Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 2022 Review

By Fean Torr, carsales.com.au

Aussies are in love with modern dual-cab utes that can do it all. But they can’t do everything, especially for bigger families that require more seats or more space.

Which is why the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is one of the most popular family SUVs in the country, providing the same mix of urban, towing and off-road abilities as the Triton dual cab ute on which it is based but offering more versatility for carting kids rather than tools.

It’s getting on its lifecycle, but the Pajero Sport - tested here in mid-series GLS grade - still has a lot going for it.

Sweet Spot

The 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 is the top-selling model in the triple-diamond brand’s seven-seat family SUV range, largely because it hits a sweet spot in terms of price and equipment.

Priced at $54,190 plus on-road costs, the Thai-built Pajero Sport GLS undercuts similarly rugged 4x4 ute-based seven-seat SUVs such as the new-generation Ford Everest Trend (from $65,290 plus ORCs), Isuzu MU-X LS-U ($61,400 plus ORCs) and Toyota Fortuner GXL ($55,085 plus ORCs).

For those that may not need as much off-road ability, the Pajero Sport GLS can also be had in a rear-wheel drive configuration for $5000 less.

Despite this third generation Pajero Sport being one of the oldest vehicles in its segment, having been first introduced in 2015, you still get plenty of modern features thanks to significant updates throughout its lifecycle.

Featured value

Some of the headline exterior features on the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS include 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, tinted windows and side steps for improved ingress and egress.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find manually adjustable cloth seats, dual-zone climate control and air vents for all three seat rows, as well as a reasonable six-speaker audio system with AM, FM and digital radio outputs, push-button engine start and keyless entry via a smart key fob.

A powered tailgate is part of the GLS package, along with three 12V power sockets (one for each seat row) plus three USB-A ports (but not USB-C) across the first and second rows. The spec sheet says the steering wheel and gear shifter are wrapped in leather, but they feel more like vinyl.

If you want power-operated leather-appointed seats you’ll need to splash out extra cash ($2250) for the optional deluxe pack, which also brings front and side cameras for 360-degree surround view parking and off-roading vision.

Our test vehicle didn’t have the deluxe pack but was fitted with rubber floor mats front and rear ($166) and boot liner ($205), plus a Redarc electric brake controller with harness ($679) and tow bar kit ($1386).

Together with its White Diamond pearl metallic exterior paint ($940), the total price as tested came to $57,566 plus on-road costs.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is covered by a five-year/100,000km factory warranty (and 12 months’ free roadside assistance), which can extend to 10 years/200,000km if you have the vehicle serviced at an authorised dealer for the duration.

Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first, with an average annual cost of $599, which is slightly more expensive than the $520 annual cost to service a rival Toyota Fortuner.

Across the 10-year capped-price service period though, you’ll spend $5990 for scheduled maintenance, which is competitive.

Missing pieces

The 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS comes standard with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) - operating at city speeds only - auto-levelling LED headlights and adaptive cruise control.

It’s got a blind spot monitoring system, rear cross traffic alert and a low-resolution reversing camera, along with a self-dimming rear-view mirror and an electric park brake with auto hold.

Things like automatic headlights and wipers are nice touches, but it misses some of the advanced features available on newer models such as lane keep assistance/warning, traffic sign recognition and driver attention monitoring.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating when it was launched in 2015, and a significant safety update was introduced in 2020 as part of a mid-life upgrade.

Showing its age

The 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS is starting to show its age when it comes to the latest in technology.

The 8.0-inch central touchscreen isn’t massive and the native menu system is dated and lacks depth, but it has crisp graphics and the TomTom navigation is better than most factory systems.

You can plug in your smartphone for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality which makes life easier, although there’s only USB-A ports in the car so your phone won’t charge rapidly.

There’s no head-up display, and unlike newer SUVs such as the Ford Everest, a fully digital driver’s display is not available so you get old school twin analogue dials.

That said, the compact digital trip computer in between them has plenty of useful info and options.

The multifunction steering wheel is festooned with buttons which offer logical access to key functions and there’s a handy 220V AC power point plus separate fan controls for the second row.

Rough around the edges

Just like its donor vehicle, the Mitsubishi Triton dual-cab ute, the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 is powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, driving the rear or all four wheels through a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

Peak power is rated at 133kW, while maximum torque of 430Nm is achieved at 2500rpm, which is enough gristle to tow a 3100kg braked trailer, or a 750kg unbraked carriage.

The engine is a little rough around the edges, producing a clattery soundtrack under heavy loads and turbo lag when accelerating.

On the plus side, the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 is a reasonably efficient family hauler, and while we couldn’t achieve the manufacturer’s lab-tested claims of 8.0L/100km on average, we managed 9.3L/100km over seven days of driving on freeways, in the suburbs and some fairly challenging off-road tracks.

Jack of all trades

The 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 doesn’t handle or ride as keenly or smoothly as some of its newer rivals and feels a bit lethargic at times, but nor does it feel as agricultural as the Triton ute on which it’s based.

The ride comfort is pretty good, with the Pajero Sport sailing over cut-up country roads amiably, but refinement levels leave a lot to be desired.

Wind noise around the mirrors and roof can get pretty intrusive at highway speeds, while the diesel engine is very rattly at idle and makes a fair old racket accelerating from standstill.

Even so, the Pajero Sport is a good cruiser and will effortlessly eat-up long distances while also being a competent tow vehicle.

The ultra-light steering and reasonable (for a big SUV) 11m turning circle makes it a surprisingly comfortable urban navigator, and the jacked-up ride height gives you excellent forward and side vision.

It’s a good school drop-off machine on one hand, but also a capable adventurer.

Off the beaten path

We took the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 across our usual off-road haunt. With 218mm of ground clearance it gives you confidence to drop into lairy ruts, however we did scrape the undercarriage a couple of times. Let’s put that down to operator arrogance.

More sophisticated than a basic part-time four-wheel drive system found on some of its rivals, the ‘Super Select II’ 4x4 system allows the driver to engage full-time 4WD on any road surface, which is handy when it’s pouring rain or if you’re driving on gravel roads.

Two-wheel drive (RWD) high range is best used for cruising and urban driving to save fuel.

You can also select 4WD high and low range with a locked centre differential, which improves traction when tackling challenging off-roading environments. There’s even a locking rear diff, providing plenty of options should any of the wheels struggle for traction on slippery surfaces.

Hill descent control is also offered, which acts like a cruise control when driving down steep hills, along with selectable off-road modes: Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand and Rock.

The road-biased Toyo A32 Open Country tyres have been developed specifically for the Pajero Sport but are not amazing in rugged off-road conditions. However, after a few hours of bush-bashing across some tricky obstacles there wasn’t much that really stumped it.

Using the 4WD low setting and locking the centre diff saw it clamber its way up some steep climbs, and the generous mid-range torque from the diesel engine and glut of low-end grunt conspire to create an assertive off-roader.

Sign of the times

The interior of the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 is nothing special and looks and feels a little dated.

But it is spacious, practical and durable, which are probably more important to many family buyers than swoopy avant-garde dashboard design.

The elevated second-row seats cut into headroom for adults but legroom is decent. You also get diagonally mounted grab handles that make climbing into the high-riding SUV much easier for kids and shorties.

There are twin USB-A ports and even a 220V/150W household power point in the back seat, along with twin ISOFIX child seat anchorages and triple top tether strap points.

GLS models get seven seats as standard, with the third row suitable for small kids, but bigger humans will struggle for legroom.

The boot has loads of flexibility, and if you fold down the second and third rows you get almost 1.6 metres of cargo length.

Boot space is rated at 131 litres with all three rows in place, rising to 502 litres with the third-row seats stowed and up to 1488 litres with both rear seat rows folded down.

There’s also a full-size spare alloy wheel slung under the rear to save boot space.

Hard to ignore

For one of the older models in its class, the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 still performs admirably.

It may not be the most stylish or innovative seven-seat family SUV available, but it drives well - both on- and off-road - and offers excellent value and the long warranty (albeit with some strings attached) makes the Mitsubishi hard to ignore and well worth taking for a test drive.

First impressions weren’t great, but as our week-long test wore on and more kilometres were clocked up, we really warmed to the Pajero Sport GLS.

It’s reasonably well equipped, has more flexibility than an Olympic gymnast, and while there are fresher, more advanced ute-based SUVs out there, the value equation makes the Pajero Sport one to consider.

2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 4x4 at a glance:

Price:  $54,190 (plus on-road costs) Transmission:  Eight-speed automatic Available:  Now Fuel:  8.0L/100km (ADR Combined) Engine:  2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel C02:  212g/km (ADR Combined) Output: 133kW/430Nm Safety rating:  Five-star (ANCAP 2015)

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