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2009 Mitsubishi Pajero: More Power For Less Fuel

Mitsubishi Motors Australia has announced that the 2009 Pajero is now available and on sale nationwide. Featuring a host of refinements, including a slightly reworked interior and exterior, and a larger towing capacity, the new Padger offers more grunt b


Mitsubishi Motors Australia has announced that the 2009 Pajero is now available and on sale nationwide. Featuring a host of refinements, including a slightly reworked interior and exterior, and a larger towing capacity, the new Padger offers more grunt but, in the diesel model, a decreased thirst for fuel.

The Pajero’s 3.2-litre turbodiesel four now packs 147kW and 441Nm of torque thanks to a new injection system and a bigger turbo, a significant improvement over the old engine’s 125kW and 358Nm output. Fuel economy is also 13 percent better than the old model, although Mitsubishi doesn’t say what the actual fuel consumption figure is. Mitsubishi has also addressed the common complaint that the old diesel motor was excessively noisy, and has added thicker sound insulation around the car to improve cabin quietness.

The other engine choice is Mitsubishi’s familiar 3.8-litre MIVEC-equipped V6, which pumps out a generous 184kW and 329Nm and uses 13.5 litres of petrol per 100km. Gearbox choice for the petrol motor is either a five-speed manual or five-speed auto, while the diesel gets mated to the same five-speed manual as the petrol with an upgraded five-speed sports-mode auto as an option.

Boat-towers, campers and Grey Nomads will be pleased to hear that the Pajero’s towing rating has been bumped up by 500kg for 2009, enabling the full-size 4WD to lug a grand total of 3000kg along Australian highways. Off-roaders will also be glad to learn that most diesel models now receive a rear differential lock as standard.

Two new spec levels have been added for 2009, bringing the grand total of Pajero 5-door models to five: GL, GLX, GLS, VRX and Exceed. The three-door Pajero still boasts just two variants, R and X.

The base model GL (above) comes equipped with the four-cylinder diesel only, with steel wheels, a fabric interior and a basic CD player marking it out as the bottom-feeder in the Pajero hierarchy. Buyers can select either five or seven seats, while side airbags and a rear differential lock are cost options.

The GLX  adds the choice of the 3.8-litre petrol motor, while the mid-range GLS (below) gets side and curtain airbags, rear air conditioning, side steps, foglights, body-coloured exterior plastics and a redesigned chrome grille as standard. The VRX model (above) gets leather trim and power front seats, along with the option of Mitsubishi’s MMCS touch-screen sat-nav system, reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity and iPod compatibility.

Finally, the big-daddy Pajero Exceed (below) comes with all the goodies of the lesser models plus 18-inch alloy wheels, auto-on headlamps and wipers, a wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel, chrome grille, the MMCS system, a Rockford Acoustic Design sound system and a rear seat DVD player. The only option is a power sunroof.

The three-door models get far less kit than the top-spec Exceed. However, they’re not exactly spartan either. The three-door Pajero R gets 17-inch alloys, and body coloured trim and mudguards while the Pajero X comes with side and curtain airbags, leather seats, sidesteps, a chrome grille, powered driver’s seat, sunroof and auto-on headlamps and windscreen wipers.

Aussie pricing for the GLX starts at $50,790 with the range-topping commanding a $72,290 pricetag. The three-door R and X cost $43,990 and $50,990 respectively. Interested? You can check 'em out at your local Mitsubishi dealer.

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