If you look at markets like North America and particularly Europe, most buyers are into crossovers. Things are a little bit different in parts of the world like Australia and Southeast Asia, where is still a pretty big demand for genuine SUVs, those truck-based machines that ride on a traditional body-on-frame platform. There are several models of this kind still on the market and the Pajero Sport is one of them.

Based on the Mitsubishi L200/Triton pickup, it competes in the segment of mid-size SUVs, where some of the key rivals are models like Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest etc. The next year shouldn’t bring any more important changes, so we expect to see the 2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport with familiar design and characteristics.

All in all, you may count on a genuine SUV, which still has a lot of great things to offer, despite it’s been unchanged since 2015. We like its rugged nature and strong off-road capabilities. Also, the engines are very efficient, while the suspension setup also provides pretty good on-road ride quality. The cabin is comfortable, functional and spacious, so we could say there are no major drawbacks in the case of Pajero Sport.

The lack of novelties also means that we should see it in a typical time of year, sometime in the last quarter of 2022.

 

2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Design

As we’ve just mentioned, the current generation has been around since 2015 and not many things have changed since then. The overall design is largely the same, though we should mention the visual update from a couple of years ago. The styling closely follows the aesthetics of the pickup sibling and that’s particularly easy to notice at the front, where the two models look largely the same.

On the other hand, the overall shape comes in a typical wagon layout, with dimensions that offer a good balance between interior space and off-road potential. To give you a picture, the wheelbase goes a little bit over 110 inches.

The strong connection with the L200/Triton can be seen from many aspects. However, there are also some key differences. The suspension setup is a perfect example. The front axle is largely the same, the rear end is completely different. While the truck comes with good-old leaf springs, the Pajero Sport comes with independent rear suspension, which provides significantly better ride quality.

Considering that the current generation is expected to remain in production for a few more years, we are pretty sure that the 2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport won’t come with many changes. However, we won’t exclude the possibility to see novelties in terms of new appearance packages. For example, the 2022 model came with the new GSR version, with lots of exclusive styling details. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see something similar in the next year as well.

Interior

When it comes to interior design, we don’t expect surprises. The current cabin looks nice, despite the age. However, keep in mind that we are talking about a truck-based SUV, which puts functionality over aesthetics. Therefore, the dashboard doesn’t look as flashy as you would expect from a modern crossover. Most materials are hard to the touch but on the other hand, everything seems super solid and very durable.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that the cabin comes loaded with a lot of standard equipment. All models come standard with an 8-inch infotainment screen, as well as with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Furthermore, the list of standard equipment also includes goodies like push-button, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation etc.

The first two rows of seats are pretty spacious and accommodate adults with ease. The driving position is high and ensures excellent visibility in all directions. On the other hand, the third row is typically tight for the segment.

2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Engines

Things under the hood won’t change and the 2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will continue with familiar units on the offer. A well-known 2.4-liter turbodiesel will remain the main choice for most drivers, thanks to its great balance between capability and efficiency. The engine puts out around 135kW and 430 Nm of torque (180hp and 317lb-ft).

An older-generation 2.5-liter turbodiesel will remain available in certain parts of the world, with a max output of 136 (101kW) horsepower and 324 Nm of torque. Also, the old 3.0-liter V6 can be found in some parts of the world, with a max output of around 220 horsepower.

2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Release Date

Since there are no significant changes to come, we expect that the 2023 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will arrive sometime in the last quarter of the year.