One would think it would be hard to integrate a tough presence in a vehicle with an aesthetically pleasing one, and yet, the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS does just that. The rambunctious stance is apparent, but it’s also leaner and more refined.
Add a little turbo diesel rumble, and you have the makings of a strong, beautiful, and powerful masterpiece, all in one tidy package. In a nutshell, the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS, tested here in 2WD 7-seat form, is ready to play and looks good while doing it.
It has a tough, rugged look and feel, with a very real nod to its Pajero heritage, and when equipped with a front protection bar, two toned in solid black and polished steel like the one we had, it’s a classy thing.
Sleek headlights and daytime running lights peer through the safety barrier, and in a nice aesthetic touch, the bar matches the side mirrors. Prominent two-toned 18-inch alloy wheels are housed beneath generous wheel arches for a solid side-on profile.
Silver roof rails run the length of the roof, contrasted against a sidestep, making it easier to climb in and out of. The rear finishes well with a stylish spoiler, good glass to panel ratio for the tailgate, and pleasing rear taillights which wrap creatively around the corners.
The 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport certainly makes a statement, while still being easy to park in communal spaces, a boon for city dwellers. Hopping into the driver’s seat, your tush is met with a comfortable water-repellent fabric seat.
Rubber mats line the floors front and back, which makes it practical for wet weather conditions, though keeping it clean is a hard task, as even the slightest bit of dirt or water on your shoes will leave marks.
The instrument cluster remains classic, with speedometer and RPM needles and dials. In front, a lovely leather appointed steering wheel features controls for multimedia and active cruise control.
In the top centre of the dashboard sits an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, with integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is enabled through two easily accessible USB-A connection points. There’s no USB-C connections.
Housing your phone can be neatly done by tucking it in the storage compartment behind the automatic gear selector. Speaking of storage, there’s easily accessible and ample sized cup holders between driver and passenger.
A sunglasses holder is located in a ‘click and close’ compartment near the rear-view mirror, and deep storage pockets can be found in the doors, with drink bottle holders as well.
Operating the power tailgate from the driver’s seat is a breeze, with a button just under the multimedia screen. Another cool feature is the visual representation of seat occupancy, which lets you know when seatbelts have not been fastened. Handy for parents.
The middle row seats are generous in size, with a foldout armrest/cup holder available from within the middle seat. USB charging points are also available for devices. The third row is foldable, making way for either storage, or people moving priorities.
When the third-row seats are enabled, storage space from the tailgate is quite close to non-existent, perhaps enough for a few small bags at most. Maximum storage space with the second and third row seats folded balloons to around 1,488-litres though.
Safety features include multiple airbags, two ISOFIX child seat anchors, three top tether points, a reversing camera, hill descent control, forward collision mitigation, stability control and ABS. The 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS has a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
Now for the fun part, the driving experience. One touch start fires up the grunty 2.4-litre MIVEC DID turbo diesel engine, with a hearty idle hinting at its 133kW of power and 430Nm of torque, pumped through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, to the rear wheels.
Once you put your foot on the responsive accelerator, you get to discover that the steering is super smooth, and the suspension comfortable. You will feel the body roll if making sharp turns, given the size, height, and mass of the Pajero Sport though.
It accelerates when you want it to, and practically idles on cruises along highways. It would be a different story if you had a trailer hitched to the tow bar, but rest assured, the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS has you covered, with a 3,100kg braked towing capacity.
The active cruise control is quite precise, and adaptive to city and highway traffic. Our drive included cruises across Sydney to the western suburbs, as well as into the city, and the big SUV handled everything without issue.
Fuel economy was good, with our weeklong adventures resulting in 11.9-litres/100km, a little higher than Mitsubishi’s claimed 8.0-litres/100km, but still not ugly. All-in-all, it’s a great way to get around, in a vehicle that truly impresses with its versatility.
It’s fun to drive, spacious for passengers, and ready for all terrains, including the downpours and flooded streets of Sydney. Colour options include White, White Diamond, Sterling Silver, Graphite Grey, Black Mica, and Terra Rosa.
You can pick up a 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 7-seater in White for $52,240 drive away, which is great value. On top of this, its backed by a generous 10-year warranty and capped price servicing.
To find out more, visit the Mitsubishi Australia website. If you’re keen on one and need finance, talk to CreditOne.
Our test vehicle was provided by Mitsubishi Australia. To find out more about the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLS 2WD, contact your local Mitsubishi dealer.
