Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Toyota RAV4

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.

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

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Toyota RAV4: the short answer

RAV4 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

RAV4 starts ZAR 179,990 cheaper Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · RAV4 from ZAR 610,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Pajero Sport RAV4
Maximum Power Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm RAV4137 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm RAV4221 Nm
Engine Size Pajero Sport2442 cc RAV42500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Pajero Sport12.3 km/l RAV421.3 km/l
Ground Clearance Pajero Sport218 mm RAV4186 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Pajero Sport

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

RAV4

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

Which One's Right for You?

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity 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 active
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) 190 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 732 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 1560 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg 2230 kg
Payload Capacity 695 kg 460 kg
Towing Capacity 2850 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1022 mm 991 mm
Rear Headroom 957 mm 947 mm
Front Legroom 1067 mm 1031 mm
Rear Legroom 880 mm 882 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Pajero Sport and RAV4 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: Pajero Sport 65 vs RAV4 56.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs RAV4 84.

Safety-equipment index: Pajero Sport 72 vs RAV4 94.

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs RAV4 68.

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.

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

RAV4 leads by 10 points

RAV4 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 74% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

RAV4

74% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 84
Safety 94
Practicality 68
Leads by 10 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 Pajero Sport +9 Efficiency RAV4 +35 Safety RAV4 +22 Practicality Pajero Sport +3

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

RAV4

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 84/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 68/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota RAV4 leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence 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.

Pajero Sport vs RAV4 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.