Of all ute-based SUVs, only Isuzu’s MU-X tops the Pajero Sport in the sales charts. Mitsubishi wisely keeps evolving the model, a trick that works well on its ancient ASX small SUV, consistently its segment’s best-seller.

The 2020 Pajero Sport retains its fit-for-purpose engine, transmission, off-road nous and chassis — and ups the desirability factor.

It gains the Triton ute’s mass of front-end chrome and tones down the most polarising feature: rear lights that tapered into the bumper. The new ones are a smidgen more subtle.

More equipment’s been added to the range-topping Exceed, the penalty being a $2700 premium over the outgoing grade. Against the opposition — Ford Everest, Holden Trailblazer, Toyota Fortuner and MU-X — it still looks decent value.

The cabin in this flagship is pretty fancy: power/heated leather seats, digital dashboard, built-in satnav and 360-degree parking camera. Solid active safety, smartphone mirroring, four USB points, a foot-swipe power tailgate, active cruise control and seven seats show how family-friendly a ute-based brute can be.

At $59,990 on the road, the price is creeping up but little is lacking in specification (though wireless phone charging would be handy) and Mitsubishi leads the class on ownership costs. The seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and $299 capped price services for the first three years are enticing, especially with its current first-two-services-free promotion.

On and off road

Why do people buy a ute-based SUV for town and highway duties alone? There are on-road specific seven-seat SUVs for that, Mitsubishi’s own Outlander included.

You’d pick a Pajero Sport for its 3100kg towing capacity or for serious off-road adventuring, given its four drive modes.

In low range, there are Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand and Rock modes, adjusting the likes of engine torque and traction control.

Such smarts take you deeper than where all but the hardcore dare travel but, for typical Aussie family unsealed road odysseys, the Pajero Sport needs no more than the turn of a dial on-the-fly to engage 4WD.

We strapped two kids in the back — with roof air vents, rear USB points and AC power socket helping our cause over a six-hour journey — and steered the new wagon from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges.

Typical of these SUVs, sheer size makes city driving cumbersome, while the top heavy nature and 218mm ground clearance means cornering must be undertaken with care. As with its rivals, the Pajero Sport’s a wallowy thing that leans in turns and feels its 2110kg weight.

The trade-off is impressive comfort when on the open road. It’s floaty over bumps but absorbs them well and, critically, the kids don’t get car sick.

The 2.4-litre turbo diesel hums along at 110km/h with little noise, has enough poke when pushed and the eight-speed transmission’s fairly fuss-free — ideal for chewing through kilometres on such trips. On the dusty and often corrugated red and gold unsealed tracks in the ranges, the big SUV is in its element. We rumble past a rental Kia sedan at 80km/h (it was crashing along at about 20km/h) and carry on a normal conversation in the cooled, leather-lined cabin.

That’s the point of this SUV. You don’t think twice about venturing down the next rocky gorge track — not only do you know it’ll make it but it also won’t be at the cost of your spine, teeth or vomiting children.

It’s not perfect. The dash screen is often hard to see despite us cranking up the brightness and its thirst for diesel — a far-from-claimed 11.7L/100km on our mix of driving — makes the 68L fuel tank seem lacking.

The Everest and Fortuner have 80L capacity. Next time we’ll carry a jerry can.

Verdict 4/5

Pricier but better-looking than before and flush with equipment, the Pajero Sport in Exceed grade hides its ute roots in practically every way except cornering ability. Value, warranty and ownership costs make it a formidable player in the ute-based SUV segment.

What’s new

Price: Up across the board. Drive-away prices for private buyers: GLX $45,990, GLS $52,490 ($53,990 seven seats) and Exceed $59,990.

Tech: Hands-free power tailgate (except GLX) and AC power outlet for rear passengers. Exceed gets remote control app via smartphone, eight-inch digital dashboard and TomTom navigation.

Performance: Updates to combustion chamber, fuel injection, compression ratio, turbo boost and new aluminium engine block — but 2.4-litre turbo diesel has same outputs and thirst unchanged.

Driving: For Exceed, blind spot warning gets a radar sensor in the rear bumper, with improved range and less disturbance. Lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert added.

Design: Shiny “Dynamic Shield” chrome front end is aggressive and gives impression of width, alongside combination LED light clusters and higher bonnet. There are new alloys, higher side-steps and deeper rear bumper. Rear vertical lights are now shorter — and less silly looking. Cabin gets extra padding plus dashboard and console storage trays.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed vitals

Price: $59,990 drive-away

Warranty/servicing: 7 years/unlimited km, $299 for 3 years/ 45,000km (two years free)

Safety: 5 stars, 7 airbags, AEB, rear camera, rear sensors, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, emergency brake assist, bird’s-eye camera, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert

Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 133kW/430Nm

Thirst: 8.0L/100km

Boot: 131L/502L/1488L

Spare: Full-size