, the car itself slows down and accelerates. In the stream it is very convenient, the car itself goes behind the one in front. But if it stops, the system squeaks and turns off after a couple of seconds, then the car moves on to the one in front… It's a strange setting, why it was impossible to hold the brake to the automation, and when the car in front started to warn about it?

Multimedia is well known for all Mitsubishi models. Simple and functional. Music plays cool and bass. Cameras in a circle, and the front one can be turned on additionally when parking. There is no regular navigation, you use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The coolest thing is to display a satellite map. You can immediately see where the tracks are, how to drive up. Cool stuff for travel. Another cool feature is a 220V outlet. Hurray, now you can charge like at home, work with your laptop on the go.

The seats are comfortable, the back profile is well chosen, the pillow is long. For complete happiness, there is not enough lumbar adjustment. Both chairs are electrified. There is heating, including the steering wheel. In general, everything is fine, but the back row let us down.

It is located low to the floor. You sit with your knees up. On a long journey, this is inconvenient for tall and medium-sized passengers. Do not put your feet under the seats. What to do, frame construction, do not forget that the Pajero Sport and the L200 pickup truck are on the same base. Of the amenities, the seat back tilts, you can pokemar on the way. There are cup holders, a pair of USB connectors, heated seats and a separate ventilation unit with air conditioning.

The trunk is huge and well shaped. There is no underground, as in Padzherik. The place ate the spare tire. Travel trunk, what you need. With us it was filled to the very roof, the lion's share was eaten by a boat with a motor. You fold the rear seats, a huge compartment is formed, you can take a lot of things away. But it's uncomfortable to sleep, as the seats fold the old-fashioned way with a grasshopper. The length is 1.6 m.

Let's summarize. Compared to the Pajero 4, the Pajero Sport is more fashionable, smaller in size and interior, but better equipped and more passenger-friendly. But in general, the car turned out cool for travel. The design is cool, the trunk is huge, it rides well, if only to improve the smoothness of the ride on bumps. And the roads in the provinces leave much to be desired. The stock off-road capabilities are great, especially with the addition of MT tires. For my travels, a Pajero Sport with a diesel engine would be just right.