Still king of the off-road
It all began with a concept-car at the 1973 Tokyo Motor Show, but it wasn’t until 1982 that Mitsubishi started to sell it. With a new name and therefore a relative lack of image the Pajero competed in motor sports and in particular in the famous Paris-Dakar rally race. It only took the Pajero three years to win the Dakar, the name and image was made, and Mitsubishi is still the most successful manufacturer in this legendary race with 12 victories including seven straight from 2001 until now!
The 2007 Pajero continues that tradition of being a true 4WD and with the reintroduction of the three-door, reinjecting additional excitement into the model range. The NS Pajero is available in both seven-seat and five-seat combinations and has had a complete makeover externally, has a new modern interior and has introduced two new engines that are Euro 4 compatible. All of this has been achieved while still retaining Mitsubishi’s strength of being in the forefront of 4WD technology, allowing us to explore the whole of Australia safely and reliably.
With the three-door, in the new Pajero range, it allows city slickers to own a Pajero and still be able to park the vehicle on Crown St without taking up two car parking spots. Having driven both the five- and three-door Pajero around town, my pick for city driving would be the three door. Both the three-door and five-door are available with the 3.9 litre petrol or the 3.2 litre petrol.
The full size Pajero comes in three variations. The GLX is the entry level vehicle, capable off-road driving with rugged good looks. The VRX has all the ability and technology of the entry model but has a load of external and internal cosmetic features that give it a sporty and industrial look. The third model is the Exceed, the flagship model of the range. So for those who want to pamper themselves this is the one for you. Standard are leather seats and trim, Rockford Fosgate premium audio, rear seat entertainment, bluetooth hands-free operation, power seats and dual zone rear air-conditioning.
The short wheelbase version, also known as the three-door, comes in the ‘R’ and ‘X’ versions. The ‘R’ version is aimed more at the rural buyer who wants a capable 4WD with recreational capability whereas the ‘X’ is aimed at what Mitsubishi describes as the fashion-conscious urban buyers. The ‘X’ has all the features of the ‘R’ but has a sporty look with its vulcanised rubber arches and 18”alloy wheels.
I believe that in the hands of an experienced driver the potential of the new Pajero would be almost unlimited. If for you, buying an all wheel drive beast like this one means more than crossing city curbs and that you’re still looking for a vehicle that will feel at home on every terrain, then I completely recommend this 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero, especially in its short version, the perfect pick, the best of both worlds.
AUTO FACTS
Price $40,990-$60,590
Engine: 3.8-litre V6 petrol, 3.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Max Power: 184kW@6,000rpm; 329Nm@2,750rpm, 118kW@3,800rpm; 378Nm@2,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic
Fuel Consumption: 13.5/100km (petrol); 10.2l/100km diesel
Good: Great off-road capability
Bad: Noisy diesel
Test drive the new Pajero at Sydney City Mitsubishi, 1 Link Rd, Zetland, phone 9315 9600.
