WHEN Mitsubishi introduced the current Pajero platform back in 2000, its car-like monocoque body construction and independent coil suspension front and rear were unique in its class of medium 4WDs, as was the third row seat hidden in a clever folding arrangement under the cargo floor. But move on nine years and many upgrades to body and engine, and the question becomes: is the current NT Pajero sufficiently ‘new’ to be an adequate competitor to traditional entries such as the Toyota Prado and the new wave of soft roaders such as Territory and Kluger?
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Pajero NS-series
Released: September 2006
Ended: December 2008
Family Tree: PajeroTHE NS series was the first major makeover of the Pajero series introduced in 2000 with the NM series, with more than 80 per cent new panels, including for the first time an aluminium bonnet. The NS was available for the first time since the NK series of 1999 in a short-wheelbase model as well as the traditional long-wheelbase (although students of 4WD history will point out that the Pajero SWB came first). The 3.2-litre Di-D turbo-diesel outputs were 118kW at 3800rpm and 381Nm at 2000rpm (125kW at3800rpm and 358Nm at 2000rpm for the automatic) while the 3.8-litre petrol V6 had 184kW at 6000rpm and 329Nm at 2750rpm. Prices were from $40,990 for the Pajero R SWB to $70,990 for the Pajero Exceed DI-D LWB.
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