Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) this week introduced a 4x2 derivative of its Pajero Sport sports-utility vehicle (SUV), which will give it access to a substantial slice of the full-size SUV market, where it will compete with the likes of the Ford Everest, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Toyota Fortuner.

The Fortuner really sparked this segment of the local new vehicle market to life in 2006, when it was launched, expanding it from less than a thousand units in 2005, to an expected 15 000 units in 2013.

“Of the full-sized SUVs, 4x2 is around 70% of the segment,” explains MMSA CEO Jaco Oosthuizen. “Previously we were only in the 4x4 segment . . . and now that we have a 4x2, we expect to dramatically increase our volumes.”

Mitsubishi sold 412 new vehicles in October, with 34 of these Pajeros, and 115 Pajero Sport SUVs.

Mitsubishi is slowly gaining ground in South Africa again following the discontinuation of the popular Colt bakkie, with total October 2013 sales up significantly from October 2012’s 355 units, and October 2011’s 187 units.

The Pajero Sport has a 2.5 l turbo-diesel engine developing 131 kW of power at 4 000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 1 800 rpm.

Fuel consumption is stated as 8.5 l/100 km. 

The Pajero Sport 4x2 is priced at R419 900.

“The market acceptance of the new Pajero Sport 4x4 is outstanding, with a current waiting list for both manual and automatic transmission vehicles,” says Oosthuizen.

“The favourable pricing which was negotiated with Mitsubishi Japan is improving our offering substantially, making the Pajero Sport range an attractive proposition for people looking for high-specification, large-sized SUVs.”

Ground clearance on the Pajero Sport 4x2 is 205 mm.

Safety features in this new derivative include active stability and traction control, six airbags, antilock brakes and electronic brake distribution.

The vehicle is only available with a five-speed automatic transmission, and has paddle shifts on the steering wheel for drivers wishing to select gear ratios manually.

The seats are covered in black leather, while the steering wheel incorporates multifunction switches, including cruise control, Bluetooth and audio control.

The Mitsubishi Link system is voice-activated, and allows the driver to operate his or her phone with voice commands.

The audio system includes a touch-screen display, an audio-jack and USB port with six speakers.

The rear park-assist system now includes a reversing camera, adding to the standard rear park-distance control system.

Additional features include full climate control with rear controls for for passengers, seven seats, dusk-sensing headlamps, and rain-sensitive windscreen wipers.

Luggage space is 1 149 l with the third row of seats folded flat, and 1 776 l when both the second and third rows are folded flat.

The Pajero Sport is covered by a three-year/100 000 km warranty and five-year/90 000 km service plan.