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 vs Renault Trafic Passenger: the short answer
Trafic Passenger has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.
Pajero Sport starts ZAR 190,009 cheaperPajero Sport from ZAR 789,990 · Trafic Passenger from ZAR 979,999
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives
Swipe sideways to compare every column
Specification
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Maximum Power
Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Trafic Passenger125 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque
Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Trafic Passenger380 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size
Pajero Sport2442 cc
Trafic Passenger1997 cc
Combined Fuel Economy
Pajero Sport12.3 km/l
Trafic Passenger13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance
Pajero Sport218 mm
Trafic Passenger199 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
Hagalu Editorial Team ·
Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.
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 Passenger
Strengths
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger listed safety equipment
Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to:Published EfficiencyPublished Practicality
Which One's Right for You?
Pajero Sport
Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
Trafic Passenger
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
Open a category, then swipe sideways to compare every column
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Model Introduced Year
2017
2026
Generation
Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
Current long-wheelbase nine-seat Trafic Passenger introduced to the South African retail range in 2026 with 125 kW Blue dCi power and EAG9 automatic transmission
Facelift History
South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Current Trafic face and smart-cockpit specification with three South African grades: Evolution, Evolution+ and Techno+
Facelift Launched Since
Current specification
2026
Facelift Version Ending
Current
Current
Body Style
SUV
MPV
Model Year
2026
2026
Production Status
active
active
Segment
Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Large MPV
Vehicle Type
Passenger vehicle
MPV
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Length
4825 mm
5480 mm
Width
1815 mm
1956 mm
Height
1805 mm
1973 mm
Wheelbase
2800 mm
3498 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
218 mm
199 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)
190 mm
160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity
68 l
80 l
Boot/Cargo Space
193 l
1890 l
Kerb Weight
2080 kg
2160 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
2775 kg
3070 kg
Payload Capacity
695 kg
910 kg
Towing Capacity
2850 kg
2500 kg
Seating Capacity
7 seats
9 seats
Number of Rows
3 rows
3 rows
Doors
5 doors
5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius
5.6 m
6.9 m
Front Headroom
1022 mm
1019 mm
Rear Headroom
957 mm
1060 mm
Front Legroom
1067 mm
1028 mm
Rear Legroom
880 mm
930 mm
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Engine
2.4-litre Intercooled Turbocharged Diesel
2.0-litre Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Code
4N15
M9R
Fuel Type
Diesel
Diesel
Hybrid System
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Engine Displacement
2442 cc
1997 cc
Cylinders
4
4
Cylinder Layout
Inline
Inline
Valves
16
16
Valves per Cylinder
4
4
Aspiration
Turbocharged
Turbocharged
Fuel System
Common Rail Direct Injection
Common Rail Direct Injection
Compression Ratio
15.5:1
15.1:1
Bore
86 mm
85 mm
Stroke
105.1 mm
88 mm
Maximum Power
133 kW @ 3500 rpm
125 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque
430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
380 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Combined Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Combined Torque
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Motor Type
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Number of Motors
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Motor Location
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Drive Type
4WD
FWD
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
9-Speed Automatic
Top Speed
180 km/h
175 km/h
0-100 km/h
11.8 sec
12.5 sec
Quarter Mile
18.3 sec
17.8 sec
Drive Modes
Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand, Rock
Eco, Normal
Launch Control
No
No
Rev Limiter
4500 rpm
4500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio
63.9 kW/tonne
57.9 kW/tonne
Torque-to-Weight Ratio
206.7 Nm/tonne
175.9 Nm/tonne
Battery Capacity
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Usable Battery Capacity
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Battery Type
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Battery Voltage
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Electric Range
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
AC Charging Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
DC Charging Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
AC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
DC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Regenerative Braking
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Gearbox
8-Speed Automatic
9-Speed EAG9 Automatic
Drivetrain Layout
Front-engine, selectable four-wheel drive
Front Engine, Front-Wheel Drive
LSD Available
Active Limited Slip Differential (brake control)
Not Applicable
Transfer Case
Super Select 4WD-II
Not Applicable
Differential Lock
Rear differential lock
Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters
Yes
Not Available
Final Drive Ratio
3.692
Not Available
Number of Gears
8
9
Transmission Type
Automatic
Automatic
Clutch Type
Torque converter
Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator
Yes
Standard
Gear Shift Type
Floor-mounted selector
Automatic
Drivetrain
4WD
Front-Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement
Selectable electronically
Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range
Yes
Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range
Yes
Not Applicable
4WD Selector
Rotary selector
Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles
Yes
Not Available
Front Differential Lock
No
Not Applicable
Gearbox Type
8-Speed Automatic
Torque Converter Automatic
Low Range Ratio
2.566
Not Applicable
Low Range
Yes
Not Applicable
Axle Layout
4x4
4x2
Rear Differential Lock
Yes
Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds
8
9
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Claimed Mileage
12.3 km/l
13.9 km/l
City Mileage
9.9 km/l
11.3 km/l
Highway Mileage
14.2 km/l
16.3 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity
68 l
80 l
Emission Standard
Euro 5
Euro VI
AdBlue Tank Capacity
Not Applicable
24.7 l
Auto Start Stop
No
Standard
Real-world Mileage
12.3 km/l
13.9 km/l
Charging Port Type
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Charging Type
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Fuel Tank Litres
68
80
Combined Driving Range
84
Not Applicable
Electric Consumption
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Range Real World Highway
868 km
Not Applicable
Range Real World Mixed
781 km
Not Applicable
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Airbags
7
6
ABS
Yes
Standard
Electronic Stability Control
Yes
Standard
Traction Control
Yes
Standard
Hill Descent Control
Yes
Not Available
Hill Start Assist
Yes
Standard
Child Safety Lock
Yes
Standard
ISOFIX Mounts
Yes
Standard
Brake Assist
Yes
Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor
No
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
Yes
Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
Yes
Standard
Front Parking Sensors
Yes
Standard
AEB
No
Standard
BA
Yes
Standard
Brake Override System
Yes
Standard
Curtain Airbags
Yes
Standard
Driver Airbag
Yes
Standard
EBD
Yes
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
Yes
Standard
Hill Hold
Yes
Standard
Passenger Airbag
Yes
Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
No
Not Available
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Yes
Standard
Seatbelt Reminder
Yes
Standard
Side Airbags
Yes
Standard
Stability Control
Yes
Standard
TCS
Yes
Standard
Knee Airbag
Yes
Not Available
ABS EBD
Yes
Standard
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Cruise Control
Yes
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
No
Not Available
Lane Keep Assist
No
Standard
Lane Departure Warning
No
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring
No
Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
No
Not Available
Parking Sensors
Yes
Front and Rear
Rear View Camera
Yes
Standard
360 Degree Camera
Yes
Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking
No
Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert
No
Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition
No
Not Available
Auto Highbeam
No
Not Available
Auto Wipers
Yes
Standard
Rear Parking Sensors
Yes
Standard
Reverse Camera
Yes
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
No
Not Available
Park Assist
No
Not Available
Around View Monitor
Yes
Not Available
Blind Spot Warning
No
Standard
Forward Collision Warning
No
Standard
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Seat Material
Leather
Imitation Leather
Heated Seats
No
Driver
Ventilated Seats
No
Not Available
Ambient Lighting
No
Not Available
Steering Wheel Material
Leather
Leather
60 40 Split Seat
Yes
Removable Rear Benches
Driver Seat Adjustment
Power adjustable
Manual Height and Reach
Passenger Seat Adjustment
Manual adjustable
Manual
Seat Trim
Leather-appointed
Techno+ Imitation Leather
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Climate Control
Dual-zone automatic with rear air conditioning
Manual
Power Windows
Front and rear
Front
Keyless Entry
Yes
Standard
Push Button Start
Yes
Standard
Wireless Charging
No
Standard
Sunroof
Yes
Not Available
Electric Tailgate
Yes
Not Available
Rain Sensing Wipers
Yes
Standard
AC Type
Dual-zone automatic with rear air conditioning
Manual
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Infotainment System
Smartphone-link Display Audio
8-inch Easy Link Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay
Yes
Standard
Android Auto
Yes
Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity
Yes
Standard
Number of Speakers
6
4
Digital Instrument Cluster
Colour multi-information display
Standard
USB Ports
Front and rear
Standard
Infotainment Screen
8-inch
8-inch
Touchscreen
8-inch
8-inch
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
LED Headlamps
Yes
Standard
Daytime Running Lamps
Yes
LED
Fog Lamps
Yes
LED
Roof Rails
Yes
Not Available
Exterior Colour Options
White Diamond, Graphite Grey Metallic, Sterling Silver Metallic, Jet Black Mica
New vehicle sold through Mitsubishi Motors South Africa
driver-assistance and comfort flagship
Price Zar
904990 ZAR
1049999 ZAR
Pricing Role
Official South African recommended retail price
top
Starting Price
904990
1049999
Starting Price Zar
904990
1049999
Spec
Pajero Sport
Trafic Passenger
Warranty
3 years / 100,000 km
5 years / 150000 km
In depth: how these cars differ
This Pajero Sport and Trafic Passenger 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 Passenger 55.
Efficiency index: Pajero Sport 49 vs Trafic Passenger 55.
Safety-equipment index: Pajero Sport 72 vs Trafic Passenger 90.
Practicality index: Pajero Sport 71 vs Trafic Passenger 88.
Ownership-cover index: Pajero Sport not separately scored vs Trafic Passenger 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.
Model imagery
Pajero Sport and Trafic Passenger image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
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 Passenger leads by 8 points
Trafic Passenger has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
Trafic Passenger
Performance
55/100
Efficiency
55/100
Safety
90/100
Practicality
88/100
Pajero Sport
Performance
65/100
Efficiency
49/100
Safety
72/100
Practicality
71/100
What the evidence means
Evidence indexRenault Trafic Passenger
leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts
vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Trafic Passenger leads. However, Pajero Sport may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.
Related comparisons
Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.
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.
Compare
Request dealer offers
Let's discuss your next car
Share your interest so Hagalu can follow up about quotations and available discounts. The dealer confirms stock, price and terms.
✓
We've Got Your Details!
Your enquiry has reached Hagalu for follow-up. Any dealer offer will be confirmed separately by the seller.