Prado vs Pajero vs Pathfinder

Prado .............

Gee you've opened a can of worms here!!! Without question the Pajero is by far the superior vehicle. The diesel has the best low down torque a great triptronic auto and strong driveline backed up by 5 yr warranty with a 10 yr warranty on motor & driveline. The Prado.Well what can I say, what a disappointment. Toyota launched the new model with all the usual Tojo smoke & mirrors promising a better motor & performance than the previous model & don't forget the obligatory Toyota price increase....so it must be good...right? The Pathfinder....sales are way down & the new V6 diesel, what a great motor but shame about the rest of the vehicle. Due to their weight all vehicles should perform well on the sand. I think they would all be reliable & economical but my unbias opinion is go the Pajero...love that car!!!

James , The Pajero is miles ahead in performance and reliability, plus the 5 year warranty.
If the Prado was any better you would expect a better warranty?

Bushy.

Pajero needs a warranty, Prado doesn't. Answered that for 'ya ;)

Prado hands down... why do you think they are more expensive then to other 2?


Plus it's a Toyota.

Nissan's response to major warranty work is attrocious. Read the Nissan forums. I wouldn't touch anything from that brand.

Riiiiiiigghht, so going off some of the above responses, the next time I go shopping for electrical and other household or shed items I should be going for the most expensive ones with the least amount of warranty ?????????????

Cheers
Pezza

Here's an unbiased response from a bloke who has never owned the same brand twice.

The Paj is way ahead of the Prado in all aspects of performance, warranty, fuel economy and pretty well any other measure except "Brand Snobbery" By the way I don't own a Paj, yet?

As far as sand is concerned it would be the one with the best driver.

Economy the driver with the lightest foot.

Reliability take your pick There are good and bad in every model

Nissan seem to have worst customer service.

Pathfinder can't help you, but spending my money on two mid sized 4WDs I have evaluated Prado and Pajero closely.

Prado
>Larger fuel tank, better for long touring
>3rd row seats I think can be split, allowing for better configuration when travelling with 6
>Off road magazines tell me is superior in real off rugged rock climbing type stuff
>More comfortable suspension when travelling on bitumen, softer, more comfortable driving along a highway or in town.
>Motoring mags say they have superior NVH and interior finish, but I can't tell the difference
>Superior petrol engine
>I believe superior resale value (as Toyota have such a good reputation, though I don't know how much of it is bought with advertising). Some disagree
>More dealers/ dealer workshops in the bush? there are certainly more Toyota dealers, but in the bush I haven't been to many towns which don't have a Mitsubishi dealer if there is a Toyota dealer. Most dealers in the bush represent multiple brands.
>More Toyota's in the bush, certainly are, but most of them are LC or 1Tonne utes. Though Prado outsells Pajero 2 or 3 to 1, I don't notice more Prados in the bush than Pajero, but again total figures say Prado outsell Pajero.


Pajero
>5 year warranty, but after owning two and driving 400 000km I've never really had to worry about using it.
>Superior diesel engine and gearbox (so motoring mags all say)
>Superior handling (so all motoring mags say), doesn't feel like a big old American car wallowing around corners, especially on dirt roads or twisting bitumen
>Offer more extras for same $, or at least they did I compared them 4 years ago before laying out $60k.
>Cheaper to buy 2nd hand (as I Prados have better resale value)

Economical, well unless you are going to do a side by side comparison over 3-4 says of driving swapping drivers no one can tell you. Suppose you have to rely on those Government figures.
Prados suit some applications better than Pajeros and vice versa, you have yourself what will suit you better. Sand driving, isn't that more about tyre type and inflation ?
For me Pajero won due to superior handling, roads/tracks I drive, diesel engine and value for money. Under different family/ driving circumstances it would have been the other way around.

buy magazines go for test drives do a for and against list also a list of needs and wants.
That is the only way that you can work out what is best for you.
Everyones needs and wants are different there are no short cuts

M

Well I sat in a 150 prado for a full day of off roading, quit ?? Yes, comfortable ?? yes but not as comfy as a pajero, Power, bit hard sitting in the passengers seat but based on my neighbours pajero it would kill a prado in towing performance, economy ?? On par with each other till it comes to towing, pajero wins again (based on two vehicles towing same weight for the same distance) Quitness ?? Prado definately, off road flex ?? Prado will always beat the pajero while ever the prado has the solid rear end, BUT the pajero will make up for it anyway with its traction control, which also works a treat in the prado plus the down hill assist, the only thing my neighbour dislikes is the rear tyres chew out on the inner edges quicker on his new pajero then his old one due to the independent rear end but again comfy on rough roads. The only reaason I got prado again was due to the solid rear end for off road use, other wise the 3.2T/D pajero was next on the list, I still reckon the pajero is more comfortable then the prado, and personally I like the 120 prado (previous shape) still more then the 150 (at the moment) will probably grow on me but I like the fact of having plastic flares to scratch then metal panels............

James , I wouldn't spend the extra on a Prado,having owned a Pathfinder and have a mate with a Pajero there's not much between them.

Thanks for all the advice.