Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Hyundai Santa Fe

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Santa Fe Discontinued model
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
Hyundai Santa Fe in South Africa

Hyundai Santa Fe

2.2D 4WD Executive Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 899,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 13.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Hyundai Santa Fe: the short answer

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

Recorded price context Pajero Sport: current from ZAR 789,990 · Santa Fe: last listed from ZAR 899,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Pajero Sport Santa Fe
Maximum Power Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm Santa Fe147 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm Santa Fe440 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Engine Size Pajero Sport2442 cc Santa Fe2199 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Pajero Sport12.3 km/l Santa Fe13.8 km/l
Ground Clearance Pajero Sport218 mm Santa Fe188 mm

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

Evidence for Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D 4WD Executive

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

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
Specification evidence leader

Santa Fe

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

Which One's Right for You?

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Santa Fe

  • 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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Pajero Sport Santa Fe
Model Introduced Year 2017 2001
Generation Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift Fifth generation Santa Fe on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; 'Sensuous Sportiness' design with distinctive parametric LED lighting signature
Facelift History South African facelift launched in May 2025. Fifth generation launched in SA in 2022; significant styling and interior quality upgrade; distinctive boxy design language with vertical lighting
Facelift Launched Since Current specification 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg - 1980 kg
Spec Pajero Sport Santa Fe
Length 4825 mm 4830 mm
Width 1815 mm 1900 mm
Height 1805 mm 1750 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2815 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 218 mm 188 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 67 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 703 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg Not confirmed
Payload Capacity 695 kg Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 2850 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows Not confirmed
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m Not confirmed
Front Headroom 1022 mm Not confirmed
Rear Headroom 957 mm Not confirmed
Front Legroom 1067 mm Not confirmed
Rear Legroom 880 mm Not confirmed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Pajero Sport and Santa Fe 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 65 vs Santa Fe 74.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs Santa Fe 55.

Safety-equipment index: Pajero Sport 72 vs Santa Fe 98.

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs Santa Fe 89.

Ownership-cover index: Pajero Sport not separately scored vs Santa Fe 65.

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

Santa Fe leads by 13 points

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

Evidence leader 78 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 89% source coverage
78
#1 Evidence leader

Santa Fe

89% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 74
Efficiency 55
Safety 98
Practicality 89
Ownership 65
Leads by 13 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 Santa Fe +9 Efficiency Santa Fe +6 Safety Santa Fe +26 Practicality Santa Fe +18

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Santa Fe

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 65/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Santa Fe leads the specification evidence index with 78 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe questions

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.