Every Pajero generation has a community that swears by it — and a different reason for doing so. The Gen 1 owner values the purity of an original. The Blister Fender devotee prizes live-axle traction with rear diff lock. The Gen 3 buyer wants the 3.2 DI-D in its simplest form. The Gen 4 buyer wants refinement without sacrificing off-road credentials. None of them is wrong. The right generation depends on your budget, your use case, and your tolerance for the specific trade-offs each era brings.
The Quick Answer by Use Case
| Use Case | Best Generation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Daily driver + occasional gravel | Gen 4 (2007–2015, pre-DPF) | Best ride quality, refinement, electronics. Pre-DPF window avoids the city-driving risk. |
| Full overlanding build | Gen 3 or Gen 4 | Gen 3 for live-axle articulation; Gen 4 for refinement and longer service intervals. Both handle the route. |
| Technical off-road and trails | Gen 2.5 Blister Fender (GLS) or Gen 3 | Blister Fender: live axle + rear diff lock. Gen 3: similar capability with SS4-II and more recent engineering. |
| Budget buy under R 150,000 | Gen 3 (2000–2006) | Best value-for-capability in the used market. Timing chain guide risk is manageable with proactive maintenance. |
| Collector / classic investment | Gen 2.5 Blister Fender SWB or Gen 1 | Both are finite supply, distinctive, and appreciating. The Blister Fender SWB is the realistic collector choice. |
| Family with 7 seats needed | Gen 4 LWB | Best third-row access, most refined interior, safest modern electronics. Third row still suitable for children only. |
| Long-distance Africa travel | Gen 4 (any diesel) | Longer service intervals, better fuel economy, more refined over 2,000+ km days. |
Generation Scorecard
| Factor | Gen 1 (1982–91) | Gen 2 / Blister (1991–2000) | Gen 3 (1999–2006) | Gen 4 (2006–2021) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-road capability | ★★★★ (classic) | ★★★★★ (Blister + RDL) | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Daily driving comfort | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Reliability (maintained) | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ (guide risk aware) | ★★★★★ |
| Parts availability SA | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Purchase price (used) | R 30K–R 120K | R 80K–R 320K | R 80K–R 260K | R 150K–R 900K |
| Running cost (fuel) | ★★ (petrol) | ★★★ (petrol/early diesel) | ★★★★ (3.2 DI-D) | ★★★★ (3.2 DI-D) |
| Technology and safety | ★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Collector trajectory | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Generation Summaries
Gen 1 (1982–1991): The Original
A collector’s vehicle. Gen 1 Pajeros are the original ladder-frame, leaf-spring and solid-axle machines that started everything. They lack the Super Select system (introduced on Gen 2), have limited safety equipment, and run petrol engines that are expensive to fuel at current prices. Clean Gen 1 examples are appreciating. Buy one if you are buying a classic — not a daily driver.
Gen 2 / Blister Fender (1991–2000): The Dakar Era
Super Select 4WD arrived in 1991 and the Blister Fender GLS (1998–2000) brought the rear diff lock to South Africa for the first time in this generation. The live rear axle gives terrain articulation the monocoque generations cannot match. The 3.5L DOHC V6 is the engine to have. A clean Blister Fender GLS in South Africa is harder to find each year and is now genuinely collectible. See our Blister Fender guide for the full detail.
Gen 3 (1999–2006): The Sweet Spot
The monocoque platform arrived, improving on-road manners dramatically while retaining full off-road capability through Super Select II. The 3.2 DI-D is the engine the community trusts most for high mileage. No DPF. Timing chain guide is the one known vulnerability — proactively managed, it is a non-issue. The Gen 3 is the community’s most common recommendation for a capable used buy at realistic SA prices. See our 3.2 DI-D problems guide.
Gen 4 (2006–2021): The Most Refined
The final evolution. Better interior, longer service intervals, updated timing chain guide, more electronics and safety equipment. The 2007–2015 pre-DPF window is the SA community’s preferred sweet spot. Post-2015 examples are excellent but require DPF management for city drivers. The most practical choice for anyone who needs a family vehicle and a trail vehicle in one. See our Gen 4 buyer’s guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pajero generation is the most reliable?
The Gen 4 (2006–2021) is the most reliable in terms of documented engineering improvements over the Gen 3, updated timing chain guide, longer service intervals, and better overall electronic integration. The Gen 3 with a proactively maintained timing chain guide is equally reliable at high mileage. Both are documented to run past 300,000 km on original internals when correctly maintained. The Gen 2 Blister Fender is mechanically robust but older and increasingly difficult to find in serviced condition.
Is the Gen 3 or Gen 4 Pajero better?
For daily driving and family use, the Gen 4 is better — more refined, safer, longer service intervals, and better interior quality. For pure off-road capability, the differences are minimal — both use Super Select II and both perform at a high level on technical terrain. The Gen 3’s advantage is price: a well-maintained Gen 3 costs significantly less than a comparable Gen 4, giving it better value for a buyer who prioritises trail capability over daily refinement.
What is the best year Pajero to buy?
For a Gen 4: 2009 to 2015 is the SA community consensus sweet spot — past the very early Gen 4 introductory years, and before DPF becomes a near-universal fitment. A 2011 to 2014 GLS with documented service history and under 200,000 km is the benchmark used-market Pajero in South Africa. For a Gen 3: 2003 to 2006, with documented timing chain guide history and injector service at high mileage.
Related: Gen 4 Buyer’s Guide · Blister Fender Guide · 3.2 DI-D Problems · Full Generations Overview