Looking for an SUV with a price of IDR 500 million, choose the Honda CR-V or Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2021?

Starting 2021, two major brands in Indonesia, namely Honda and Mitsubishi, released their flagship SUV, the New CR-V and Pajero Sport. Interestingly, these two models compete in the Rp. 500 to 600 million class segments. When asked to choose, are you a CR-V or Pajero Sport team?

For this price range, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2021 is available in four variants, including:

• Exceed 4x2 MT Rp.502,800,000

• Exceed 4x2 AT Rp. 517,800,000

• GLX 4x4 MT Rp.567,800,000

• Dakar 4x2 AT Rp575,700,000

Meanwhile, for New Honda there are only two variants of the 1.5-liter turbo type, namely:

• New Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo IDR 522,500,000

• New Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo Prestige Rp. 577,000,000

So, from the competition between these two medium SUVs, there are interesting things, namely the different types of engines. For the Pajero Sport confident with a common rail diesel engine. Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V still relies on a 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine.

Engine comparison for Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2021 vs New Honda CR-V, which is the Mightiest?

The recently launched CR-V facelift is available in two options of 1.5L turbo and 2.0L Naturally Aspirated (NA) engines. Please note, the CR-V 2021 is implanted with the same type of engine as the pre-facelift generation. For a price range of Rp. 500 million, a 1.5 liter turbo engine is available.

1.5L Turbo engine with inline 4-cylinder configuration, VTEC Turbo DOHC, 16 valves + DBW Direct Injection berupipams 1,498 cc. This machine can release 190PS @ 5,600 Rpm and 240Nm @ 2,000 - 5,000 Rpm of torque.

What about the Pajero Sport's diesel engine? This machine is well known to be tough because it is also used on the Mitsubishi Triton L200.

The New Pajero Sport for the GLX and Exceed variants is equipped with a 2,477 cc 2.5 liter 4D56 diesel engine. This engine produces a maximum output of 136 PS at 4,000 rpm, 324 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm.

Especially for the Dakar 4x2 type using a 4N15 2.4L VGT-Intercooler diesel engine. This machine produces a greater maximum output of 181 PS at 3,500 rpm, torque of 430 Nm at 2,500 rpm.

For gearshift, there is a choice of 8-speed automatic transmission with sequential sport and a shift via paddle shift. For the 'conventional' you can choose a 5-speed manual transmission.

Based on the data on the Pajero Sport diesel engine, it is proven to be more powerful. This is because the engine capacity is larger and is also supported by a turbo. As an SUV, the engine specifications of the Pajero Sport are superior for use on off road terrain.

Large torque, making a ladder frame SUV like the Pajero Sport easier when facing off road terrain. Meanwhile, for the Honda CR-V, the specifications are more for urban SUVs. CR-V excels on the side of big power for driving comfort on asphalt roads.

Competing with the Pajero Sport Dakar vs Honda CR-V Prestige, which is the coolest?

If you are fighting about the completeness of features, the Pajero Sport Dakar must take your hat off on the CR-V Prestige. The reason is, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Dakar only has a panoramic sunroof in the same price range. The Pajero Sport, with a price below Rp. 600 million, does not yet have a power back door like the Honda CR-V 1.5L Turbo Prestige.

Not only that, the Honda CR-V Turbo Prestige has also been supported by Honda SENSING technology. However, these features are not as complete as other countries, including: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low Speed Follow (LSF), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

However, at a price of half a billion rupiahs, the Pajero Sport Dakar series appears premium and sophisticated. The cluster instrument panel uses the New LCD Meter Cluster 8 inches. Then information and entertainment support comes from the New Head Unit 8 ”with Smartphone-Link Display Audio (SDA).

This Pajero Sport head unit even supports voice commands to answer phone calls and watch favorite movies. However, the Dakar 4x2 type does not have a roof monitor for second line entertainment.

Conclusion

With a budget of Rp. 500 to 600 million, we are given the choice of the New CR-V 1.5L Turbo Prestige with the alternative being the New Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Dakar 4X2. Both have different characteristics even though they are both 7-seater SUVs.

Of course, choosing the CR-V or Pajero Sport can be adjusted according to your needs, apart from the prestige side of being a luxury SUV. Seeing the engine power and the type of monocoque frame used, the CR-V is suitable for traveling on terrain with a majority of asphalt or only light off-road terrain.

Its great power makes the CR-V comfortable cruising on up and down mountain roads. However, with its small torque and front wheel drive, it is certainly a bit difficult if you have to eat quite rocky off-road roads.

Hence, if you are looking for a versatile SUV, then the Dakar type Pajero Sport could be an interesting choice. The ladder frame chassis support with high ground clearance and large torque is clear enough for off-road conditions in the interior.

So, we don't have to worry about the car having trouble gobbling up dirt roads, because the large torque and rear-wheel drive have been proven to be able to pass through these terrain conditions so far.