Off-road SUV 2016 Comparison: Safety and Technology
We take a closer look at the safety and technology on offer in our half-dozen off-roadersFord Everest v Holden Colorado 7 v Isuzu MU-X v Jeep Wrangler v Mitsubishi Pajero Sport v Toyota Fortuner
Comparison Test: : Safety and Technology
Five of the six vehicles tested have been awarded a top five-star ANCAP rating, while the Jeep Wrangler is the only SUV on our drive to offer a four-star safety rating. The newest SUV on test, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, was the best performing, scoring a commendable 36.22 out of 37 in ANCAP testing.
Like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest, the Pajero Sport features seven airbags, including driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags and driver's knee airbag.
The Holden Colorado 7 and Isuzu MU-X miss out on the knee airbag to include six airbags while the Jeep boasts just four – the driver and passenger airbags and side airbags.
The Pajero Sport was the only model on test at this price point to include advanced drive assistance aids as standard including blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision alert and autonomous emergency braking.
It also features Mitsubishi's exclusive ultrasonic mis-acceleration mitigation system which aims to prevent collisions with near objects if the driver accidentally depresses the accelerator instead of the brake and is at risk of immediate collision.
All vehicles on test featured a rear-view camera as standard with the exception of the Jeep Wrangler.
The Pajero Sport was the only vehicle on our drive to additionally feature a 360-degree camera, that Mitsubishi calls a multi around monitor, to give additional vision around the vehicle during parking manoeuvres.
For large SUVs, such all-round vision is crucial, so this inclusion on the Pajero Sport is to be commended at this price point.
Rear-view camera vision was clearest on those vehicles which were equipped with a larger dimension colour screen. Unfortunately, the entry-level Everest Ambiente is only equipped with a 4.2-inch screen, the smallest on test.
While each of the other vehicles featured a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen, a larger screen is only available on the Everest if you step up to the $60,990 Trend variant (which offers an 8.0-inch touchscreen).
The Pajero Sport, Fortuner, Colorado 7 and MU-X all feature a 7.0-inch touchscreen as standard, while the larger screen and navigation in the Wrangler on test are fitted optionally ($1750).
Navigation featured on all cars except the Everest, but was only standard on the MU-X. It’s available on the Pajero Sport via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when connected to your smartphone. Ditto the BringGo app on the Colorado 7.
The Pajero Sport also offered digital radio and a rear seat DVD player as part of the deal.
The Colorado 7 offered a simple interface but we did experience issues when pairing the infotainment array to an Apple iPhone5.
The MU-X had a reasonably intuitive interface but was trickier for Bluetooth set-up, initially requiring us to switch between the phone as either a phone or wireless audio device.
The Fortuner, too, was not particularly intuitive, but became easier to negotiate once familiar. It’s customisable in that it offers four spaces to store frequently called phone contacts – a very practical feature. Bluetooth devices are easy to pair in the Toyota but we found audio dropped out in favour of the phone, leaving us to rely on a cable connection to stream music.
Being a more basic offering, the Everest's system is simple to use and includes SYNC 2, Ford's voice recognition system.
Each vehicle on test offered a USB and 12-volt power outlets located in various places around the vehicle. The most considerate second-row offering was the Everest’s which also includes a 240-volt outlet to accommodate a standard household plug (for laptop charging, games' consoles, etc.).
If this comparison were a battle for tech supremacy then the Pajero Sport would be hands down winner. The range-topping Exceed offers a compelling range of features which are either not available for the price or at all on many of its competitors.
It also offers best-in-class safety technology, the highest ANCAP score and user friendly in-car entertainment.
The Pajero Sport Exceed's list price of $54,990 means it sits level with the entry grade Everest Ambiente and mid-range Fortuner GXL on test. It's the same price as the high-grade Isuzu MU-X yet feels far more modern, and is streets ahead of the cheaper Holden Colorado 7 LTZ.
This level of standard inclusions on the range-topping Pajero Sport at that price contributes to a significant value story for the new Mitsubishi and makes it stand heads and shoulders above the pack in this part of the test.
Related reading:
>> Off-road SUV Comparison: Price and Packaging
>> Off-road SUV Comparison: Verdict
>> Off-road SUV Comparison 2016
2016 Ford Everest Ambiente pricing and specifications:
Price: $54,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 143kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 224g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
2016 Holden Colorado 7 LTZ pricing and specifications:
Price: $51,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 243g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
2016 Isuzu MU-X LS-T pricing and specifications:
Price: $54,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/380Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 219g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport pricing and specifications:
Price: $49,750 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 209kW/347Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 273g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Four-star ANCAP
2016 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed pricing and specifications:
Price: $54,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 133kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km ADR Combined)
CO2: 212g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
2016 Toyota Fortuner GXL pricing and specifications:
Price: $54,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 228g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
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