Vehicle Tests > Commander vs Pajero vs Prado

Prado's floor lever and deep low range gearing (3000rpm equals walking speed) is old-school but allows terrific control, especially with descents. Over-bonnet view is the best of the lot (although the fall of the bonnet sometimes leaves you wondering) and with the tall body its possible to lift yourself in the seat for a clearer view.
For what it's worth, despite Jeep's whipping of Prado and Pajero (in that order) onroad, Prado waltzed away from the other two on sand, both fast driving, and with finding and maintaining momentum in slower stuff.

Prado may keep its tyres on the dirt longer thanks to its long-travel suspension (especially at the rear) but no reigning-in electronics means - at least - no further progress without revising the line or - worse - a busted driveline thanks to wheel-spin induced shock. Time and again on our set-piece exercises, the Prado kicked up dust and hurled rocks where the other two - especially the Jeep with its locked diffs - hardly moved a grain.

The report card
Its 4WD system is simply phenomenal, but the Jeep Commander could be so much better. Jeep had 20 years (in the case of Pajero) of international seven-seat design wisdom to look at and improve on yet the Commander just doesn't seem to pack its people or equipment in effectively. Its straight-line performance is grin-inducing, it's good on fuel and you could almost live with its suspension tune - it's comfortable at around-town speeds - but its ergonomics are second-rate and its body packaging (i.e use of room) inefficient, ruling it out for anything more than weekend camping. Fashion over function? The chintzy exterior detailing confirms it.

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The new improved Pajero is a terrific all-rounder and (in lower-spec guise) possibly the best value for money in this market today, considering it has the safety electronics standard across the range and has other gems of design such as the fold-flat third row seat. But it uses more fuel for less performance than Prado's new diesel and generally doesn't treat its passengers as nicely.

Which of course, leaves Prado. It's not without faults, but the kid sitting at the front of this class doesn't have to learn much.

 

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