Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Renault Trafic Panel Van

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
Renault Trafic Panel Van in South Africa

Renault Trafic Panel Van

2.0L dCi Panel Van with Rear Camera and Touchscreen Pack Diesel 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 635,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport vs Renault Trafic Panel Van: the short answer

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

Trafic Panel Van starts ZAR 153,991 cheaper Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · Trafic Panel Van from ZAR 635,999

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Pajero Sport Trafic Panel Van
Maximum Power Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm Trafic Panel Van125 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm Trafic Panel Van380 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size Pajero Sport2442 cc Trafic Panel Van2000 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Pajero Sport12.3 km/l Trafic Panel Van13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance Pajero Sport218 mm Trafic Panel Van160 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

Renault Trafic Panel Van

2.0L dCi Panel Van with Rear Camera and Touchscreen Pack

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)

Pajero Sport

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

Trafic Panel Van

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

Which One's Right for You?

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Trafic Panel Van

  • 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

Spec Pajero Sport Trafic Panel Van
Model Introduced Year 2017 2026
Generation Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift Current South Africa Trafic Panel Van range
Facelift History South African facelift launched in May 2025. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since Current specification 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Panel Van
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV Panel Van
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Panel Van
Tare Mass Kg - 1646 kg
Spec Pajero Sport Trafic Panel Van
Length 4825 mm 5480 mm
Width 1815 mm 2283 mm
Height 1805 mm 1967 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 3498 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 218 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm 160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 68 l 80 l
Boot/Cargo Space 193 l 8900 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 1646 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2775 kg 3070 kg
Payload Capacity 695 kg 1279 kg
Towing Capacity 2850 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 2 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 1 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 6.59 m
Front Headroom 1022 mm 1030 mm
Rear Headroom 957 mm Not Applicable
Front Legroom 1067 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 880 mm Not Applicable

In depth: how these cars differ

This Pajero Sport and Trafic Panel Van 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 Trafic Panel Van 62.

Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs Trafic Panel Van 55.

Safety-equipment index: Pajero Sport 72 vs Trafic Panel Van 90.

Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs Trafic Panel Van 72.

Ownership-cover index: Pajero Sport not separately scored vs Trafic Panel Van 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

Trafic Panel Van leads by 5 points

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

Evidence leader 70 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 63% source coverage
70
#1 Evidence leader

Trafic Panel Van

63% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 62
Efficiency 55
Safety 90
Practicality 72
Leads by 5 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 +3 Efficiency Trafic Panel Van +6 Safety Trafic Panel Van +18 Practicality Trafic Panel Van +1

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Trafic Panel Van

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 72/100

Pajero Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Renault Trafic Panel Van leads the specification evidence index with 70 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Trafic Panel Van 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 Trafic Panel Van 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.