On location, hunting for dinosaurs! While waiting for a massive Sauropod to wander across the barren...
Vehicle Tests > 4WD Comparison - Title Fight
4WD Comparison - Title Fight
Issue: April 2009
Words by Fraser Stronach Photos by Thomas Wielecki
Mitsubishi's re-engined Pajero and an added value Discovery 3 are here to take the fight up to Toyota's ever-popular Prado.
Welcome to 2009, a year that promises a seismic shift in the world of 4WDs. Or more precisely, a seismic shift in the world of medium 4WD wagons.
The reason: Toyota's do-it-all Prado turbo diesel faces its most serious challenger since the D-4D engine and associated upgrades first appeared in late 2006. That challenger is Mitsubishi's new NT model Pajero, a vehicle that brings a more powerful and fuel-efficient engine, a new 5-speed automatic transmission and a host of other changes.
But, as they say in the TV ads for those kitchen gadgets that no one needs, there's more. Land Rover has made height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response standard on its base 'S' model TDV6 thereby significantly increasing its 'value' factor. It's still more expensive than either mid-spec Prado GXL or Pajero GLS that we have here, but not by all that much...
What You Pay, What You Get
The GLS Pajero Di-D is the least expensive of our three contenders and in auto guise lists at $59,790. And for that money you get electronic traction and stability control and side and curtain airbags as standard. Of course, there's all the usual equipment you expect at this price including ABS brakes, cruise control, climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels.
read on below advertisement
At $61,040 the Prado GXL D-4D automatic also has the latter mentioned items but misses out on the electronic driving aids and extra airbags although both are available as an option pack (not fitted to our tester) for an additional $2600.
The Discovery TDV6 S is a $67,590 ask and our test vehicle is fitted with the optional self-locking rear differential ($1050). While the TDV6 S misses out on third-row seating that's standard on both Prado and Pajero it does come with the aforementioned height-adjustable air suspension, a 6-speed auto (the others both have 5-speeders), electronic traction and stability control, front, side and curtain airbags, cruise and climate control, and 17-inch alloys. And if you do want third-row seating it is available as an option although you have to pay a pricey $3541 for the privilege.
Horses or Ponies?
All three contenders are common-rail turbo diesels but where the Prado and Pajero have 4-cylinder engines of 3.0 and 3.2-litres respectively, the Discovery is powered by a 2.7-litre V6. And, as mentioned above, the Disco has a 6-speed auto while the other two have 5-speeders. Both Disco and Pajero have 'manual' control via tip-shift functions whereas the Toyota's box has a dogleg-gated shift (no shift release) that gives good manual control once you learn the layout of the gate.
next page »
Words by Fraser Stronach Photos by Thomas Wielecki
Mitsubishi's re-engined Pajero and an added value Discovery 3 are here to take the fight up to Toyota's ever-popular Prado.
Welcome to 2009, a year that promises a seismic shift in the world of 4WDs. Or more precisely, a seismic shift in the world of medium 4WD wagons.
The reason: Toyota's do-it-all Prado turbo diesel faces its most serious challenger since the D-4D engine and associated upgrades first appeared in late 2006. That challenger is Mitsubishi's new NT model Pajero, a vehicle that brings a more powerful and fuel-efficient engine, a new 5-speed automatic transmission and a host of other changes.
But, as they say in the TV ads for those kitchen gadgets that no one needs, there's more. Land Rover has made height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response standard on its base 'S' model TDV6 thereby significantly increasing its 'value' factor. It's still more expensive than either mid-spec Prado GXL or Pajero GLS that we have here, but not by all that much...
What You Pay, What You Get
The GLS Pajero Di-D is the least expensive of our three contenders and in auto guise lists at $59,790. And for that money you get electronic traction and stability control and side and curtain airbags as standard. Of course, there's all the usual equipment you expect at this price including ABS brakes, cruise control, climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels.
read on below advertisement
At $61,040 the Prado GXL D-4D automatic also has the latter mentioned items but misses out on the electronic driving aids and extra airbags although both are available as an option pack (not fitted to our tester) for an additional $2600.
The Discovery TDV6 S is a $67,590 ask and our test vehicle is fitted with the optional self-locking rear differential ($1050). While the TDV6 S misses out on third-row seating that's standard on both Prado and Pajero it does come with the aforementioned height-adjustable air suspension, a 6-speed auto (the others both have 5-speeders), electronic traction and stability control, front, side and curtain airbags, cruise and climate control, and 17-inch alloys. And if you do want third-row seating it is available as an option although you have to pay a pricey $3541 for the privilege.
Horses or Ponies?
All three contenders are common-rail turbo diesels but where the Prado and Pajero have 4-cylinder engines of 3.0 and 3.2-litres respectively, the Discovery is powered by a 2.7-litre V6. And, as mentioned above, the Disco has a 6-speed auto while the other two have 5-speeders. Both Disco and Pajero have 'manual' control via tip-shift functions whereas the Toyota's box has a dogleg-gated shift (no shift release) that gives good manual control once you learn the layout of the gate.
next page »
