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

mission Possible

Compact all -around with a powerful diesel
Mitsubishi Pajero (for the North America Market Montero), the third generation debuted in the fall of 1999. For the first time in the history of the model, he received a supporting body and an independent suspension of all wheels. Buyers can choose between three- and five-door body options, two diesel and two gasoline engines, three configuration options (GL, GLX, GLS). In Russia, it is sold only in the most expensive GLS set with a 3.2 liter diesel engine or a 3.5-liter GDI gasoline type with direct fuel injection. The basic price of a three -door car is $ 39900.
Robinson also had Friday. No, he had Friday. We will have a virtual Friday with Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 Di -D - a new modification of a well -known machine for the Russian market (ZR, 2000, No. 6). One day to evaluate and try on the car in a typical situation - the working week smoothly goes on the weekend.
 
Taste, for color
Russian buyers of expensive all -terrain vehicles are very conservative. They prefer large, spacious machines with powerful gasoline motors and automatic transmission. They are not scared by the increased consumption of gasoline, which they tend to accept as an inevitable fee for the dynamics and solidity of the machine. Of course, modern diesel engines stepped far ahead, but, having acquired remarkable power with very moderate appetite and becoming quiet enough, many of them were unusually picky for fuel. And since its quality in Russia is still unstable, manufacturers of high-tech engines (especially with food from the general Rail Common General) are in no hurry to offer us the latest equipment.
However, Mitsubishi has nowhere to go: GDI engines with direct injection of gasoline are also very picky. Here it is, the flip side of progress! Fortunately, the new diesel has a simplified version for the ecological requirements of Euro II (the base engine is made under Euro III). This, by the way, is in our car. In general, the stereotype diesel - for the tractor, you need to break. Under the even rumble of the engine with ignition from compression, we leave the dealer parking.
 
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?
Ah, today Friday! We will accept the rules of our own game - we will reject the amendment to get used to the car and go. From the garage home, for things for the weekend, then to work and immediately from there - towards adventures. Since Mitsubishi Pajero is short with us, it is assumed that its owner did not acquire a numerous family - otherwise he probably would have required a more spacious car. Will we play?
Summer nights are warm, and therefore the help of glowing candles is not required - the key turn, and it instantly comes to life. At idle, you can’t confuse the diesel engine with a gasoline engine - a specific noise gives it headlong. There is a noticeable and trembling on the floor - after all, there are only four cylinders, and not small ones - each for 800 cubes! However, the controls of the efforts of Japanese engineers are spared vibration. Particular attention is the front seats: they, as in trucks, are pressed, and the rigidity of this suspension can be changed. Those who want to achieve maximum merging with the machine can fix the seat, comfort lovers will prefer to configure its suspension for their own weight.
An early morning, and already hot - it's time to turn on the air conditioner, more precisely, a climatic installation. Yes, at first glance its panel is easy to take for a regular conjunction system with air conditioning. But on round handles, the head of the fan speed and air flows, there is a magical position Auto, when you only need to set the desired temperature in the cabin.
Like it or not, but the garage is still not at the entrance. We'll have to park for a while near the house. It is very crowded here, and all the paths are already forced by cars. It’s not so simple to make your way to Mitsubishi Pajero on narrow driveways - although the car is not to say a very wide, right side you feel unwell, and the right corner of the bumper has to be guessed. But it is easy to take it back if, of course, to pull out the middle head rest from the rear seat in advance. Who, tell me mercy, seriously expects that there are three between the wheeled niches?
Open the back door, weight a voluminous sports bag and an impressive backpack. It remains to throw on the right seat the case with documents and ...
 
TO WORK...
One has only to get out of the courtyard made by the cars, pass several outskirts and join the stream moving into the city center, as slowly crawling the Armada of cars takes Mitsubishi Pajero. It is useless to twitch - half -earth along with everyone and enjoy the air conditioned air, which passed through the filter - without floral pollen and poplar fluff. Another plus in traffic is long -term, with a minimum clutch pedal. It’s easy to move, without even touching the gas pedal. You can listen to music, especially since the acoustics in Mitsubishi are very not bad.
Finally freedom! The dynamics of the diesel Mitsubishi Pajero quite allows you to break away from small -leafers and compete with serious cars. It is only important to switch the programs in time - below 1,500 rpm, it is useless to demand dynamic acceleration from the turbodiesel, but from 2000 to 4000 there are few to compete with it. Here is the office. Something lightly lit up the fuel light bulb ... It doesn’t matter, there is more than enough to get beyond the limits of the capital, even adjusted for traffic jams.
 
To free rein, in pampas!
Here is the long -awaited evening - a happy time for most citizens. While summer residents are packing belongings, there is a chance to slip. A dense stream gradually accelerates: with 60 km/h diesel Pajero will completely go in the fifth gear. And above 90 km/h switching to the fourth is not necessary even for overtaking - when on the tachometer there are more than 2000 rpm, the diesel can compete with a gasoline engine with a liter larger and with a capacity of 200 horses. Therefore, as soon as the opportunity appears to go faster, it is a sin not to use it. Moreover, for the desire to bother you will not have to pay with a flow of 20 liters per hundred, and the stability and level of noise allow you to go not only quickly, but also comfortable. The traditional trouble of all -terrain vehicles - mediocre smoothness due to large unsubstantiated masses - was minimized thanks to an independent suspension.
When you have to turn on a narrower and more winding road, the capabilities of Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 Di-D initially contribute to sports excitement. But small rolls and a sensitive steering wheel do not provoke for dashing turns for long - in a fairly cool turn, the vigorous entrance is replaced by helpless gliding of the front wheels outside. Do not be deceived about independent pendants in a circle and wide tires: Mitsubishi Pajero is primarily an all -around, and not a sports car. The reliability of management for him is more important than inciting driver's ambitions. It is not a sin to recall the brakes, we almost slipped our turn. However, they worked flawlessly.
 
Rise on a hill
The asphalt was replaced by a dusty and bumpy primer, but there is no reason to reduce speed to a minimum. The suspension copes with the bugs is noticeably better than on a long -drawn version with the GDI motor. Maybe stiff springs were set up due to heavy diesel? In any case, now it is good. Ahead of the steep rise, which could be bypassed. But why then all -wheel drive? We sequentially move the transmission lever of the super -seal of II, including the front wheels, the rigid blocking of the center differential (by the way, it is asymmetric - 33:67, that is, most of the torque usually falls on the rear wheels) and, finally, low transmission. Now the supply of traction allows not only to enter here on the move, but even to move.
The road has become better again, and a reduced gear is no longer needed. But, in order to return to the upper row, you will have to stop, otherwise a large transmission scheme on the dashboard will blinn with light bulbs - automation requires compliance with instructions. So the purpose of our country trip is the top of a high green hill where a dirt road leads. Encouraged by the capabilities of the car, storm the rise in increased first gear. Misfire! Before the steep area, deep promotion forces to lose speed. And as soon as the arrow of the tachometer falls below 1500 rpm, the diesel sources and stalls - the fingering ends! You have to again turn to the help of a handout, otherwise not to move.
 
What do you guys have in backpacks?
Having occupied the dominant height, we will not deploy a rifle position on it. Time to devastate the trunk. In a large backpack, something like a soft chair, a large striped bag, a couple of tall boots and a helmet. Have you guessed? Not? Then we shake out the contents of the bag, spread it on the slope, attach it to the chair, sit down - and flew ...
The wind blows on the slope, raising the driver of Mitsubishi Pajero higher and higher ... The mission of the car is completed.
Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 Di-D
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 2000 kg; Full mass - 2510 kg; maximum speed - 170 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 11.7 s; fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - 7.6; 11.6 l/100 km; Fuel supply - 71 l. Design: carrying three -door body. Dimensions, mm: length - 4280; width - 1875; height - 1845; base - 2545; The track in front/back - 1560/1560; Road clearance - 225; The turning radius is 5.3 m. The engine: diesel with direct fuel injection, turbocharged and intermediate air cooling, four -cylinder, sixteen -valve; working volume - 3200 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 98.5x105.0 mm; compression degree - 17.0; Power - 121 kW/165 hp at 3800 rpm; Maximum torque - 373 N.M at 2000 rpm. Transmission: super-seal II, permanent all-wheel drive with blocked center and rear inter-normal differentials, viscousyft and the ability to turn off the front wheels; gearbox - mechanical five -speed; Transporting numbers: I - 4.23; II - 2.24; III - 1.40; IV - 1.0; V - 0.76; Z.Kh. - 3.55; The main gear is 4.1; handout: I - 1.0; II - 1.9. Suspension: Independent spring, in front - on double transverse levers, behind - multi -link. Brakes: Disc ventilated with an amplifier and ABS. Steering: rheck with a hydraulic wrap. Tire size: 265/70R16.
The editors thanks CJSC Rolf-Holdings provided by the car.
 
 
Text / Anatoly Fomin
Photo / Alexander Batyr, Alexander Polunin
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"