Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Lexus RX

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
Lexus RX in South Africa

Lexus RX

RX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,642,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Lexus RX: the short answer

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

Pajero Sport starts ZAR 726,510 cheaper Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · RX from ZAR 1,516,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Pajero Sport RX
Maximum Power Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm RX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm RX430 Nm
Engine Size Pajero Sport2442 cc RX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Pajero Sport12.3 km/l RX11.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Pajero Sport218 mm RX185 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

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
Specification evidence leader

RX

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

Which One's Right for You?

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

RX

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Pajero Sport RX
Model Introduced Year 2017 2023
Generation Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift Fifth-generation Lexus RX luxury SUV
Facelift History South African facelift launched in May 2025. Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices
Facelift Launched Since Current specification Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1895-2005 kg
Spec Pajero Sport RX
Length 4825 mm 4890 mm
Width 1815 mm 1920 mm
Height 1805 mm 1695 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2850 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 218 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 67.5 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 612 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg 2590 kg
Payload Capacity 695 kg -
Towing Capacity 2850 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.9 m
Front Headroom 1022 mm -
Rear Headroom 957 mm -
Front Legroom 1067 mm -
Rear Legroom 880 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Pajero Sport and RX 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 RX 85.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs RX 46.

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

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs RX 75.

Ownership-cover index: Pajero Sport not separately scored vs RX 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

RX leads by 12 points

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

Evidence leader 77 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 70% source coverage
77
#1 Evidence leader

RX

70% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 85
Efficiency 46
Safety 93
Practicality 75
Leads by 12 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 RX +20 Efficiency Pajero Sport +3 Safety RX +21 Practicality RX +4

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

RX

Performance 85/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 75/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Lexus RX leads the specification evidence index with 77 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, RX 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 RX 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.