Overview

IT TAKES a canny and cunning product planning department to take a model that was already deemed the best value in its segment, and then stage a model-year revision that gaps the opposition by an even greater margin. But that is absolutely the case with the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

From second quarter 2018 production, every version of the three-year-old Pajero Sport comes with adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard, all from a $46K entry-level pricetag only $1000 higher than the launch price.

Indeed, not only does this Mitsubishi remain cheaper than its entry-level Holden Trailblazer and Isuzu MU-X equivalents, and it remains better equipped than the slightly cheaper Toyota Fortuner, but none of those rivals get adaptive cruise or AEB in any model grade, including their flagships.

Meanwhile this as-tested Pajero Sport Exceed lobs in with more kit once again, while still being cheaper than two of the three flagships from the competition. Talk about being canny and cunning.