The Pajero is actually celebrating its 30th birthday this year. Because even though it was only available worldwide in 1983, the successful off-road vehicle from Japan has been in production since 1982. With 3 decades and 4 model generations, the Pajero can already look back on an impressive history in its family tree.

World rally champions and desert kings have successfully bet on the rustic off-road racer from Japan. His obvious reluctance to adapt results in the one or the other time in daily traffic in a shake of the head, the driver of the hybrid microcar in the parallel lane, at the traffic lights.

No - it is not particularly clever to try to conquer the asphalt jungle of the big city with an almost 2.2-ton and, above all, serious off-roader. The soft-washed models of the crossover and SUV fashion class are much more suitable. Not that the Pajero would surrender to the search for a parking space and the stop & go traffic - certainly not - it's more the driver's feeling of being in the wrong place.

Get out of town

“Where men become boys”

Gravel-paved dirt roads? The Pajero leaves that to its SUV brothers in the ASX and Outlander series.

The serious off-road ride is tempting. For Central Europeans, this raises the question of “where”?

Dare to ride through the terrain? Not possible everywhere. Across the forest? Only when the forester is in the nursery. In our part of the world it is not really easy to give the Pajero a task that it can only solve thanks to its reduction gear, the locked distribution in the center differential and the rear axle lock.

With the permission of the authorities, we were able to give the Pajero a few tasks that a normal motorist will not get in life on a cordoned-off piece of forest where the deforestation is currently being carried out with heavy equipment. A steep slope driveway formed by construction vehicles with heavy tires brought the normal all-wheel drive of the Pajero to its limits. In 4H mode, the Pajero distributes its power to all wheels via a transfer case and brakes any spinning wheels by applying the brakes. The combination of rough lanes, soft forest soil, steep uphill sections and over 2 tons of vehicle weight could not be mastered for the system. Roll back slowly. The additional gear lever was switched from 4H to 4LLC and the 4HLC mode was skipped. With the now activated gear reduction and the rear axle differential (100% locking effect), which is also activated manually by means of a button, the men's toy can crawl up the entire trail with little use of the gas. The watching forest workers commented on the mountain tour with outstretched thumbs.

4HLC & Co: In the Pajero comes the all-wheel drive developed by Mitsubishi with the name: "Super select-4WD ”is used. 2H stands for pure rear-wheel drive. 4H for an all-wheel drive that variably distributes the power to both axles and is sufficient for daily tasks. The 4LC version locks the center differential and is recommended for soft surfaces such as sand. And 4LLC activates an additional gear reduction and enables the 100% lock on the rear axle at the touch of a button.

Short or long: How long do you want it? The Pajero is one of the last representatives of the off-road class, which allows itself the luxury of being offered in two lengths. The short wheelbase with 3 doors is a talented climber thanks to the very short overhangs. The long 5-door Pajero, on the other hand, offers the space in the interior that you wanted due to the size and instead of the 3 tons for the short one, you can take 3,5 tons on the hook.  

Mitsubishi pajero

..a car for the boy in the man.

One notices the long model cycles in the interior - apart from the neat navigation system and the associated multimedia system, the Pajero exudes the charm of the dignified 90s in the interior. Black plastic and carelessly disguised as wood characterize the cockpit of the large Pajero.

The 3-door variant we drive is a talented off-roader, but a rather unsuitable travel companion for the entire family. If you want to go on a long journey with more than 2 people and a dog, you should choose the 5-door Pajero with the long wheelbase. Even with the “short” Pajero, you can't overlook how much effort Mitsubishi has put into making the journey as comfortable as possible for the driver.

The Instyle variant ridden can rightly be called a “full hut”. Xenon headlights on the front, leather interior, a huge glass sunroof, cruise control, rain and light sensor and an extensive multimedia system with hard drive and navigation solution.

The difference in price between the 3.2 DI-D Automatic with Instyle equipment and the cheaper Intense version is just under, still proud, € 5.000. In addition to the navigation system with integrated Bluetooth hands-free system, the large glass roof and roof rails, the aforementioned full leather interior (partly leather imitation) as an equivalent.

Easy drive choice!

The big Mitsubishi is only available in one engine variant in Germany: the 3.2 liter turbo diesel engine. Despite the enormous displacement, the 3.2 DI-D is only a four-cylinder engine. A distinctive long-stroke diesel that not only delivers 200HP, but can also come up with 441Nm of power.

The grumpy common rail diesel goes well with the character of the Pajero, especially in the version with the 5-speed automatic transmission. Those who neither want to cross the vastness of the taiga nor win a desert rally multiple times will probably use their Pajero as a towing vehicle. the version with the short wheelbase already pulls 3 tons, the 5-door with long wheelbase even 3.5 tons.

In its natural environment, the wide meadows, forests and deserts or with a combine harvester on the trailer coupling, the Pajero offers a harmonious picture. In everyday life between city traffic and searching for a parking space, however, it looks like a relic from days gone by. A time when a guy like the Pajero won the desert rallies several times and the fuel prices were not yet at home in painful regions.

It is the strength of a Tibetan mountain ox that you can experience in the Pajero, unfortunately also the manners of the same on paved roads. Even for an off-road vehicle, the large off-roader seems a little underdamped and could use a little fine-tuning for everyday life on our roads.

Rough leg or character head? 

It takes a few kilometers to get to love the rough-legged nature of the Pajero. Once you get used to it, the driving behavior on country roads is also accepted. He travels a bit like a desert ship at full trot. Or as one is inclined to say: Just like a real off-roader.

A little more attention to detail? 

With a little run-up, the large off-road vehicle from Mitsubishi enters the € 50.000 price range. Tired disillusionment overwhelms one or the other, whether the quality of the interior. In this case, it is not the durability that is criticized, but simply the first and second impression. But - if you put the skills of the Pajero in relation to the competitors, you quickly realize that in order to find a talent in the field with these skills, you have to squint to Stuttgart for the G-Class, or to England in the venerable house of the Land Rover. And then the 40 to 50 thousand euros for the large diamond bearer put into perspective quite quickly.

At Mitsubishi, off-road talent and reliability still take precedence over showmanship and big words, despite their e-car ambitions.

Real criticism of the Mitsubishi Pajero?

You can neither hold the Pajero up for what it is - a real off-roader, nor will you be upset about one or the other hard plastic element in the interior, considering its performance off the road.

It's the sum of all things and you can gently stroke the 30-year-old Mitsubishi once more on the fenders, remember the great rally adventures and successes at the Paris-Dakar and just be happy that there are still such originals are.

The Pajero does not want to be a well-sucked and adapted SUV. Where others want to brag, the pajero just smiles and waits eagerly for the successor and whether he will be as much “man-mobile” as he is.

Advantages: An honest off-roader, with character and weaknesses.

Disadvantages: The stale looking interior

 Consumption:

• Consumption norm total: 8,2l on 100km
• Test consumption min: 7,8l over 100km
• Test consumption max: 13,9l on 100km
• Test consumption cut: 10,2l on 100km
• All values ​​200PS diesel with 5-speed automatic
• Note: Test usage was determined throughout the test distance.

Series:

• 18 inch light alloy rims
• Xenon headlights
• leather seats
• All information for the Instyle version

Missing:

• A 6-cylinder diesel and a 6-speed automatic.
• More haptic fine-tuning in the interior.

Extra charge:

• Metallic pearl effect paint (740,00 €)

Don't miss: The comparison between Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Landcruiser and Mitsubishi Pajero - coming soon - here ...!

And finally ...

Man, not a coward!

Mounted like a cowboy on his ride, in everyday life as out of place as a cowboy on a chicken farm and yet, a few kilometers later you understand the charm of the big "fat man". With easy torque surges from the speed cellar, it also handles the roughest terrain tasks or pulls heavy loads over long distances.

It's a car for a special kind of people:

For men.

• Gallery on Facebook
• Manufacturer Website
• Driving report on rad-ab.com

Bjoern Habegger | May 2012 | Photos: Auto-Bloggerei.de