Browse over 9,000 car reviews

2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport upgrade leaked! Some major tweaks for the off-road SUV inside and out, but will the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X rival score deeper mechanical changes?

Mitsubishi Mitsubishi News Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Mitsubishi Pajero Sport News Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2024 SUV Best SUV Cars Mitsubishi SUV Range Industry news Showroom News Car News Cars News Family Family Car Family Cars Diesel
...
What looks to be the current Pajero Sport's final upgrade is more significant than you might expect. (Image credit: Car250)
What looks to be the current Pajero Sport's final upgrade is more significant than you might expect. (Image credit: Car250)
Tom White
Senior Journalist
18 Mar 2024
4 min read

Mitsubishi’s outgoing Pajero Sport has one major facelift left in it before being replaced by a new-generation version which shares its chassis with the new Triton, but a leak from Thai media shows a deeper facelift than we first expected.

While it has been known for some time that the Pajero Sport would be updated in 2024, it wasn’t clear whether this would be the new-generation vehicle or not. Now, thanks to the new leak, we can see the current ladder-based SUV upgraded with some minor styling tweaks, but also new interior parts from the next-gen Triton, including the steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, and new seats.

That's alongside what Thai media is speculating to be the new power-boosted ‘4N16’ twin-turbo 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine also from the new Triton, possibly due to one image which shows a new plastic cladding over the engine bay.

From the outside not as much has changed, although the leaked pics show a new grille with larger ventilation elements similar to the new Triton, new alloy wheel designs, and a new spoiler element out the rear.

The updated Pajero Sport has been confirmed for Australia and will be revealed on March 27 - but CarsGuide understands while there are some changes in store for the interior and exterior appearance, the update, at least in Australia, will carryover the same engine and drivetrain as the current QF Pajero Sport.

This includes the current single-turbo 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine producing 133kW/430Nm rather than the Triton’s new twin-turbo unit which produces 150kW/470Nm.

With CarsGuide’s understanding being the Pajero Sport’s platform is not capable of supporting such significant changes to its drivetrain. The new Triton’s ladder frame, for example, is wider and longer, with an extended wheelbase and significantly upgraded capabilities.

The updated Pajero Sport will also continue to be sourced from the brand’s Thai manufacturing base, rather than its Indonesian location, where production of GLX 4x4 grade models was switched to last year to overcome supply delays.

The update would see the current-generation Pajero Sport through several more years - a product plan Mitsubishi has shown to media revealed that the new-generation version (it code-names PPV) is not due until at least 2025. 

Thanks to the new leak, we can see the current ladder-based SUV upgraded with some new interior parts from the next-gen Triton. (Image: Car250)
Thanks to the new leak, we can see the current ladder-based SUV upgraded with some new interior parts from the next-gen Triton. (Image: Car250)

What remains to be seen is whether the all-new Pajero Sport will launch with the brand’s heavily speculated next-gen plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system it has been working on for some time. The brand told CarsGuide in Tokyo late in 2023 that it would have to develop an all-new plug-in hybrid drivetrain to suit the needs of an off-road capable ladder-chassis vehicle, as the current Outlander drivetrain was not up to the task, and also faced challenges being converted from a transverse layout to a longitudinal one.

Kaoru Sawase, Mitsubishi's Engineering Fellow responsible for 4WD systems also said that while a diesel PHEV drivetrain would be a hit with the brand’s buyers, regulatory and engineering complexities essentially means petrol is the only option.

"We totally understand that we have much demands from our core for PHEV with a diesel engine, however cost-wise that’s impossible," he said.

Updated features include the steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, and seats. (Image: Car250)
Updated features include the steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, and seats. (Image: Car250)

"Also, when we explore the markets, petrol is much more easy to introduce to many markets. Diesel is unfortunately now harder to get into markets, this is why... management reason, business reason … petrol makes sense."

It seems hybrid will be the order of the day for the Triton and Pajero Sport pair rather than a full EV, at least for the foreseeable future, with Sawase also saying a battery electric version on current technology would not deliver the performance the brand’s buyers expect.

"Current e-machine spec is peak power is very high, but continuous power is... low. In order to drive off-road, for example on sand or mud, or for driving distances that are very high, in that case we need a continuous output.

What remains to be seen is whether the all-new Pajero Sport will launch with the brand’s heavily speculated next-gen plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system. (Image: Car250)
What remains to be seen is whether the all-new Pajero Sport will launch with the brand’s heavily speculated next-gen plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system. (Image: Car250)

"With current e-machine technology, that is limited. But maybe in five years or so, maybe continuous power of e-machine will improve."

We expect to learn more about the Pajero Sport facelift imminently, so stay tuned for pricing, spec and details closer to its local arrival.

Tom White
Senior Journalist
Despite studying ancient history and law at university, it makes sense Tom ended up writing about cars, as he spent the majority of his waking hours finding ways to drive as many as possible. His fascination with automobiles was also accompanied by an affinity for technology growing up, and he is just as comfortable tinkering with gadgets as he is behind the wheel. His time at CarsGuide has given him a nose for industry news and developments at the forefront of car technology.
About Author

Comments