2023 Ford Everest vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport comparison review

Ford Everest

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

There is plenty of choice for large, seven-seat off-road SUVs, but as new models arrive bristling with tech and safety, so too does an inevitable price rise, pushing ever closer to luxury SUV prices.

Here we compare the familiar Mitsubishi Pajero Sport with a new frontier for ute-based wagons, and Wheels magazine’s 2023 Car of the Year winner, the Ford Everest.

Both of these 4x4 wagons are from well-known brands with large dealer networks in Australia. Added to that is the Ford’s local development; while it’s not made here, much of the Everest’s engineering was done in Australia. The new Everest is a new benchmark for large ute-based wagons; certainly, our team of judges thought so when they awarded the Everest the prestigious Wheels Car Of The Year for 2023.

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Not quite such a new toy in the sandbox is the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, an off-road-oriented wagon that is getting towards the end of its production cycle.

A new-generation Pajero Sport is due in 2025. As it stands, the Pajero Sport on sale today was first released in 2015, even though it has been updated since – most recently in 2020.

Both these four-wheel drive wagons are based on a dual-cab utility chassis: The Ford is based on the Ranger and Pajero Sport the Triton.

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This used to explain the relatively agricultural engines, rough ride and narrow cabins of such vehicles, but no more; like the utes they are based on, these wagons have become increasingly sophisticated.

Both provide the option of seven-seat versatility, 4x4 off-road ability (although cheaper, less popular 4x2 models are also available) and better towing capacity than most vehicles on the market.

We are just looking at the volume sellers here; that is, 4x4 models.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing and features
• Comfort and space
• On the road
• Ownership
• VERDICT
• Overall scoring
• Specifications

Pricing and features

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has long been a value-laden offering in the large SUV segment, and nothing has changed with the arrival of the more expensive Ford Everest.

However, the Everest’s price impost could be considered worthwhile given it has much more up-to-date tech and safety, as well as better engine choices and towing capacity. Yet the Pajero Sport counters with a few (albeit minor) feature advantages over the Blue Oval offering.

Starting with the base 4x4 model, the Pajero Sport GLX 4WD, there’s a little more than $8000 saved over the Ford Everest Ambiente 4WD, the cheapest Everest with four-wheel drive. Both the Ford and the Mitsubishi are five-seaters in these base models, although the Everest Ambiente can be optioned with seven seats.

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The Ford Everest has a 3500kg (braked) towing capacity (with 350kg tow ball download limit) for all models against the lower 3100kg/310kg (braked) towing limit for all Pajero Sports.

Speaking of towing, the Everest’s optional tow package is more sophisticated than that of the Pajero Sport, with an integrated brake controller as well as trailer calibration for the blind-spot monitoring system as well as a handy trailer light check feature.

The Everest also has a 10-speed automatic as standard against the Pajero Sport’s eight-speed auto. While the Mitsubishi has a slight advantage with its full-time/part-time Super Select II transfer case, the Ford has an effective full-time dual-range 4WD system.

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Both allow you to drive from slippery wet roads onto dry roads in high range without needing to select 2WD, as you must with a part-time 4WD system to avoid driveline damage.

These two entry models, the Everest Ambiente and Pajero Sport GLX, share many standard inclusions such as adaptive cruise control, dusk-sensing bi-LED headlights (the Ford includes auto high beam), power-folding side mirrors, roof rails, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and push-button start, three 12-volt accessory ports, built-in sat-nav (with one year of connected services for free with the Ford), side steps, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, lane-change assist, autonomous emergency braking and a rear differential lock.

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The Mitsubishi spec advantage over the Ford at this entry-level point comes down to a power tailgate, a 220V AC socket and two second-row USB ports. The entry Everest Ambiente has 17-inch alloys while Mitsubishi provides 18-inch alloy wheels across the range.

However, the base Everest Ambiente builds its case against Pajero Sport GLX with a standard equipment advantage that includes a 10.1-inch infotainment display (only 8.0-inch for all Pajero Sports), wireless phone charging, speed sign recognition, embedded modem, electro-chromatic rear vision mirror, front parking sensors, post-collision braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, lane departure prevention and lane-change assist.

All Everests have wireless phone mirroring, while it’s wired only on the Pajero Sport. Two front USB ports are fitted to the Pajero Sport; the Everest has three up front.

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Moving up the model walk is the Everest Trend at $65,590, and the Pajero Sport GLS at $55,190 (prices exclude on-road costs).

Standard equipment for both includes seven seats, power tailgate, power-folding side mirrors and rear privacy glass, while the Ford also gets 18-inch alloy wheels to equal the Mitsubishi. The Everest finally matches the two second-row USB ports of all Pajero Sports, while the Mitsubishi is ahead at this trim level with tyre pressure monitoring that Ford doesn’t offer until the Platinum trim level.

While it is $10,400 more expensive, the Everest Trend has additional features over the Pajero Sport GLS such as leather seats (excluding third row), power driver’s seat adjustment and a 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.

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Next up the model price walk are the Everest Sport and the Pajero Sport Exceed, with the Mitsubishi this time being $8900 cheaper than the Ford. While the Ford diverges to a sporty theme, the Mitsubishi is more focused on luxury. Both have leather seats, heated and power-adjustable at the front.

The Exceed, with the inclusion at this trim level of blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert, finally reaches some of the safety kit you get on a base Everest. Tech on the Exceed is also boosted with app control for the tailgate and other features. The Exceed beats the Sport with its 360-degree camera and a full digital dash.

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An Everest Sport, however, counters with a powerful V6 turbo-diesel engine as standard, 20-inch alloy wheels, and power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats.

The Pajero Sport model range extends past Exceed trim to GSR, a sporty variant at the top of the line-up. This is basically an Exceed with an appearance package including black painted wheels and trim. The rest of the features imitate the Exceed, and there are no powertrain or suspension changes.

Meanwhile, the Everest model range climbs further at the upper-spec levels, with a limited-edition $72,804 (before on-road costs) Wildtrak next up, limited to 800 units. It gets a dark grey grille and side mirrors, silver underbody plate, 20-inch alloy wheels, tyre pressure monitoring, black leather upholstery, orange trim stitching, power-adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver, a panoramic glass roof, 360-degree cameras, ambient lighting and external zone lighting.

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The Pajero Sport range received a five-star ANCAP safety rating when released back in 2015

Top of the Ford tree is the Everest Platinum at $77,000 before on-road costs. The Platinum features over the Wildtrak include 21-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, plusher leather upholstery, powered third-row seat folding, a 12.4-inch digital dash, active park assist, B&O premium audio, a heated steering wheel and heated outboard second-row seats.

Mitsubishi's Pajero Sport range received a five-star ANCAP safety rating when released back in 2015 – which was given under more lenient guidelines than now. Because the ANCAP ratings have advanced since, the 2023 Pajero Sport is now considered ‘unrated’. Meanwhile, the Ford Everest was ANCAP crash-tested in 2022, with a maximum five-star result.

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The large 4x4 wagon category starting under $60K has another six direct contenders: the GWM Tank ($46,990-$60,990), Isuzu MU-X ($54,900-$65,990), LDV D90 ($46,832-$52,095), Mahindra Scorpio ($41,990-$45,990) SsangYong Rexton ($47,990-$56,585) and Toyota Fortuner ($53,775-$66,755).

All prices except the GWM, LDV, Mahindra and SsangYong exclude on-road costs. What might also be considered as competitors (although pricing is heading well north of the vehicles just mentioned) are the Jeep Grand Cherokee ($77,950-$129,950) and Toyota Prado ($62,830-$87,468), again before on-road costs.

Of the above vehicles, the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Fortuner (both also based on ute models) are the closest competitors to Everest and Pajero Sport – although the Toyota LandCruiser Prado is also still a popular choice in this segment.

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Comfort and space

Even though it has been breathed over since its 2015 launch with a nice, modern design and neat tactile finishes here and there, the Pajero Sport feels more old-school to sit in than the more integrated and roomier Everest.

The Mitsubishi's seats are relatively close to the floor but where the Pajero Sport most clearly shows its age inside the cabin is with the eight-inch touchscreen, which is small by modern standards and the operating system feels generations old in operation. Also, the second-row seat doesn’t slide forward for third-row access, which is surprising.

Meanwhile, the Everest is not exactly lush in material quality or finish at lower trim levels but it certainly is more modern and, while not exactly Range Rover plush, once you reach Platinum spec it is a more feature-laden vehicle than the Pajero Exceed or GSR.

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There are several years of extra development advantage in the Everest, and they have been well spent. It has a cohesive, clever interior with acres of space, intuitive infotainment, decent materials quality and solid ergonomics.

However, points against the Ford here for the tiny and fiddly thumb buttons on the right-hand side of the gear selector, which you’re expected to use when manually selecting ratios in the transmission.

The Pajero Sport's luggage capacity figures are only measured to the top of the seatback, while the Everest figures extend to the roof.

Although the Everest is slightly longer externally than the Pajero Sport (by about 100mm), it is considerably wider (200mm).

Meanwhile, the Everest is also longer, wider and taller in almost all interior measurements. The Everest may only offer a couple of millimetres more headroom than Pajero Sport, shoulder room and legroom are better by around 30-40mm. That said, front legroom in the Pajero Sport has a 10mm advantage.

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On the road

The Pajero Sport’s ability to adapt to both tarmac and dirt is one of its most endearing attributes.

Its 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine is slightly underpowered in its attempt to push the vehicle's 2209kg weight (GSR) and although relatively quiet, you can hear it working hard to do so. But it’s not a mitigating factor.

While Mitsubishi is also not the most refined when travelling on long stretches of bitumen, its eight-speed automatic transmission feels well-calibrated and smooth by large SUV standards.

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The Everest’s two powertrains both have more polish, and a lot more substance in terms of refinement, outputs and fuel consumption.

Of course, the six-pot engine is our pick, delivering a cultured note – for an oil burner – at the top end and 600Nm on tap to make towing up to 3500kg braked pretty effortless. It feels as if it could drag an errant tectonic plate back into line.

While the rear live axle doesn’t make the Everest ride like Citroen DS on a lumpy, corrugated dirt road, it feels pretty refined just about everywhere else – and when you jump into the Pajero Sport straight after the Ford, it highlights the Ford’s better ride and refinement. The Mitsubishi’s ride is more abrupt than the Ford everywhere, although in truth it’s still not bad for a ladder-frame 4x4.

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Ownership

Mitsubishi is industry-leading when it comes to aftersales support, with all vehicles covered by a five-year/100,000km vehicle warranty. That extends to 10 years or 200,000km of cover if owners keep scheduled servicing with Mitsubishi.

Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Mitsubishi will also cap servicing costs for the first ten years or 150,000km and includes 10 years of roadside assistance provided, again, that you service yearly at Mitsubishi.

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Meanwhile, the Ford comes standard with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and free roadside assistance for a year, continued when you have services done with Ford.

The capped-price maintenance scheme covers the first four scheduled services, either pre-paid or pay-as-you-go, due every 12 months or 15,000km. It’s worth noting that Ford gives you a free service loan car and also a price-matched tyre offering, neither of which are offered by Mitsubishi.

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Ford warranty coverage

Mitsubishi warranty coverage

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VERDICT

The Pajero Sport is undeniably one of a few older models in this segment but remains one the more attractive and better value offerings, with a great 4WD system and efficient engine.

Mitsubishi still gives you ample tech and comfort features, too. While it is not expensive, neither is it bargain basement for the category. The Pajero Sport also now lacks a safety rating and that 3500kg towing capacity some consider important.

It is pretty clear that the ute-based SUV market has moved on since the Pajero Sport first arrived in 2015, and none shows that more clearly than the Ford Everest.

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While saying that Everest is based on a commercial ute is a talking point, it is fast becoming an irrelevant one. Put simply, this is one of the best 4x4 wagons on the market, period.

Even though rough-road ride quality could be a touch smoother, some of the lower cabin materials a little more polished and the the manual mode button easier to use, the Ford has plenty of positives.

The interior space, both powertrains’ refinement and performance, the ride and handling, and the long list of tech and safety features all conspire to serve the Everest the accolades it richly deserves.

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OVERALL SCORING

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Specifications

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Scores from car reviews

Ford Everest

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

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