Powerful Mitsubishi Pajero is the business

The Mitsubishi Pajero has a wading depth of 700mm

Commercial vehicles are quite literally the workhorses of the motor industry.

Big or small, wide or narrow, they’re built to get the job done and you can’t really expect much in terms of comfort or class – or so I thought before I got my hands on the Mitsubishi Pajero.

The test model was the 3.2-litre 200BHP Short Wheel Base commercial, meaning it had two seats up front and a whole lot of cargo space in the back.

On the outside, the Mitsubishi Pajero is quite stocky but strong and muscular looking. The test car was a lovely granite brown and a number of people remarked on the colour.

Inside was a treat, with a very well specced, spacious and comfortable cabin.

The cabin in the Mitsubishi Pajero was spacious and comfortable

The Mitsubishi Pajero has a great high up commanding driving position, with the height, angle and lumbar support adjustable driver’s seat making it very comfortable.

The upholstery was a soft velour-type fabric.

I’m generally not a fan of centre armrest/storage units because I find that they get in my way, but the unit in the Pajero was perfectly placed.

The centre console was simple and very well laid out, with a great radio/6 CD changer/USB/iPod connector and Aux on offer infotainment-wise. The USB port was located in the glove compartment and it also had a media shelf to store your MP3 player/phone.

The test model also had Bluetooth, electric mirrors, cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls and two cup holders, which all come as standard. Sound proofing was also really good.

The rear of the Pajero is deceptively big – we found that you could fit an awful lot more than you’d expect when we filled it up.

It’s nicely appointed too, with hard wearing complementary two-tone plastic along the sides and carpet on the floor.

It’s quite high up though and a strap hanging from the roof just inside the rear door would have helped someone of my height (5’5”) to get into the back more easily. As it was, I had to clamber rather than getting in in one fluid movement.

As well as the regular gear stick (a manual in the model we were driving), the Mitsubishi Pajero also has a separate Super Select 4WD System

The test model we were driving was a five speed manual, which had a separate Super Select 4WD system. This had four driving options, catering for dry conditions, slippery, sandy/snowy and steep/mucky conditions.

Our route over the week was predominantly urban and the weather was good so we mostly drove in 2H – rear wheel drive for dry conditions. It is quite economical in this mode.

However, should you find yourself in rugged rural terrain, the Mitsubishi Pajero has a wading depth of 700mm and has a climbing ability of 45 degrees.

As previously mentioned, we filled up the back of the Pajero, really just to see what it was like to drive with a load and it proved no problem for it.

While the Pajero has an excellent spec level, one thing I did miss was a rear parking aid. It’s a big vehicle and the spare wheel jutting out the back meant that you had to be extra careful when reverse parking. I did get used to it though.

Overall, I was really impressed with the Pajero. I loved driving it, much more than I had expected I would. It’s big and strong and powerful and offers a well specced, comfortable and assured drive.

The Mitsubishi Pajero commercial is available now, with prices starting from €39,636 (incl VAT) for the 3.2-litre SWB model I was driving. Prices for the LWB model start from €42,178, with the seven seater automatic passenger model starting from €63,020.

Mitsubishi is also offering a five-year warranty on all new commercial vehicles bought until the end of the year.

Tech Spec
Engine: 3.2L DI-D Common Rail Intercooled Turbocharged (diesel)
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 9.7seconds
Maximum Speed: 180km/h
Combined fuel consumption: 7.8l/100km
CO2 emissions: 207g/km
Annual road tax: €1,129(Tax Band F)
Towing capacity: 3,000kg
Cargo area: Length: 1,262mm. Width: 1,395mm

Visit the Mitsubishi Ireland website or its Facebook page for further details.