Which is better to buy: Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

The famous Pajero and the equally famous Prado - how to make the right choice? For 30 years there has been a battle of these "mastodons", and each owner believes that his car is the best, unpretentious, safe and easy to maintain.

Is it really? Let's compare these two popular cars and find out which car is worth buying, and which is better to pass by.

Technical features of the models

Mitsubishi Pajero is a Japanese-made car, an SUV, the leader of the model range of this company. The first Pajero went on sale in 1976. Today, the 4th generation of the popular car is being produced.

When the fourth generation first appeared on the market, critics of the auto world immediately began to argue about whether this is a new model or just a complete rework of the third generation? Externally, the cars are actually very similar.

Prado is also a car from a Japanese manufacturer, and is also produced in the 4th generation today. We can say that both automakers are going toe-to-toe and the dispute has not yet been resolved, which is better - Prado or Pajero?

Both vehicles have diesel and gasoline engines. The body type is identical in the first and second cases. It is coded as SUV, which in Russia is often called "jeep" or you can call this car "light truck".

Both cars have four-wheel drive - 4 driving wheels, which distinguishes them favorably from other brethren, which are also commonly called "jeeps".

The differences start with the transmission. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado has a 6-speed automatic transmission. The enemy is only a mechanical version with five gears.

Engine displacement, on the contrary, changes the leader - for Prado it will be 2,754, and for Pajero 2,835 cubic centimeters. But in terms of power, Prado will still be ahead - 177 horses against 125. The volume of the fuel tank differs by only 1 liter - 87 and 88 liters.

As for the car's clearance, the leader here will be Mitsubishi Pajero, for which this figure will be equal to 235 mm. For the second car, the figure is less, though not critical - only 215 cm.

To compare the Mitsubishi Pajero and its main competitor Toyota Prado, one must also look at such an indicator as the number of passengers. The second car is designed to carry 5 people, including the driver, the first one can accommodate 9 people together with the driver, and everyone will feel quite comfortable in the cabin.

Appearance

The appearance of these cars is a separate issue. Many people decide to buy Prado or Pajero for this indicator. Indeed, it is important.

Restyling Toyota Land Cruiser Prado made the car look more strict. In particular, its front part stands out. And here the designers really tried. Massive curved radiator grille with black and chrome inserts.

The well-recognized manufacturer's mark is also installed here. And to make the style really match the firm character of the owner, the radiator grille also received a bezel. Due to its appearance, which inspires confidence, the car has become incredibly popular.

If you look at the car from the side, then it practically has not changed, and indeed, the restyling did not touch it. The rear of the body has changed, but only slightly. The trunk lid has increased, the brake lights have changed slightly in their shape, the space for the license plate has increased both in the front and in the rear, the spare wheel has been removed from the tailgate - now it is located inside the car, in a special recess.

The roof can be solid or panoramic with a hatch. It has hardly changed. All the changes that have occurred to the car favorably emphasize its strength and power, which means that any journey, even with complete off-road, will be without surprises.

Mitsubishi Pajero is a classic of the genre, and manufacturers have never deviated from this rule. No rude forms or formidable appearance. Simplicity, brutality and reliability - that's what comes to mind when you see this car for the first time.

A new radiator grill, a modern front bumper and a fashionable form of foglights - this is what the car received after the last restyling. And this is a pleasant surprise.

A flat bonnet that reminds many of the dining table in the living room, large wheel arches, doors that you don't have to squeeze through, wide footrests - these are for those who value comfort. And those who constantly travel on complete off-roading will appreciate the high rear bumper, secure spare wheel mount and roof rails.

Therefore, if you do not need to chase fashion, then this car is made especially for you.

Salon and trunk

When they say that Pajero is always against Prado, there is some truth in these words. Indeed, these two cars literally go toe-to-toe, and not only in terms of such an indicator as engine power, but also in terms of the comfort of the cabin or the volume of the trunk.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is leather and natural wood with small elements made of aluminum look. The center console, although it has a strict classic look, will be understandable even for a novice driver who got behind the wheel of this car for the first time.

However, even the increased dimensions of the screen did not allow getting rid of the main disadvantage - the poor image on the screen. Therefore, before making a choice in favor of this or that car, it is better to check everything yourself.

If we talk about Mitsubishi Pajero, then a person of any size can easily fit here and it will be convenient for him to be in the back seat. The driver's seat is adjustable in almost any direction, but the steering wheel can only be adjusted in height, which is a big minus for some.

It is impossible to reach the ceiling with your head, however, as well as to rest your feet on the front seats. This is exactly what those who choose this classic version of the car among all the others on the market like.

Engines and transmissions

Still deciding which car to buy - the classic Mitsubishi Pajero or the formidable-looking Toyota Prado? The engine indicator can decide everything.

Mitsubishi Pajero can be selected both with a gasoline engine and a diesel engine. A total of three motors are produced with different characteristics.

1. Three-liter engine for 178 horses, 24 valves, with a flow rate of 12.2 liters per 100 km.
2. 3.8-liter engine with 250 horsepower, 24 valves and 13.5 liters per 100 km.
3. Diesel for 4 cylinders and 3.2 liters, with 16 valves for 200 horsepower, with a consumption of 8.9 liters per 100 km.

As for the transmission, this car has both automatic and mechanical. Everything, again, will depend on which type of motor you prefer to choose.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is also presented in three engine options - two petrol and one diesel, everything is exactly the same as the famous competitor.

1. Petrol 4 cylinder, 2.7 liter capacity, 163 horsepower.
2. Gasoline on 6 cylinders with a volume of 4.0 liters, with a capacity of 249 horsepower.
3. Diesel on 4 cylinders with a volume of 2.8 liters, with a capacity of 177 horsepower.

And in the first and in the second case, there is plenty to choose from. However, experts advise choosing a diesel engine - fuel consumption will be minimal, which means that the costs will not be so high.

Dynamics and fuel consumption

If you compare Toyota Prado and its direct competitor Mitsubishi Pajero Sport or another model, then you need to look at the dynamics and fuel consumption.

Both cars require only high quality gasoline - AI-95 for proper operation. As for diesel fuel, no one advises to fill the tank with low-quality fuel.

Fuel consumption per 100 km. will depend on which engine was chosen by the future owner of the car. Both cars have approximately the same numbers. These are 8.5 - 8.9 liters for a diesel engine, 12.2 liters for a 3-liter engine and 13.5 liters for a large displacement engine.

Controllability and cross-country ability

You can compare Pajero and Prado in terms of handling and cross-country ability. She does not like a car with a strong side wind, so in such weather the driver must be especially careful on the road and not accelerate to the maximum possible speed.

If you are driving off-road, then you should do it as slowly as possible, practically without using the brake pedal. And although 4 driving wheels will help to move more or less comfortably both in deep snow and on water, this should be done, being guided only by common sense.

Therefore, when comparing cars for these indicators, both presented options will be excellent helpers for movement in winter and rainy autumn.

Safety

The 4th generation Mitsubishi Pajero is sometimes called the safest car. Indeed, the car can easily overcome a ford up to 70 cm deep, drive up a mountain with an elevation angle of 36.6 degrees and be able to tow a trailer weighing up to 3,300 kg.

The manufacturer calls the main feature a special reinforced body structure, which was not the case before. ABS, EBD, Break Assist, Brake Override System are real defenders of both the driver and the car.

And testing showed that out of 37 possible points, this car scored 28, 4.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is in no way inferior to its adversary in terms of safety. All modern security systems are installed on this car. Traction control, ascent or descent assistance, constant speed support, wonderful cruise control - this is not a complete list of why you need to choose this particular car.

Therefore, there are no losers in the Mitsubishi Pajero vs Toyota Land Cruiser Prado dispute. Both cars are great for complete off-roading.

Price of all configurations

Now it remains to solve the main question - cost. Let's start with Pajero. Prado will be later. For example, the Sport option will cost 2,029,000 rubles.

The basic equipment of the car (Intense AT) with a five-speed automatic transmission and a 3-liter engine costs 2,302,100 rubles.

A fully loaded car (Ultimate AT) will cost much more - 3,300,000 rubles.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150, and this is the most demanded option, is presented on the market with various trim levels. The classic version will cost from 2,249 thousand, but as practice shows, such a car is bought less often.

Usually they prefer the standard for 2 546 thousand or comfort for 2 922 thousand rubles.

There are cars in a complete set, the cost of which has exceeded 3 million. This is Elegance for 3,237 thousand and Prestige for 3,589 thousand. And, finally, the most expensive and inaccessible option for many is the Safety Suite 2 (7 seats) for 4,064 thousand rubles.

Therefore, in terms of price, it makes no sense to compare Pajero and Prado - you will have to pay more than 2 million for both cars.

Which car to give preference to

So which one to choose - Pajero or Prado? This question cannot be answered unequivocally. Both cars have their strengths and weaknesses, both will require a lot of money to refuel, but at the same time, they can be driven in any terrain, even where other cars cannot drive. So it's more of a matter of personal preference.