Toyota Fortuner vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in South Africa

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

2.4L DI-DC 8-speed A/T 4X4 Exceed Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 904,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 133 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Fortuner vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: the short answer

Fortuner has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Fortuner starts ZAR 104,090 cheaper Fortuner from ZAR 685,900 · Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Fortuner Pajero Sport
Maximum Power Fortuner150 kW Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque Fortuner500 Nm Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size Fortuner2755 cc Pajero Sport2442 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Fortuner13.2 km/l Pajero Sport12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance Fortuner279 mm Pajero Sport218 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Fortuner

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Pajero Sport

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fortuner Pajero Sport
Model Introduced Year 2006 2017
Generation Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
Facelift History Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT -
Model Year Current 2026
Production Status active active
Segment SUV Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec Fortuner Pajero Sport
Length 4795 mm 4825 mm
Width 1855 mm 1815 mm
Height 1835 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 279 mm 218 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 170 mm 190 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 68 l
Boot/Cargo Space 541 l 193 l
Kerb Weight 1946 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2735 kg 2775 kg
Payload Capacity 493 kg 695 kg
Towing Capacity 2800 kg 2850 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 3 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1015 mm 1022 mm
Rear Headroom 979 mm 957 mm
Front Legroom 1048 mm 1067 mm
Rear Legroom 928 mm 880 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Fortuner and Pajero Sport comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Fortuner 79 vs Pajero Sport 65.

Efficiency index: Fortuner 56 vs Pajero Sport 49.

Safety-equipment index: Fortuner 89 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Practicality index: Fortuner 84 vs Pajero Sport 71.

Ownership-cover index: Fortuner 43 vs Pajero Sport not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Fortuner leads by 8 points

Fortuner has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Evidence leader 73 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 72% source coverage
73
#1 Evidence leader

Fortuner

72% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Ownership 43
Performance 79
Efficiency 56
Safety 89
Practicality 84
Ownership 43
Leads by 8 points
65
#2

Pajero Sport

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 72 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 65
Efficiency 49
Safety 72
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Fortuner +14 Efficiency Fortuner +7 Safety Fortuner +17 Practicality Fortuner +13

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Fortuner

Performance 79/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 84/100
Ownership 43/100

Pajero Sport

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 72/100
Practicality 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Fortuner leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Fortuner leads. However, Pajero Sport may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Fortuner vs Pajero Sport questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.