The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a body-on-frame mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors using the Pajero nameplate since 1996. Based on the Triton pickup truck, the Pajero Sport has spanned over three generations. It is unrelated to the full-size Pajero, which is built on a unibody chassis since 1999 and was discontinued in 2021.
Mitsubishi has formerly used the Mitsubishi Challenger (Japanese: 三菱・チャレンジャー, Hepburn: Mitsubishi Charenjā) name for the vehicle in Japan and some international markets, but the name was dropped since the third generation in 2015 in favour of the Pajero Sport, Montero Sport, and Shogun Sport nameplates.
For the SUV sold alongside the first generation Montero Sport in Latin American markets, see Mitsubishi Montero Outlander.
Production began in Japan in 1996, and was available for most export markets by 1997, where it was variously known as the Challenger, Pajero Sport in Europe, Montero Sport in North America, South America, Spain and the Philippines, Nativa in parts of Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, Shogun Sport in the United Kingdom, and Strada G-Wagon in Thailand. Based on the Strada pickup truck of the same vintage, sharing many components and some body panels (i.e. front doors), the first-generation Pajero Sport was also built on the second-generation Pajero wheelbase, and served as a smaller model to the larger Pajero.
Like the Pajero, it featured independent front suspension with torsion bars and a live rear axle. In addition to numerous facelifts over the years, there was a major suspension change from rear leaf to coil springs in late 2000. As its popularity increased, local assembly for foreign markets was introduced in China in 2003, and Brazil in 2006. Sales were discontinued in Japan in 2003. In the United States, where it was superseded by the Endeavor, sales ended in 2004. In Canada the Montero Sport continued to be sold alongside the Endeavor until 2008. Sales in central and western Europe ended in 2008, with the introduction of the second generation Pajero/Montero Sport. In Japan, it was sold at a specific retail chain called Car Plaza.
The 3-litre V6 is the most commonly used engine; it produces 175 hp (130 kW; 177 PS) at 5,000 rpm. The North American market received petrol V6 engines during all years of production while a petrol 2.4-litre engine was offered on base models from 1997 through 1999 in the United States and for additional years in Canada. Markets outside of North America also had a variety of turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines to choose between.
The second-generation of the vehicle, based on the ladder frame chassis of the Triton, was gradually introduced to selected markets (Russia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East) through the autumn of 2008, following its debut at the Moscow International Automobile Salon. The design is partially influenced from the 4.7-litre V8 powered 2001 Pajero Evolution concept car. 2.5- or 3.2-litre diesel and 3.0- or 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines are available as before, while five- or seven-seat interior configurations are offered. As with the Triton pickup on which it is based, production of the new Pajero Sport for all markets is concentrated in Thailand.
In the Philippines, the Pajero Sport is officially named as Montero Sport. The Montero Sport was launched in the Philippines on October of 2008 and it was offered with only one engine, a 3.2 litre “4M41” Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel, putting out 163 PS and 343Nm of torque. Mated to the engine is an INVECS-II four-speed automatic transmission (with Sportronic mode) and two variants were offered: GLS and the top of the-line GLS SE. In 2011, The Montero Sport lineup received a powerboost equipped with a 2.5 litre “4D56”, it now produces a staggering 178 ps of power and 350Nm of torque (15 ps and 7Nm more than the previous 3.2 litre turbo diesel Montero Sport). In courtesy of a Variable Geometry Turbo equipped with a 2.5 litre common rail diesel engine with a variable geometry turbo (VGT), boasted of a 15% improvement in power over the previous 3.2 litre's 163 hp. Not only was it more powerful and responsive, the smaller engine also made for better fuel economy. Now called Montero Sport GLS-V, this midrange variant receives an additional accessory outlet, reverse sensors, tailgate cladding, 2DIN monitor Audio unit with bluetooth and GPS, and larger disc brakes aside from the stronger engine. In the same year, replacing the previous top-of-the-line GLS SE, The Montero Sport GTV now comes with new grille, DVD audio, emblems, carbon fibre rear spoiler, paddle shifters and new 5-speed automatic transmission.
In India, the Pajero Sport was imported in CKD kits, and assembled by Hindustan Motors-Mitsubishi joint venture. It is equipped with a 4D56-T 2.5-litre turbo-diesel. It was discontinued in 2019.
In Bangladesh, the Pajero Sport is assembled by state-owned automotive industry Pragoti.
The car has a leather interior, with a screen at the front dashboard that includes a clock, compass, fuel economy monitor, and more features. The 2nd row has individual air conditioning vents, and a control panel to control the air conditioning for the rear seats. The 3rd row comes with 2 cup holders and a power outlet.
In 2011, Montero Sport owners in the Philippines reported that their vehicles suffered from sudden unintended acceleration. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines later responded with a statement saying that they conducted tests on the Montero Sport's electrical systems and found no problems; furthermore, they stated that the accidents related to the issue were more likely caused by human error. Owners of Montero Sport affected by the sudden unintended acceleration issue plan to file a class action lawsuit against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opened an investigation panel to probe the accidents and complaints from 2010 to 2015, and will recommend either a product recall or a total sales ban on the Montero Sport in the country.
On 1 August 2015, Mitsubishi Motors unveiled the third-generation Pajero Sport in Thailand. It is the first Mitsubishi sold in Thailand to use the Dynamic Shield exterior design, the interior is designed with a T-Shape High Console with a dashboard layout similar to the Triton, equipped with a range active safety features, it uses the new 4N15 2.4L MIVEC diesel engine, and is available with Mitsubishi's Super-Select 4WD-II four-wheel drive system that features a new off-road mode and hill descent control system (a first on a Mitsubishi model).
Since 2021, the Pajero Sport now serves as the flagship frame-based SUV for the brand after the discontinuation of the larger Pajero SUV.
The Pajero Sport/Montero Sport has three engine options. The 4D56 DI-D common rail produces 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) and 324 N⋅m (239 lb⋅ft; 33 kg⋅m) (GLX and Exceed trims in Indonesia) mated to a 5-speed manual transmission (GLX/Exceed) or 5-speed automatic transmission (Exceed) and 4N15 MIVEC with Variable Geometry Turbo producing 181 PS (133 kW; 179 hp) and 430 N⋅m (317 lb⋅ft; 44 kg⋅m) (Dakar trim in Indonesia and all variants in the Philippines and Thailand) mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic transmission and the 3.0L 6B31 MIVEC V6 petrol engine mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The petrol V6 engine was not available in Indonesia.
At launch, the third-generation Pajero Sport was available in three trim levels: GLS Limited, GT and GT Premium. It is powered by a 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine, with 4WD standard on the GT Premium.
The facelifted model was available in GT and GT Premium trim levels. The second facelift model was available in Prime, Ultra and Elite trim levels.
The third-generation Pajero Sport went on sale in Australia on 7 December 2015, in three trim levels: GLX, GLS and Exceed, it is powered by a 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine.
The facelifted model debuted on 9 January 2020 with the same trim levels as the pre-facelift model. A flagship GSR trim was added in January 2022 and the addition of 4x2 variants. The second facelift model debuted in 1 May 2024, with all variants became available only with 4WD.
In the first quarter of 2024, Pajero Sport was temporarily imported from Indonesia for the GLX 4x4 variant. It became the third vehicle sold in Australia to be built in Indonesia after the Suzuki APV and Nissan Micra.
In the Philippines, the Pajero Sport is marketed as the Montero Sport and it was launched in January 2016. It was initially available in 4 variants: GLS 4x2 (8-speed automatic), GLS Premium 4x2 (8-speed automatic), GLS 4x4 (6-speed manual), and GT 4x4 (8-speed automatic). All trim levels are powered by the 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine. The entry-level GLX 4x2 (6-speed manual) trim was added in December 2016.
The first facelift Montero Sport was launched on 4 October 2019, in GLS and GT trim levels. The Black Series trim was added in January 2022. The second facelift model debuted on 25 June 2024 with a new GLX trim.
The third-generation Pajero Sport was launched in Indonesia on 29 January 2016, in three trim levels: GLX, Exceed and Dakar; it is powered by a 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine. From launch, it was initially a CBU model imported from Thailand. Since April 2017, it is locally assembled at the PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (MMKI) plant in Bekasi, West Java, starting for the Dakar variants and the lower variants followed at a later date.
The first facelifted model debuted on 16 February 2021 with the same variants as the pre-facelift model. The second facelifted model debuted on 17 July 2024 at the 31st Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show.
The third-generation Pajero Sport was launched in Vietnam on 6 December 2016, in two variants, powered by a 3.0-litre 6B31 V6 petrol engine. The 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel was added in August 2018, along with manual option in January 2019.
The facelifted model debuted in 6 October 2020 with two variants, both powered by a 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine.
The third-generation Pajero Sport was launched in South Africa on 31 August 2017, in two variants, both powered by a 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine.
The facelifted model debuted on 17 September 2020 with a new Exceed variant. The mid-range Aspire variant was added in March 2022.
In Bangladesh, it is marketed as the Pajero Sport and assembled by Pragoti in Chittagong. It also manufactured the car.
In the Middle East, it is available with a 6B31 3.0-litre V6 petrol version.
The Shogun Sport went on sale in the UK in April 2018, in '3' and '4' trim levels, powered by a 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC VGT diesel engine. A Commercial model based on the '4' trim was available features a 6-inch bulkhead, blackened rear windows and deleted second and third-row seats. It was discontinued in 2021 when Mitsubishi Motors withdraw from selling new car models in the UK.
The first facelifted third-generation Pajero Sport was launched in Thailand on 25 July 2019. The updated Pajero Sport gets a new dynamic shield front fascia with dual-layer headlight configuration. Tail lights were made shorter, following customer feedback. Engine and transmission remained the same as the outgoing model. Other notable improvements including Auto Hold parking brake, a new 8-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment system with navigation, 360-degree surround cameras and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and hands-free powered tailgate. It was released to overseas markets from October 2019.
On 21 March 2024, a second facelift was revealed in Thailand with a updated design for the front grille and alloy wheels, and the interior receives a 3-spoke steering wheel.
The Thai-made Montero Sport in its most basic Latin American market configuration received 5 stars for adult occupants and 3 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP in 2015.
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