Lexus LX 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.

Lexus LX in South Africa

Lexus LX

LX 500d F SPORT Diesel 10-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 2,687,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 700 Nm ⛽ 11.9 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

Lexus LX vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: the short answer

LX holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Pajero Sport.

Pajero Sport starts ZAR 1,897,510 cheaper LX from ZAR 2,687,500 · Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification LX Pajero Sport
Maximum Power LX225 kW @ 4000 rpm Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque LX700 Nm Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size LX3300 cc Pajero Sport2442 cc
Combined Fuel Economy LX11.9 km/l Pajero Sport12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance LX205 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

LX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Pajero Sport

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

LX

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec LX Pajero Sport
Model Introduced Year 2022 2017
Generation Fourth-generation Lexus LX flagship body-on-frame SUV Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
Facelift History Current range adds LX 700h hybrid and Overtrail grades while retaining LX 500d diesel choices South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Facelift Launched Since Current range adds LX 700h hybrid and Overtrail grades while retaining LX 500d diesel choices Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17 Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Luxury SUV Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2670 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec LX Pajero Sport
Length 5090 mm 4825 mm
Width 1990 mm 1815 mm
Height 1895 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 205 mm 218 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 110 l 68 l
Boot/Cargo Space 1109 l 193 l
Kerb Weight 2670 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3280 kg 2775 kg
Payload Capacity 610 kg 695 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2850 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6 m 5.6 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 190 mm
Number of Rows - 3 rows
Front Headroom - 1022 mm
Rear Headroom - 957 mm
Front Legroom - 1067 mm
Rear Legroom - 880 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This LX 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: LX 98 vs Pajero Sport 65.

Efficiency index: LX 47 vs Pajero Sport 49.

Safety-equipment index: LX 93 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Practicality index: LX 84 vs Pajero Sport 71.

Ownership-cover index: LX not separately scored 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

LX leads by 18 points

LX holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Pajero Sport.

Evidence leader 83 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 69% source coverage
83
#1 Evidence leader

LX

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 98
Efficiency 47
Safety 93
Practicality 84
Leads by 18 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 LX +33 Efficiency Pajero Sport +2 Safety LX +21 Practicality LX +13

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

LX

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 84/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Lexus LX leads the specification evidence index with 83 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

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

LX 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.