Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs. Ford Everest: The R900k adventure-SUV shootout
Mitsubishi South Africa introduced a heavily refreshed Pajero Sport last year. The big news? They froze the pricing completely. This means the absolute flagship Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4DI-D 4WD Exceed is still priced at R904,990, placing it in a direct price war with Ford’s Everest 2.0 SiT 4x4 Active, which is only R30k cheaper. Which offers the best value?
Buying a seven-seater family SUV is no longer just about brand loyalty; it is a cold, hard calculation of value for money.
For a narrow price gap of just under R30,000, these two mid-size SUVs approach family buyers with completely opposite philosophies. Do you buy a top-tier flagship with a proven mechanical pedigree, or an entry-tier model of the updated Ford Everest, built on a next-generation architecture?
Let us dive into the ultimate real-world value shootout to find out where your hard-earned R900k should go.
(Lawrence compared the Pajero Sport with the Fortuner and Isuzu mu-X here.)
The price and feature equation: Flagship luxury vs entry-level spec
When analyzing pure feature density per Rand, the frozen pricing strategy of the Mitsubishi gives it an immediate advantage.
Ford Everest 2.0 SiT 4x4 Active: R875,000
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 4WD Exceed: R904,990
Because the Active is the entry point into the 4x4 Everest family, it misses out on premium comforts that come standard on the Pajero Sport Exceed. For that minor R29,990 price premium, the Mitsubishi transforms your ownership experience into a true flagship affair.
(Sean compares the Pajero Sport to the GWM Tank in this comparison review)
Here is what the Pajero Sport Exceed gives you that is missing on the Everest Active:
A power tilt and sliding sunroof
An electronic tailgate with dual kick sensors for hands-free opening
A premium black ceiling headlining that elevates cabin aesthetics
Advanced safety tech like the Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration Mitigation System (UMS) for tight parking spots
The tech twist: The newer Everest Active platform punches back with standard wireless phone charging, a feature completely absent from the Exceed's more traditional, wired layout.
Buying used? See our Ford Everest Buyer's Guide
Interior space and accessibility
Second row: The Ford Everest utilises the newer T6.2 platform, providing a wider cabin that offers more shoulder room. The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is narrower, which is noticeable when seating three adults across the middle row.
Third row: The Everest is engineered with a longer wheelbase (2,900 mm) compared to the Pajero Sport (2,800 mm), which provides more legroom and makes the third row significantly more usable for children and teenagers than the tighter, 'knees-up' third row of the Pajero Sport.
Accessibility: Third-row ingress is tighter in the Pajero Sport due to the narrower door aperture and intrusion of the wheel arch into the footwell. The Everest features wider rear door openings and a second-row tip-and-slide mechanism that creates a more generous path for entry and exit.
Seat operation and comfort
Folding mechanics: Both vehicles utilise manual operation for their seat-folding configurations.
Ford Everest Active: The second row features a 60/40 split with recline, tip-and-slide, and fold-flat functionality. The third row is manually folded flat into the floor.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed: The second row also operates via a manual fold-and-tumble mechanism. The third row is manually stowed under the cargo floor to create a flat load space.
Recline and adjustment: Both models provide reclining seatbacks for the second row, which are essential for long-distance passenger comfort.
Real-world experience: The Everest cabin feels more spacious and lounge-like due to its modern architecture, whereas the Pajero Sport interior is designed for utilitarian durability with soft-touch materials and high-quality leather seating as standard.
Charging ports
For a family car, device connectivity across all three rows can make or break a long holiday road trip to the coast.
Row 1: The Everest Active wins here with its wireless charging pad and seamless wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Pajero Sport Exceed relies on standard USB and accessory sockets to connect to its 8-inch smartphone-link display audio.
Row 2: The Pajero Sport Exceed dominates the middle row. It features dual USB charging ports at the back of the centre console and pairs them with a highly versatile 150-watt power plug, perfect for charging laptops and other large handheld devices. The Everest Active offers standard USB Type-A and Type-C ports.
Row 3: Neither vehicle includes integrated USB ports in the far back row. The Everest Active offers a 12V power point in the rear for accessory adapters, while Pajero Sport passengers must run longer cables forward to the dual USB array.
Performance: Flagship muscle vs workhorse single-turbo
The mechanical contrast under the bonnet is stark. The Everest Active utilises Ford's entry-level single-turbo commercial engine, while the Pajero Sport brings its top-tier drivetrain to the fight.
| Feature | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed | Ford Everest 2.0 SiT Active |
| Engine | 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder single-turbo diesel |
| Power | 133 kW @ 3,500 rpm | 125 kW @ 3,500 rpm |
| Torque | 430 Nm @ 2,500 rpm | 405 Nm @ 2,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
The Pajero Sport wins the numbers game. Its 2.4-litre MIVEC motor delivers more power and torque, and it feels effortless when paired with its intuitive 8-speed automatic transmission. This translates to better overtaking confidence when fully loaded with seven passengers.
The Everest Active is highly efficient and perfectly adequate around town, but its single-turbo motor has to work noticeably harder than the Mitsubishi when tackling steep mountain passes or towing heavy loads.
Drivetrain and capability: True 4x4 vs part-time systems
If you plan to use these vehicles as true family adventure SUVs across SA, the mechanical hardware underneath matters immensely.
The Everest Active uses a standard part-time 4x4 system. It is highly capable on gravel roads, but you can only engage four-wheel drive on loose surfaces. If you engage it on dry or wet tar, you risk drivetrain binding over time.
The Pajero Sport Exceed retains its ace card in engineering: the Super Select II 4WD system. It features a unique 4H mode that utilises a Torsen limited-slip device to distribute torque safely on dry or wet tar. This acts like a full-time all-wheel-drive system, giving you massive stability and safety during sudden, torrential downpours, for example. When the terrain gets rough, you still get a standard rear differential lock, a locked centre differential, and a low range for serious trail driving.
Towing and utility: High-tech hitching vs. heavy-hauling grit
On paper, the Ford Everest Active claims an immediate advantage with a 3,100 kg braked towing capacity, out-hauling the Pajero Sport Exceed’s 2,700 kg rating.
However, the real differentiator is how they utilise their onboard camera systems to make hitching a one-person job:
Ford Everest Active: Despite its entry-level status, it inherits Ford's brilliant towing tech. The 12-inch portrait screen features a dedicated Trailer Hitch View that zooms straight down onto your tow ball with dynamic guiding lines. Paired with Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, it completely removes the guesswork and marital arguments from backing up to a hitch or reversing a trailer into a campsite.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed: The Pajero Sport lacks a dedicated hitch-zoom function, forcing you to line up the tow ball using the standard rearview camera angle on its smaller 8-inch landscape screen. Where the Exceed counters, however, is with its 360-degree Multi Around Monitor. This system uses cameras under the mirrors and in the grille to give you a full bird’s-eye view of the vehicle's perimeter, ensuring you don't clip the trailer A-frame or hidden rocks when manoeuvring in tight spots.
If your primary concern is the seamless, tech-assisted act of hooking up and backing a heavy load, the Everest Active punches well above its weight class. But if you are pulling a heavy load up a slippery boat ramp or across a sandy trail, the Pajero Sport Exceed’s superior torque and legendary Super Select II 4WD system make it a more confident, effortless companion once the trailer is attached.
The real-world fuel usage
While official figures offer a baseline for comparison, your actual fuel expenditure in South African conditions, which often involves altitude, traffic, and climate control, will consistently exceed manufacturer claims.
| Model | Claimed average (L/100km) | Real-world mixed (estimated) |
| Ford Everest 2.0 SiT 4x4 Active | 7.9 L/100km | 9.5 – 11.5 L/100km |
| Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4 Exceed | 8.1 L/100km | 9.0 – 10.5 L/100km |
Ford Everest 2.0 SiT 4x4 Active: The 10-speed automatic transmission is highly efficient during steady-state highway cruising, but the vehicle's substantial mass means the engine must work harder in urban stop-start traffic, often pushing real-world consumption into double digits.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4 Exceed: The Pajero Sport benefits from a lighter overall construction. This helps it maintain more consistent fuel economy across various driving cycles, often keeping it closer to its claimed figures than the heavier Ford platform.
Warranty and service plans
Ford Everest Active: Includes a 6-year/90,000 km service plan and a 4-year/120,000 km comprehensive warranty. This combination offers a slight advantage for long-term ownership, particularly for high-mileage users.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed: Includes a 5-year/90,000 km service plan and a 3-year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty. While the coverage terms are slightly shorter than Ford's, the Pajero Sport is widely respected for its mechanical simplicity, which often results in predictable, manageable out-of-warranty maintenance costs.
The value verdict: Which model should you buy?
Both of these SUVs offer highly competent packages, but they cater to very different buyer profiles.
Buy the Ford Everest 2.0 SiT Active if:
You are completely sold on Everest’s imposing, modern road presence and want the latest-generation chassis architecture. It is the best choice for buyers who prioritise a hyper-modern cabin environment, wireless cabin tech, and cutting-edge active safety systems over pure engine performance and luxury features.
Buy the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed if:
You want the undisputed king of value for money. For an extra R30,000, you are bypassing the entry-level tier entirely and stepping into a fully loaded flagship experience. It gives you a more powerful engine, a vastly superior and more versatile 4x4 system for overlanding, and a luxury feature list (sunroof, electric tailgate, 360-degree camera) that Ford reserves for its million-rand models.
