Mitsubishi South Africa has released an update of its short-wheelbase Pajero.
The most notable change to the vehicle is the reintroduction of a rear diff lock. The Pajero’s short wheelbase and good break-over angle has always made it a competent little off-roader, but the lack of a diff lock hampered it when things got really ugly. Thankfully, the SWB Pajero once again boasts a lockable rear diff.
Other upgrades to the 2014 model are relatively minor, and include a rear-view camera, privacy glass, colour-coded door handles and exterior rear view mirrors as well as a USB port.
The standard Pajero SWB is priced at R549 000, and has relatively few SWB competitors aside from the Land Rover Defender 90 and Jeep Wrangler, which are more off-road oriented than the Mitsubishi.
The Triton and Pajero Sport now uses a new 2,5-litre diesel mill, but the Pajero SWB is still powered by the tried-and-trusted 3.2-litre common rail turbo-diesel developing 140kW of power and 441 Nm of torque which drives the wheels through a five speed automatic transmission with the versatile and efficient Super-Select all-wheel drive system.
The Super-Select system offers 2WD, 4WD (4H) without locked centre differential, where the power is split 33/67 between front/rear wheels giving the driver the benefits of an all-wheel drive vehicle, including better control for high-speed driving. The 4HLc and 4LLc settings lock the centre differential and split the power 50/50 between front and rear wheels. All this together with the lockable rear differential, makes the Pajero SWB virtually unstoppable.
Standard safety features include six airbags, Active Stability and Traction Control (ASTC) and high intensity discharge headlamps with automatic levelling, while convenience and comfort features include a rear-view camera, park distance control, glass sunroof, multi-function steering wheel with remote controls for the audio system and cruise control. There are also heated seats for driver and front passenger as well as Bluetooth with hands-free voice control for cellphones.
ollowing the success of the Pajero long wheelbase (LWB) Legend campaign of 2013, which marked the 30 year celebration of the Pajero SUV in South Africa, the question was asked: “Why not a celebratory version of the Pajero SWB?”
In reply to this popular request the company will therefore also be offering 30 limited edition Pajero SWB Legend models, which will offer customers an extensive range of added value items to further enhance the rough off-road driving experience when enjoying the outdoors or participating in outdoor sport.
The Pajero SWB Legend costs R30 000 more than the standard model, at R579 000, but the 30 lucky buyers get the following extra equipment, worth more than R80 000, to make these models even better suited to a life in the rough outdoors:
• Off-road tyres
• Tyre monitoring system
• Air compressor built into the engine compartment
• Nudge bar
• 6” LED spotlights
• Under-body protection plates to protect the engine, sump and gearbox
• Heavy duty seat covers
• Dual battery system
• Rock sliders
• Roof rack.