Mitsubishi Pajiiro Pinin
Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin / Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin “made its European debut in 1999 with a three-door body and 1.8 liter engine. In October 2000, a five-door version of the machine with a new two-liter engine, aggregated with a mechanical or automatic gearboxes.
Compact SUVs are now in vogue. The Japanese, Koreans, British – all rushed to master the niche “SUV”. As a rule, a very limited off-road capability is typical for such cars, but at the same time it is not a bad ride for an ordinary passenger car, and the advantage to the highway side is obvious.
Repeated winners of all kinds of rally raids have long hesitated to respond to competitors, apparently weighing in which style to give preference – and, it seems, have remained true to tradition. This is how another Pajero appeared – Pinin. He inherited all the family features of older brothers, including not only stylish looks (they took care of her in a famous bodybuilding studio), but also a multi-mode Super Select 4WG-I transmission, a limited slip differential in the rear axle, a good ground clearance of 200 mm — consider a full set of qualities inherent in this all-terrain vehicle.
We have already introduced readers to the three-door version of the car, now the turn of the five-door has come. “Pajero-Pinin” is not just extended: its wheelbase increased by 170 mm, which made it possible to make the car five-seater. Another innovation is the two-liter gasoline engine with direct fuel injection (GDI), which develops 129 liters. with. and a maximum torque of 190 Nm
“Pinin” – a real “Pajero”, a little tight in size. But when you look inside, you quickly understand what you had to sacrifice in order to reduce the size. The driver’s seat has to be squeezed in, the next passenger turns out to be very close, a powerful tunnel hiding the transmission, sticks out to the salon – it feels that it’s not easy for the linkers to squeeze a solid set of off-road units into modest dimensions.
Most of the competitors, “SUV” try to somehow flatter the owner with playful colors of upholstery, original interior. And here it is sound, but somehow boring, monotonous and does not cause any emotions. Not in favor of “Pinin” and an attempt to sit in the back seat: you have to press the front seats, otherwise there is simply no place for your knees.
True, on the move “Pinin” again makes an attempt to prove consanguinity with the real “rogues.” From the first minutes of the movement you do not leave the feeling of “big” car. The high seating position of the driver provides not only good visibility, but also gives rise to a feeling of superiority over the other participants in the movement – as if you are riding a real, “adult” Pajero. The same unhurried, on the background of a passenger car, the reactions in which “Pinin” first lurches, and only then turns in the right direction. Where is the fuss in the city traffic – everything has to be done with pre-emption. The “baby” pendants are also very real, with a rather tough character, quickly inspiring confidence in their impenetrability. “Pinin” teaches not to pay attention to bumps at all, easily damping most of them. Of course, the SUV is the SUV – and shakes it, and at the same time you are very noticeable at times.
The two-liter engine in combination with a four-stage “automatic” solidly accelerates a half-ton car to 150-160 km / h. Of course, there is also a certain off-road power here: sometimes it seems that 129 l. with. for such a car is not enough. His responses to the actions of the accelerator pedal are confident, but … the motor clearly loves high speed and for normal driving it is necessary to quite often sink gas to the floor. Noticeably constrains the dynamics of the front axle connection: “Pinin” becomes noisier, more inert. And the hand is increasingly reaching for the button to turn off the overdrive and thereby significantly reduce the thoughtfulness of the car.
But the real confidence in “Pinin” penetrate only after leaving the road with a hard surface. This is where you enjoy powerful suspensions, good off-road abilities of the “kid” and even significantly improved handling. As if being in his native element, “Pinin” suddenly becomes comfortable and agile, sometimes allowing to amuse self-esteem. Of course, here too, the motor is sluggish and also asks for high revs, but, by spinning it up, you become the owner of a well-tuned instrument and can enjoy even extreme driving. The only thing that is trying to protest against this – the brakes, or rather, their anti-lock system. Almost imperceptible in ordinary life, it seems to wake up, it is worth going a little more intensively, and constantly reminds of itself with a very loud chant. Even the passengers startle, not to mention the driver.
Nevertheless, it is in the conditions of “almost impassable roads” that the real feeling of “Pinin” appears. Perhaps this causes a desire to stick up on it where the roads end.
