Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Toyota RAV4

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

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
VS
Toyota RAV4 in South Africa

Toyota RAV4

2.5 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid CVT Current
ZAR 941,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Pajero Sport
Fuel Economy RAV4
🛡 Safety RAV4
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
RAV4 starts ZAR 179,990 cheaper Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · RAV4 from ZAR 610,000

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Pajero Sport RAV4
Maximum Power 133 kW @ 3500 rpm 137 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 430 Nm @ 2500 rpm 221 Nm
Engine Size 2442 cc 2500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 12.3 km/l 21.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 218 mm 186 mm
Boot / Load Bay 193 l 732 l
Airbags 7 Driver Knee, Front Side, Rear Curtain, Front Curtain
Kerb Weight 2080 kg -
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 years / 100,000 km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Pajero Sport and RAV4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Pajero Sport +22 pts
Efficiency RAV4 +35 pts
Safety RAV4 +21 pts
Practicality Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Pajero Sport

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance
Catalogue-index leader

RAV4

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

RAV4

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Pajero Sport RAV4
Model Introduced Year 2017 2026
Generation Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026
Facelift History South African facelift launched in May 2025. Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives
Facelift Launched Since Current specification Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African 2026 specification
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1725-1740 kg
Spec Pajero Sport RAV4
Length 4825 mm 4645 mm
Width 1815 mm 1880 mm
Height 1805 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2690 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 218 mm 186 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 732 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg 2230 kg
Payload Capacity 695 kg -
Towing Capacity 2850 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1022 mm -
Rear Headroom 957 mm -
Front Legroom 1067 mm -
Rear Legroom 880 mm -

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

RAV4 leads by 6 points

Pajero Sport and RAV4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 73 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 61% source coverage
73
#1 Index leader

RAV4

61% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 50
Performance 50
Efficiency 84
Safety 93
Practicality 71
Leads by 6 points
67
#2

Pajero Sport

78% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 72 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 72
Efficiency 49
Safety 72
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Pajero Sport +22 Efficiency RAV4 +35 Safety RAV4 +21 Practicality Level

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

RAV4

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 84/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 71/100

Pajero Sport

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Toyota RAV4 leads the catalogue index with 73 pts vs 67 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, RAV4 leads. However, Pajero Sport may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Pajero Sport and RAV4 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Pajero Sport 72 vs RAV4 50.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs RAV4 84.

Safety-equipment index: Pajero Sport 72 vs RAV4 93.

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs RAV4 71.

Ownership-cover index: Pajero Sport not separately scored vs RAV4 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.