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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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