Test drive Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero, Shogun) LWB 2000 - 2003 SUV

Serious small

What SUVs are close to the heart of a Russian person? Of course, full -size. But, having broken the barrier of the national mentality, it is easy to make sure that a short jeep is capable of big things. Three -door Mitsubishi Pajero of the third generation will convince anyone of this.

Everything is relatively, including the size of the car. Giving tribute to the great -sized Mitsubishi Pajero III, they are ready to remove hats in front of him, but this does not mean that the short -term three -door version of the Japanese jeep is not serious enough.

With their dimensions, 4280 mm lengths, 1875 width and 1845 heights are short Pajero easily shelter five cautious individuals and their weighty luggage. Even the space sitting from behind, here, is measured by the parameters that are sitting from behind. And your feet can be given a command freely, and it is not necessary to shoot a headdress. And the folding side armrests (by the way, with the cup holders), being raised, will provide a couple of additional sips of freedom.

They do not have to say a full -fledged automobile paradise about the forwarding members of the crew.

Thanks to the wide opening, landing on the second row of seats is not too burdensome. In addition, a significant increase in the hardness of the body due to the absence of the rear doors costs several additional body movements.

When the task of transporting goods is primarily, you can fold the asymmetrically divided back of the rear seat (or the seats themselves) and take on board all the necessary baggage in 99 cases out of a hundred.

There are still gossip about overly lush forms of the model. There is no smoke without fire, and corrosive citizens, perhaps, have the right to convict the current Pajero in some amorphousness and allegedness. But only a five -door car with a long stern. The appearance of a three -door car is much more profitable. Just look at this pitching with glossy biceps, at this small slanting fathom in the shoulders. Strength, confidence, charm all with him.

In this case, chic non -standard wheels and a stylish kangaroo are given excess color to the jeep. These are two of the three options (there are also the protection of the bottom) set for the surcharge. The basic configuration of the Mitsubishi Pajero GLS version includes almost the maximum of all kinds of goods from climate control and personal heater for the rear passengers to the board and cruise control. In a word, full of box. There are no only electric seats.

Managing Pajero is like enraging Bounty. And not only because the accurate interior everywhere pleases the eye, and any of the controls is asked in the hand, the car is perfectly balanced in its traction-dynamic and other sled characteristics.

The two -hundredth V6 GDI provides an enviable acceptance of the two -ton SUV, without requiring gasoline oceans. The three -door is noticeably faster than the long Pajero. The wheelbase, although smaller than that of a full -sized relative (2545 mm versus 2780 mm), is large enough to save Pajero from the trait characteristic of short -stores.

An extremely omnivorous independent suspension becomes a reliable barrier from the attacks of a wide variety of irregularities. The steering and brakes are beyond praise. The 5-speed adaptive automatic machine INVECS II, adjusting to the driver’s manner of driving, also pleases with the possibility of manual gear shifts.

A review from the cabin, if you remove the central headrest from the rear back (there is a special mesh pocket on the third door for it), just exceptional. And largely thanks to hefty external mirrors, which seem to be reflected in half the world. The low center of gravity Pajero allows you to surprisingly calmly deal with turns.

On the off -road short Pajero king. The brutal torque of the engine, dimensionless suspension passages combined with the capabilities of the famous Super Select 4WD (SS4-II) and a blocked rear differential allow miracles. And do not forget about the significant (235 mm) road lumen, small angles of entry and the congress, as well as about the depths of the overcoming ford 600 mm. In general, to find an obstacle for this SUV, we must try.

The question is: if possible, why not make friends with a short Pajero? Moreover, it is much cheaper than long.

Text: Igor Kuznetsov

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [10/2001]