Jaecoo J8 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The Jaecoo J8 starts from $49,990 before on-road costs, while the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport opens at $51,540. That makes the Jaecoo J8 the more affordable entry point by $1,550.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $54,989 and $56,694 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Jaecoo J8 and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Jaecoo J8 packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 2 in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Jaecoo J8 and 7 in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The Jaecoo J8 adds a 360-degree camera that the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport misses.

The Jaecoo J8 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Jaecoo J8 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up display, wireless charging, power tailgate, Sony audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Jaecoo J8 gets leather upholstery while the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the Jaecoo J8 and 1-zone in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

The Jaecoo J8 uses a Petrol producing 183kW and 385Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport responds with a Diesel making 133kW and 430Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.5 seconds.

The Jaecoo J8 has the clear power advantage at 183kW vs 133kW. In the real-world sprint, the Jaecoo J8 is 3.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Jaecoo J8 measures 4,820mm long on a 2,820mm wheelbase, 35mm longer than the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport at 4,785mm (2,800mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J8 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 520L in the Jaecoo J8 and 131L in the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, giving the Jaecoo J8 a 389L advantage.

For towing, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport leads with a 3,100kg braked capacity vs 2,500kg. That 600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,366/year for the Jaecoo J8 and $2,309/year for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. That is a $57 annual difference in favour of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Estimated annual total: $2,366 (Jaecoo J8) vs $2,309 (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport). The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport saves you roughly $57 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 8 years / 999,999km (Jaecoo J8) vs 10 years / 200,000km (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport). The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has longer coverage.