When you want front-row grunt

ROB MAETZIG

If all the different SUV models currently available in New Zealand were members of a rugby team, the Mitsubishi Pajero would be a front-row prop.

That's because it's a big sturdy beast with a virtually unbendable chassis and a very solid undercarriage, and an

MITSUBISHI PAJERO EXCEED POWER PLANT: 3.2-litre direct injection turbocharged diesel engine, 150 kW at 3800 rpm, 448 Nm at 2000 rpm. RUNNING GEAR: Five- speed automatic with Sports mode. Super Select 'shift on the fly' 4WD, with Mitsubishi All Terrain Technology. Double wishbone front suspension, multi-link coil springs at the rear. HOW BIG: Length 4900mm, width 1875mm, height 1900mm, wheelbase 2780mm. HOW MUCH: $87,590. WHAT'S GOOD: Plenty of grunt. Luxurious interior. WHAT'S NOT: Engine noise. Fairly lumpy ride at times. OUR VERDICT: This generation Pajero is getting on now, which means it should be soon due for replacement. Let's hope Mitsubishi retains much of its robustness.

engine that offers heaps of low-down grunt.

It all means that whereas some large SUVs might prefer to dance around obstacles, the Pajero would probably go straight through - just like a good prop forward should.

And helping things along would be its 3.2-litre common rail intercooled turbo diesel, which makes 150 kilowatts of power and a very grunty 448 Newton metres of torque.

Extra help comes from Pajero's high-strength monocoque body and ladder frame chassis, which give huge torsional rigidity, just the ticket to allow the big Mitsubishi to get the best out of one of the most comprehensive four-wheel-drive packages on the market.

Called Mitsubishi All Terrain Technology - or Matt for short - it features a 'Super Select' 4WD that allows the driver to move from rear-wheel drive into 4WD High at speeds of up to 100 kmh, plus other goodies such as stability control, traction control, engine-brake- assist control, which helps maintain traction while travelling down slippery slopes in 4WD Low, and hill-hold assist.

It's one of the most robust systems around. And even when that's not enough, and the driver is experiencing severe traction loss, the Pajero is also equipped with a rear differential lock which deactivates the Matt and can direct all the torque to the two rear wheels. Mitsubishi says this is very useful in muddy or sandy conditions where any loss of torque could leave the vehicle stuck.

I have powerful memories of just how good all this is.

Some time ago Mitsubishi New Zealand held a media day on military land high up near the eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu, which required large amounts of time to be spent extracting the very best 4WD Low performance out of these Pajeros. They all did the job very well, taking us to places that one wouldn't normally expect a standard SUV to be able to go.

That's the upside.

The downside is that compared to most of the newer medium- to large-sized SUVs on the Kiwi market, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and urbane, this big Mitsubishi drives more like a truck - albeit a luxurious one.

It was reminded of all this recently when I spent time behind the top model in the Pajero range, the $87,590 long-wheelbase Exceed turbo diesel.

This vehicle is loaded.

It has full leather upholstery, with the front seats heated and with full electric adjustment, and other items of luxury include fully automatic air conditioning with a system for those in the rear, 12-speaker audio, and a DVD entertainment system for those in the back.

Initially, this big Pajero comes as something of a culture shock. Once you've climbed aboard and settled in, when you fire up the big turbo it roars into life with the sort of diesel noise that you don't hear too much these days.

But once you do move off and become used to the noise, the seating height, and the ride that is associated with a combination of a very robust suspension system and big 18-inch wheels and tyres, it soon becomes apparent that Pajero is quite an enjoyable drive.

I did some serious kilometres during the week I had the Exceed; and I've got to say, the more I drove it the more I liked it. Of course it's a truck, but that big torquey diesel up front meant I could pull up any hills in a very relaxed fashion. And if I'd wanted to, I could have towed up to 3.3 tonnes.

The Pajero was economical, too.

Despite the fact the Exeed has a kerb weight of more than 2.3 tonnes, I achieved better than the official consumption figure of 9.2 litres per 100 kilometres - and this model has an 88-litre fuel tank, which means that if driven carefully this Mitsubishi has a range approaching 900 km.

Ownership of an SUV such as the Pajero is very much a horses- for-courses sort of thing, because I can't see the need any ordinary motorist to have one unless it is needed for towing or a lot of off- road work.

In other words, there are other vehicles a lot more appropriate for tooling around town or for the odd cruise out on the open road.

But if there's a boat or a horse float in the list of motoring requirements, then the Pajero Exceed, with its big torquey diesel, robust transmission and ladder chassis, fits the bill nicely.

- © Fairfax NZ News