GWM P500 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.

GWM P500 in South Africa

GWM P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Hybrid Current
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 648 Nm ⛽ 10.2 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

GWM P500 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: the short answer

P500 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Pajero Sport starts ZAR 9,910 cheaper P500 from ZAR 799,900 · Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification P500 Pajero Sport
Maximum Power P500255 kW Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque P500648 Nm Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size P5002000 cc Pajero Sport2442 cc
Combined Fuel Economy P50010.2 km/l Pajero Sport12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance P500224 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

P500

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?

P500

  • 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 P500 Pajero Sport
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2017
Generation Current South African P500 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup SUV
Body Type Cab Pickup -
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Pickup Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2761 kg -
Vehicle Type Pickup Passenger vehicle
Spec P500 Pajero Sport
Length 5445 mm 4825 mm
Width 1991 mm 1815 mm
Height 1924 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 3350 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 224 mm 218 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 68 l
Kerb Weight 2810 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3495 kg 2775 kg
Payload Capacity 685 kg 695 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2850 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 190 mm
Boot/Cargo Space - 193 l
Number of Rows - 3 rows
Minimum Turning Radius - 5.6 m
Front Headroom - 1022 mm
Rear Headroom - 957 mm
Front Legroom - 1067 mm
Rear Legroom - 880 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This P500 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: P500 98 vs Pajero Sport 65.

Efficiency index: P500 50 vs Pajero Sport 49.

Safety-equipment index: P500 88 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Practicality index: P500 79 vs Pajero Sport 71.

Ownership-cover index: P500 65 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

P500 leads by 14 points

P500 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Evidence leader 79 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 67% source coverage
79
#1 Evidence leader

P500

67% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Efficiency 50
Performance 98
Efficiency 50
Safety 88
Practicality 79
Ownership 65
Leads by 14 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 P500 +33 Efficiency P500 +1 Safety P500 +16 Practicality P500 +8

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

P500

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 79/100
Ownership 65/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM P500 leads the specification evidence index with 79 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, P500 leads. However, Pajero Sport may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

P500 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.