SecondHandSense:When the Mitsubishi Pajero was launched some 16 years ago, there was not a great deal of glamour in the four-wheel-drive market. Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota had an established presence but, back then, four-wheel-drives were meant as work horses, not as the alternative they have become in a far more affluent environment.
For that reason alone, the Pajero had an edge - there was a softness about the profile of the car that made it interesting, but that softness also belied its very tough abilities.
Since then, of course, a lot has changed and the Pajero is no longer a novelty. In fact, it has lost a great deal of its appeal in the face of stiff competition from virtually every manufacturer.
The Pajero was a hugely successful competitor in the Paris to Dakar rally and the repeat victories did much to imprint the Pajero in the public mind. And it has to be said that off-road, the car is no slouch. In four-wheel-drive mode, with a locking rear differential, the Pajero is up there with the best of them.
The model we are looking at is the one produced between 2000 and this year, and you will generally find it on sale with a 3.2-litre diesel engine and a choice of three or five-door models. The three-door is a bit of a novelty and quite impractical, while the five-door will sometimes come with a third row of seats, which will accommodate two very small adventurers, but definitely not two adults.
Reflecting on the car's abilities and disadvantages provides a useful summary of the contradiction between what is desirable and what is practical. If you really need a four-wheel-drive, then the Pajero is a serious contender for your money, but that means you are not a city driver.
The engine is designed for excellent torque (pulling power) at lower revs and it will do a great job with a horse box. The other side of that coin is that it is noisy. The car's handling is not meant to accommodate speed (it will roll heavily in corners at speed) and in the city it is awkward, heavy and not at all at home.
The interior is let down by rather disappointing plastics and heavy switchgear. Seating is good and supportive, but the interior does not feel as generous as other competitors. Off-road is fun and where the Pajero is at its best, apart from towing. It has good clearance and excellent traction and is much tougher than its looks might suggest.
There is no EuroNCAP crash test result for the Pajero but, high centre of gravity notwithstanding, it is a very sturdy vehicle. Troubles are few and apart from recalls some five years ago for some vehicles with steering and brake power loss problems, there have been no major reliability issues.
One 2005 seven-seat version with 50,000 kilometres up and with alloys, air conditioning, multiple airbags and leather upholstery is on sale for €46,000.
A 2004 five-seat version with 82,000 kilometres and similar equipment, except leather, has an asking price of €32,500.
As you can see, these vehicles are not cheap.
FOR: excellent off-road abilities and pulling power
AGAINST: not for city drivers