Thread Starter
#1
The word “Pajero” always created a sense of “awe” in me right from my childhood days. In Mumbai one of the places where we could see this was in Bandra as well as Dadar(Sena Bhavan).I always used to feel that this is like a distant dream which I would like to realize it one day. My first car was an Indigo (2003). I have always preferred cars which offer lot of space. Next was Innova(2008) and I was thrilled to drive it for 5 years(roughly 65K driven) and very good condition. So the need to change was really not there but things changed and the need got created. My Father-in-Law once mentioned to me about the accidents which keep on happening on the Mumbai-Pune expressway. That’s when I also started thinking that even my Innova(one below the top end) does not have safety features. Also in the last few years some of the places where I have travelled for holiday the last stretch of 4-5 kms used to be really bad roads and always felt uncomfortable driving on them. More than anything else the innate desire to upgrade to a SUV always existed and it just came out in the OPEN !!So the SEARCH began or shall I say RESEARCH. Top of the mind shortlist FORTUNER, DUSTER, XUV500(AWD),Santa Fe, YETI ,PAJERO & INNOVA(YES FAMILY PRESSURE)
Need to change: Need more safety features & off-roading capability (the 2nd piece had to convince my family a lot)
Innova top end had the safety features so why not a new Innova. This is an excellent car for long drives. Comfortable, Spacious(take a couple of holidays with my parents & in-laws)
Duster: Good reviews. Basic SUV. Good Ground Clearance. Can tackle bad roads but 5 seater
XUV 500: Have driven my friend’s car W6. Good ride. But “Mahindra”? May be some sort of bias. My wife also was not much for it
Yeti: Fantastic SUV. Not driven but saw number of videos demonstrating its off roading capability as well as read a lot of reviews. Lot of the people do not like the shape. I like it. Sat inside it. Very roomy…very good headroom. 5 seater
Santa fe: Good reviews but everywhere it is called the “Soft” off-roader. Again some bias. I wanted something tough & rugged
Fortuner: Natural choice on the shortlist. Tested brand. Thought I could exchange the Innova with them
Pajero Sport: My personal favourite. I somehow liked the new look. Saw so many videos & reviews that it had to be there
Well only 2 qualified for the final shortlist for doing a test drive ie: Fortuner & Pajero Sport. All others did not qualify because 2 of them were 5 seaters. Innova again(not done). Santa Fe new model launch date was later so did not want to wait for that. XUV500 everyone has it so what the heck!
I knew I was stretching my budget for either a Fortuner or Pajero Sport but things fell in to place. That’s when I decided to do the TEST DRIVEs
One of the important things during a TEST DRIVE is to do it back-to-back. This was reinforced by the Pajero people saying that “only then you will understand the difference”
I was very clear that I wanted proper off-roading capabilities. 2 reasons for that:
1.When paying so much money I don’t mind paying little extra and get the complete package and not just show-sha
2.And just in case you are in a tricky situation with your car there is a very good probability that you will come out of it. The confidence that your car has the features of getting you out of tricky situations is the half the battle won
test criteria
1.Driving in bumper to bumper traffic
2.Stability during cornering & high speeds
3.Comfort level in all the 3 rows
4.Driver Comfort level
5.Turning Radius
6.Off roading testing(whatever I can)
7.Overall cabin feel
8.Any special features
Additional factors for final decision making
9.Dealer network
10.FGF: Feel Good Factor
Fortuner/Total Marks = 74
Pajero Sport/Total Marks = 82. Still one part of the mind said “ Go for Fortuner. Tried & tested”.
What really tilted the decision in favour of Pajero Sport were the multiple interactions I had with the dealer in terms of clearing my apprehensions. Lack of network, support from HM(spoke to one of the regional managers), eagerness to sell but still honest with all their answers. In fact one of the dealer manager openly said that Innova is much more comfortable on long rides on flat roads where as Pajero is good not only on good roads but on any kind of road or no road
I took a 2nd test drive with Pajero Sport along with the main manager from the dealer and that was really helpful along with another brilliant young chap from the showroom who knew inside out about the car. They explained the features again. Did some high speed driving & then sudden braking in traffic just to check how the car behaves
One more important thing for all the test drives I had taken the same set of people to get a consistent view/feedback. Vehicle with full load needs to be checked.Last but not the least the detailed review from Iron Rock (the sheer timing of it) convinced me that I am making the right decision.
I am extremely happy to join this forum. Would share my experiences of driving to Kerala in my next update
cheers
arichamp
Need to change: Need more safety features & off-roading capability (the 2nd piece had to convince my family a lot)
Innova top end had the safety features so why not a new Innova. This is an excellent car for long drives. Comfortable, Spacious(take a couple of holidays with my parents & in-laws)
Duster: Good reviews. Basic SUV. Good Ground Clearance. Can tackle bad roads but 5 seater
XUV 500: Have driven my friend’s car W6. Good ride. But “Mahindra”? May be some sort of bias. My wife also was not much for it
Yeti: Fantastic SUV. Not driven but saw number of videos demonstrating its off roading capability as well as read a lot of reviews. Lot of the people do not like the shape. I like it. Sat inside it. Very roomy…very good headroom. 5 seater
Santa fe: Good reviews but everywhere it is called the “Soft” off-roader. Again some bias. I wanted something tough & rugged
Fortuner: Natural choice on the shortlist. Tested brand. Thought I could exchange the Innova with them
Pajero Sport: My personal favourite. I somehow liked the new look. Saw so many videos & reviews that it had to be there
Well only 2 qualified for the final shortlist for doing a test drive ie: Fortuner & Pajero Sport. All others did not qualify because 2 of them were 5 seaters. Innova again(not done). Santa Fe new model launch date was later so did not want to wait for that. XUV500 everyone has it so what the heck!
I knew I was stretching my budget for either a Fortuner or Pajero Sport but things fell in to place. That’s when I decided to do the TEST DRIVEs
One of the important things during a TEST DRIVE is to do it back-to-back. This was reinforced by the Pajero people saying that “only then you will understand the difference”
I was very clear that I wanted proper off-roading capabilities. 2 reasons for that:
1.When paying so much money I don’t mind paying little extra and get the complete package and not just show-sha
2.And just in case you are in a tricky situation with your car there is a very good probability that you will come out of it. The confidence that your car has the features of getting you out of tricky situations is the half the battle won
test criteria
1.Driving in bumper to bumper traffic
2.Stability during cornering & high speeds
3.Comfort level in all the 3 rows
4.Driver Comfort level
5.Turning Radius
6.Off roading testing(whatever I can)
7.Overall cabin feel
8.Any special features
Additional factors for final decision making
9.Dealer network
10.FGF: Feel Good Factor
Fortuner/Total Marks = 74
Pajero Sport/Total Marks = 82. Still one part of the mind said “ Go for Fortuner. Tried & tested”.
What really tilted the decision in favour of Pajero Sport were the multiple interactions I had with the dealer in terms of clearing my apprehensions. Lack of network, support from HM(spoke to one of the regional managers), eagerness to sell but still honest with all their answers. In fact one of the dealer manager openly said that Innova is much more comfortable on long rides on flat roads where as Pajero is good not only on good roads but on any kind of road or no road
I took a 2nd test drive with Pajero Sport along with the main manager from the dealer and that was really helpful along with another brilliant young chap from the showroom who knew inside out about the car. They explained the features again. Did some high speed driving & then sudden braking in traffic just to check how the car behaves
One more important thing for all the test drives I had taken the same set of people to get a consistent view/feedback. Vehicle with full load needs to be checked.Last but not the least the detailed review from Iron Rock (the sheer timing of it) convinced me that I am making the right decision.
I am extremely happy to join this forum. Would share my experiences of driving to Kerala in my next update
cheers
arichamp
![[;)]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Wink.gif "Wink [;)]")
The thin dealership network has also made it a niche vehicle and a unique vehicle! Congrats once again, can we have some interior pictures as well?