Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Toyota Starlet

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 Starlet in South Africa

Toyota Starlet

1.0T XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 319,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 72 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 16.7 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Toyota Starlet: the short answer

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

Starlet starts ZAR 545,090 cheaper Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · Starlet from ZAR 244,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Pajero Sport Starlet
Maximum Power Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm Starlet72 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm Starlet140 Nm
Engine Size Pajero Sport2442 cc Starlet996 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Pajero Sport12.3 km/l Starlet16.7 km/l
Ground Clearance Pajero Sport218 mm Starlet162 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

Toyota Starlet

1.0T XR CVT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

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)

Specification evidence leader

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

Starlet

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

Starlet

  • 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 Starlet
Model Introduced Year 2017 2020
Generation Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift First generation Starlet in South Africa on B-segment platform
Facelift History South African facelift launched in May 2025. Minor updates since launch
Facelift Launched Since Current specification Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Hatchback
Color Note - White, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Orange
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1005 kg
Spec Pajero Sport Starlet
Length 4825 mm 3995 mm
Width 1815 mm 1695 mm
Height 1805 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2520 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 218 mm 162 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 265 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 1005 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg 1420 kg
Payload Capacity 695 kg 415 kg
Towing Capacity 2850 kg 1600 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 4.9 m
Front Headroom 1022 mm 982 mm
Rear Headroom 957 mm 955 mm
Front Legroom 1067 mm 1030 mm
Rear Legroom 880 mm 885 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Pajero Sport and Starlet 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 Starlet 32.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs Starlet 66.

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

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs Starlet 53.

Ownership-cover index: Pajero Sport not separately scored vs Starlet 43.

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

Pajero Sport leads by 6 points

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

Evidence leader 65 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 83% source coverage
65
#1 Evidence leader

Pajero Sport

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 72 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 65
Efficiency 49
Safety 72
Practicality 71
Leads by 6 points
59
#2

Starlet

90% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Performance 32
Performance 32
Efficiency 66
Safety 98
Practicality 53
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Pajero Sport +33 Efficiency Starlet +17 Safety Starlet +26 Practicality Pajero Sport +18

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Pajero Sport

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

Starlet

Performance 32/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 53/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mitsubishi Pajero Sport leads the specification evidence index with 65 pts vs 59 pts for Starlet

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Pajero Sport leads. However, Starlet may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Pajero Sport vs Starlet 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.