Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs BYD SEAL

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
BYD SEAL in South Africa

BYD SEAL

Performance AWD 3.8S Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 1,211,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 390 kW 🔧 670 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs BYD SEAL: the short answer

SEAL holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Pajero Sport.

Pajero Sport starts ZAR 217,910 cheaper Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · SEAL from ZAR 1,007,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Pajero Sport SEAL
Maximum Power Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm SEAL390 kW
Maximum Torque Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm SEAL670 Nm
Engine Size Pajero Sport2442 cc SEALNot Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy Pajero Sport12.3 km/l SEALNot Applicable
Ground Clearance Pajero Sport218 mm SEAL145 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

2.4L DI-DC 8-speed A/T 4X4 Exceed

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

BYD SEAL

Performance AWD 3.8S

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Pajero Sport

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

SEAL

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

Which One's Right for You?

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SEAL

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 SEAL
Model Introduced Year 2017 2024
Generation Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift First South African SEAL generation
Facelift History South African facelift launched in May 2025. No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since Current specification Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Sedan
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV Medium Sedan
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger vehicle
Spec Pajero Sport SEAL
Length 4825 mm 4800 mm
Width 1815 mm 1875 mm
Height 1805 mm 1460 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2920 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 218 mm 145 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm 120 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 400 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 2185 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg 2631 kg
Payload Capacity 695 kg 446 kg
Towing Capacity 2850 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.7 m
Front Headroom 1022 mm 1000 mm
Rear Headroom 957 mm 920 mm
Front Legroom 1067 mm 1110 mm
Rear Legroom 880 mm 810 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Pajero Sport and SEAL 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 SEAL 100.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs SEAL 90.

Safety-equipment index: Pajero Sport 72 vs SEAL 98.

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs SEAL 57.

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

SEAL leads by 21 points

SEAL holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Pajero Sport.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 21 points
Data 68% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

SEAL

68% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 57
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 57
Leads by 21 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 SEAL +35 Efficiency SEAL +41 Safety SEAL +26 Practicality Pajero Sport +14

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

SEAL

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 57/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD SEAL leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, SEAL 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 SEAL 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.