2004 Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi’s Pajero used to be a proper legend for South Africans who wanted to go beyond the N1 and actually get their boots muddy. It’s the sort of SUV you’d spot loaded up with camping kit outside a caravan park in Nelspruit, ready to cross into Mozambique, or tackling some hopelessly rutted pass in the Karoo. But that era’s gone: Mitsubishi no longer sells the Pajero new here, so if you’re shopping, you’re trawling the used market, with all the risks and compromises that brings. Only 9 units are listed countrywide, every single one a diesel—either the 3.2-litre Di-D, or the smaller 2.4 and 2.5D motors in Pajero Sport trim, paired up with manual or auto boxes. Pricing? It’s wild—anything from R139,500 for a well-worn old timer, to R572,900 for a fresher Sport, but most cluster around R314,900. If you pack smart and accept a few battle scars, there’s value here. Most buyers will zero in on the 3.2 Di-D GLS—short or long wheelbase—because it’s what the Pajero should have been from the start. These sit between R290k and R509k, but the average mileage is a chunky 185,781 km. That matters, because the 3.2’s injectors, timing chains, and overall service history can make or break your experience at this age. Pajero Sport 2.4s are newer, hence the steeper R500k–R573k ask. The pull for SA buyers, historically, comes down to Dakar-winning bones and a price tag that undercuts the Prado and Everest—on paper at least, R289k for a GLS SWB auto still buys you a genuinely capable 4x4, even if you’ll need to budget for some TLC.