Winning all those Dakar rallies (the last seven on the trot and 12 in all) has done the Mitsubishi Pajero's reputation no harm at all.
Even though the production version has little to do with the Pajeros racing through North African deserts, it's more than just a marketing spin-off.
The showroom Pajero has always stood for real off-road ability and this the fourth generation model, launched here in March, doesn't mess with that. It's still an SUV for the adventure-seeking brigade who plan to go on regular mud-plugging expeditions.
We took the new Pajero Di-D 3.2 turbodiesel through a gruelling 4x4 route and it passed with colours flying thanks to its generous ground clearance and an electrically controlled transfer case with four driving modes.
For normal road driving or pavement climbing there's 2H that powers only the rear wheels but, by shifting a lever, you can select all-wheel drive that varies the front to rear torque split from 33:67 to 50:50. Tipping the lever another notch forward locks the centre differential as well to give a fixed 50:50 split, while the fourth and final setting gives you all-wheel drive low range and a locked centre diff.
Snicking from two to all-wheel drive can conveniently be done on the move at up to 100km/h, although you MUST stop to select the diff lock and low range.
It all works together with a traction control system that minimises wheelspin so you have a vehicle that can basically climb anything short of Mount Everest. Or the tough and hilly off-road course at the Gerotek testing facility near Pretoria, at any rate.
Mitsubishi hasn't reinvented the wheel with the new Pajero, which sells as before in 3.8-litre V6 petrol and 3.2-litre turbodiesel derivatives and long or short wheelbase body styles. The body's been redesigned but is still instantly recognisable as a Pajero, with its chunky looks and imposing stance.
Cosmetic changes include new lights, a squarer nose and the spare wheel repositioned at the back and fitted with a cover.
Along with the Pajero's seemingly idiot-proof off-road skills is a sense of robustness that makes you less likely to cringe in mechanical sympathy when traversing rough, rutted turf. It feels very solid.
Seven seats are standard in the long-wheelbase version and a clever "Hide & Seat" system allows the third-row kiddieseats to fold neatly into the floor in seconds to leave an uncompromised choice between luggage or passengers. There's loads of rear seat room and a huge boot, thanks to the spare wheel being mounted on the outside of the door.
Whopping R94 800 more
The rear door swings open sideways, however, which is not the best solution in tight spaces. It would make loading luggage easier if the tailgate window could be opened as in some of the Pajero's rivals.
The 3.2 Di-D sells in GLX and more upmarket GLS versions and, though their mechanicals are the same, the GLS costs a whopping R94 800 more due to its extra list of luxuries. These include a premium 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate CD/MP3 sound system which really, er, rocks, and is an unusually good audio setup for an SUV.
The GLS also comes with power-adjustable and heatable front leather seats, a leather steering wheel bearing audio and cruise controls, more interior bling (your choice of metallic or wood panels) and a longer maintenance plan.
The trip data computer is one of the most comprehensive in the business. The large digital display in the fascia gives compass bearing, current and average fuel consumption, distance to empty, air temperature, altitude, lean angle and even a barometer reading. It's a nice toy. Satellite navigation would have been even nicer but Mitsubishi still doesn't offer it.
Still as soggy
The cabin's very spacious and the seats are comfy. The steering wheel only adjusts for height and is set particularly close to the dashboard, which forces the driver to sit in the orang-utan position - short legs, long arms.
Smoother suspension and a more rigid body, says Mitsubishi, gives the new Pajero better handling and a quieter, more stable ride but it still felt as soggy as ever and doesn't handle nearly as sharply as more road-focused SUVs such as the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5. It leans heavily around corners and the steering is very vague.
The 3.2 diesel engine makes the same power as before but is said to be cleaner and more economical, with a better top speed of 177km/h.
The new Pajeros are only available with a five-speed auto transmission and our test car was proof again that turbodiesel engines and auto gearboxes usually make unhappy partners, especially at altitude. There's an initial dead spot when you punch the throttle and with no clutch involved you simply have to wait until the turbocharger wakes up.
Once it's spinning the engine pulls well, if not with quite the muscle you'd expect of a 3.2. It takes a leisurely stroll from 0-100km/h but this is compensated for by its decent cruising ability.
Once on the open road the big SUV canters along with little effort and even steep hills do little to curb its forward momentum.
Transmission good
The diesel engine is also very handy in off-road conditions where its strong low-down torque means you can slowly crawl up a rocky incline instead of rushing at it and risking a holed sump.
Other than its limitations in effecting a brisk launch, the auto transmission is good; it doesn't constantly hunt for gears but changes smoothly when it does shift. A manual sequential shift feature allows the driver to select gears manually.
The engine's reasonably smooth, if not the quietest. A diesel clatter is always detectable in the gruffness of the engine note but once beyond idling revs it stays muted in the background.
The 12.5 litres/100km isn't bad fuel economy for a two-ton all-wheel drive but it's quite ordinary compared with the 9.6 litres we achieved in the similarly large, all-wheel driven and more powerful BMW X5 3.0d.
VERDICT
This is no pavement poser but a proper mud-plugger for those who plan regular expeditions off the beaten track. For those seeking a vehicle for mostly road use there are better-handling SUVs around with sharper steering.
Price: R487 800