Mitsubishi Pajero iO

Which window of 1 generation actually changed the choice

Both windows share the same 1 generation label, SUV 3-doors body, 53 L tank, Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No. The buyer-facing change is the stop date and the spec set that lasts until it.

Both windows share the same 1 generation label, SUV 3-doors body, 53 L tank, Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No. The buyer-facing change is the stop date and the spec set that lasts until it.

Early window (stop 31 August 2002): five versions — 1.6 AT, 1.8 MT, 1.8 AT 130 hp AWD, 1.8 AT 130 hp RWD, 2.0 AT 136 hp on 1997 cm³. Kerb weights that are measured sit at 1180–1290 kg. Rear suspension on all five is Independent, spring. Rear brakes are Disc. Ground clearance is 210 mm on 1.6 AT and 185 mm on the rest.

Long window (stop 30 June 2007): seven versions — 1.8 AT 116 hp AWD, 1.8 AT 130 hp AWD, 1.8 AT 130 hp RWD, 1.8 MT, 1.8 AT 160 hp, 2.0 AT 136 hp on 1999 cm³, 2.0 MT. Measured kerb weights sit at 1370–1390 kg. That is 150 kg more than early 1.8 MT (1240 → 1390) and 200 kg more than early 1.8 AT RWD (1190 → 1390). Gross weight on this window is 1665 kg for every listed version, versus 1460 kg on early 1.8 cars and 1595 kg on 1.6 AT.

Same generation, two shopping lists: light and high (1.6 AT) versus later, heavier, and in two cases faster on paper (2.0 AT 12 s; 1.8 AT 116 hp 14 s).

Engines and specs: twelve names, six real power levels

Exact catalogue names stay 1.6 AT, 1.8 MT, 1.8 AT, 2.0 AT, 2.0 MT. Same-name rows are split by horsepower, drive, injection, and dates.

Engine position is Front, longitudinal on 1.6 AT, 1.8 AT 116 hp, 2.0 AT 1999 cm³, and 2.0 MT; it is not measured on the other eight. Compression is not measured on 1.6 AT, 10 on every 1.8, 11 on both 1999 cm³ 2.0 versions.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 1.8 AT 160 hp is 87.2 hp/L. 1.8 130 hp is 70.9 hp/L. Early 2.0 AT (1997 cm³) is 68.1 hp/L; long-window 2.0 (1999 cm³) is 68.0 hp/L. 1.6 AT is 64.4 hp/L. 1.8 AT 116 hp is 63.2 hp/L — the least dense of the set.

The 1.8 AT 160 hp therefore makes +44 hp and +60 Nm versus 1.8 AT 116 hp on the same 1834 cm³, and +30 hp / +39 Nm versus every 1.8 130 hp. It does that at 5200 rpm peak power, 300 rpm lower than the 130 hp 1.8. The long-window 2.0 pair add +15 Nm versus early 2.0 AT (191 vs 176) and move peak torque from 4500 to 3500 rpm, for +2 cm³ and a fuel step from 95 to 98.

Performance, mpg, and what is not measured

0–100 km/h is measured on two cars only: 1.8 AT 116 hp 14 s, 2.0 AT 1999 cm³ 12 s. That is 2 s quicker on the 2.0 AT. Every other version: not measured.

Top speed: 1.6 AT 160 km/h, 1.8 AT 116 hp 175 km/h (+15), 2.0 AT 1999 cm³ 185 km/h (+25 vs 1.6 AT, +10 vs the 116 hp 1.8 AT). All remaining versions: not measured.

Fuel consumption is measured only on 1.6 AT: city 10, highway 6, mixed 7.8 (catalogue units as given). On a 53 L tank that mixed figure is about 679 km of mixed range (53 ÷ 7.8 × 100). Every other version: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured. CO₂ and eco class: not measured on all twelve.

Fuel grade as a running-cost proxy: 1.8 AT 116 hp is the only 92 car. 1.6 AT, both early 1.8 groups, long-window 1.8 130 hp and 1.8 AT 160 hp use 95. Both 1999 cm³ 2.0 versions use 98. If the “extra” you are buying is octane, 2.0 AT / 2.0 MT are the step up; if you want the lowest listed grade, 1.8 AT 116 hp is the only match.

Dimensions, weight, clearance: the arithmetic that decides the SUV

Tank: 53 L on all twelve. Wheels: not measured on all twelve.

Ground clearance: 1.6 AT 210 mm — the high car. Long-window 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT 205 mm (−5 mm vs 1.6 AT, +20 mm vs the 185 mm pack). Every 1.8 and early 2.0 AT: 185 mm. Buying clearance without the 1.6 engine means the long-window 2.0 pair, not any 1.8.

Kerb / kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp, only where kerb is measured):

• 1.8 AT 160 hp: 1390 kg / 160 hp = 8.69 kg/hp — lightest per horsepower.
• Early 1.8 AT RWD: 1190 kg / 130 hp = 9.15 kg/hp.
• Early 2.0 AT: 1290 kg / 136 hp = 9.49 kg/hp.
• Early 1.8 MT: 1240 kg / 130 hp = 9.54 kg/hp.
• 2.0 MT: 1370 kg / 136 hp = 10.07 kg/hp.
• Long-window 2.0 AT: 1390 kg / 136 hp = 10.22 kg/hp.
• Long-window 1.8 AT RWD and 1.8 MT: 1390 kg / 130 hp = 10.69 kg/hp.
• 1.6 AT: 1180 kg / 102 hp = 11.57 kg/hp.
• 1.8 AT 116 hp: 1390 kg / 116 hp = 11.98 kg/hp — heaviest per horsepower.

Kerb not measured on early 1.8 AT 130 hp AWD and long-window 1.8 AT 130 hp AWD — do not treat those two as “unknown weight class”; their gross is 1460 kg (early) and 1665 kg (long), so the long-window AWD automatic is in the heavier family even without a kerb figure.

Payload (gross − kerb): 1.6 AT 415 kg (1595 − 1180) — the largest measured payload. Early 2.0 AT 375 kg. Early 1.8 AT RWD 270 kg. Early 1.8 MT 220 kg — smallest measured. Long-window cars with 1390 / 1665 payload 275 kg; 2.0 MT 295 kg (1665 − 1370). Early 1.8 cars cap at 1460 kg gross, 205 kg below the long-window 1665 kg cap.

Rear chassis differences that come with the choice: 1.8 AT 116 hp is the only Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem rear (label as in the source). Long-window 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT are the only Dependent, spring rear and the only Drum rear brakes. All others with a measured rear brake use Disc; rear brakes on 1.8 AT 116 hp are not measured. Front brakes are Ventilated disc on all twelve. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all twelve.

Reliability and problems: what the numbers can and cannot say

This catalogue has no failure rates, no service intervals, no recall counts. Reliability here is only what the spec sheet forces you to live with.

Problems of missing measurement: if you need a proven 0–100, only 1.8 AT 116 hp and 2.0 AT 1999 cm³ qualify. If you need mpg, only 1.6 AT qualifies. Choosing 1.8 AT 160 hp for 87.2 hp/L means accepting not measured for 0–100, top speed, and all three consumption figures.

Drive as a wear and use split: AWD is on ten versions. RWD exists only as 1.8 AT 130 hp, once in the 1998–2002 window (1190 kg kerb) and once in the 1998–2007 window (1390 kg). Same name, same 130 hp / 181 Nm, 200 kg more kerb later. If you want RWD and the lower mass, the early 1.8 AT RWD is the one measured row; the long-window 1.8 AT RWD is the same driveline on the heavier 1665 kg gross.

Injection: Distributed injection (multi-point) on the first nine rows; Direct injection (direct) on 1.8 AT 160 hp, 2.0 AT 1999 cm³, and 2.0 MT. Direct injection (direct) is also where peak outputs and (on the 2.0) 98 fuel cluster. That is a maintenance and fuel-grade difference, not a measured reliability score.

Which version to choose

Want the highest clearance and the only mpg sheet: 1.6 AT — 210 mm, 1180 kg, 102 hp, mixed 7.8, top speed 160 km/h, AWD, Automatic 4, stop August 2002. You give up 58 hp versus 1.8 AT 160 hp and 34 hp versus 2.0 AT. Payload 415 kg is the best measured.

Want the best power density in the model: 1.8 AT 160 hp — 160 hp, 220 Nm, 8.69 kg/hp, Direct injection (direct), AWD, Automatic 4, through June 2007. Versus 1.8 AT 116 hp: +44 hp, +60 Nm, same 1390 kg kerb, fuel 95 instead of 92. Versus long-window 1.8 AT 130 hp AWD: +30 hp, +39 Nm; that 130 hp AWD kerb is not measured. 0–100, top speed, mpg: not measured.

Want a measured sprint and the highest listed top speed: 2.0 AT 1999 cm³ — 12 s, 185 km/h, 136 hp, 191 Nm, 205 mm, 98 fuel, Direct injection (direct), Dependent, spring rear, Drum rear brakes, 1390 kg. Versus 1.8 AT 116 hp: 2 s quicker, +10 km/h, +20 hp, +31 Nm, +20 mm clearance, fuel 98 vs 92. Versus 2.0 MT: same engine figures, Automatic 4 vs Manual 5, +20 kg kerb (1390 vs 1370), 0–100 and top speed not measured on the MT.

Want a manual AWD 1.8: early 1.8 MT (1240 kg, 1460 kg gross, stop 2002) versus long-window 1.8 MT (1390 kg, 1665 kg gross, through 2007). Same 130 hp, 181 Nm, Manual 5, AWD, 185 mm. The later car is 150 kg heavier at the kerb and 205 kg higher in gross. 0–100, top speed, mpg: not measured on both.

Want automatic 1.8 without 160 hp: four 1.8 AT 130 hp rows — early AWD (kerb not measured, gross 1460 kg), early RWD (1190 kg / 1460 kg), long AWD (kerb not measured, gross 1665 kg), long RWD (1390 kg / 1665 kg). Peak figures identical: 130 hp @ 5500, 181 Nm @ 3500. The real choice is AWD vs RWD and 1460 vs 1665 kg gross.

Want 92 fuel and a measured 0–100 on a 1.8: only 1.8 AT 116 hp — 14 s, 175 km/h, 116 hp, 160 Nm, 1390 kg, AWD, through 2007. It is the slowest measured car, the weakest 1.8, and the heaviest per hp (11.98 kg/hp). Rear suspension label is unique; rear brakes not measured.

Want early 2.0 without 98 fuel: early 2.0 AT — 136 hp, 176 Nm @ 4500, 1997 cm³, 95, 1290 kg, 185 mm, Independent, spring rear, Disc rear brakes, stop 2002. Versus long 2.0 AT: −15 Nm, torque peak 1000 rpm higher, −2 cm³, −100 kg kerb, −20 mm clearance, 95 vs 98, multi-point vs Direct injection (direct). Peak hp is the same 136.

Short map: clearance and mpg → 1.6 AT. Light RWD automatic → early 1.8 AT 130 hp RWD. Light manual AWD → early 1.8 MT. Peak hp and kg/hp → 1.8 AT 160 hp. Measured 12 s and 185 km/h → 2.0 AT 1999 cm³. Manual on that engine → 2.0 MT. Long production on the 116 hp / 92 sheet → 1.8 AT 116 hp. Do not invent a second generation: every one of these is 1 generation, SUV 3-doors, June 1998 start.