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The SUV title is tossed around so carelessly it gets difficult to differentiate between pretend SUVs and proper ones, mainly because while both definitely look like SUVs one definitely doesn't work like one. There are small SUVs which are basically taller, wider hatchbacks. But they are not SUVs ...deep down you know it.

They range in sizes, forms, and functions. Yes, they give you the sense of practicality and utility of an SUV but they’re all the same: efficient front-wheel-drive cars, driving on tires as small as 185mm without any on-road or off-road prowess. Because of this haphazard labeling, larger and proper SUVs are having a hard time. Not only do they have to compete with their direct rivals, they also have to better the smaller pretend SUVs at their own practicality and utility game.

Today I have one such SUV that comes from the land of the rising sun. It holds the SUV torch high and takes on both the real deals and the pretenders of the segment. Welcome to the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Exterior

Presence. This is the first word that comes into your head when you look at the 2020 Pajero Sport. Just look at it! Mitsubishi has brought all its current models up-to-date with its trademark design language and the 2020 Pajero Sport. With its signature Dynamic Shield grille on the front, it is one of the best looking cars from the company, second only to the 2020 L200 pick-up truck.

The massive front end is dominated mostly by the dynamic shield grille and headlight combination, higher bonnet, and new running lights and bumpers. The headlights are a tad smaller and the fog lamps bigger with both the units getting an all-LED treatment. All of which makes the SUV look tougher and more athletic than the outgoing model.  

The rear of the 2020 Pajero Sport looks boxy with subtle curves where the roof falls into the boot lid. The taillights have not deviated a lot from the outgoing model but the vertically-arrayed tail lights have been reduced in size and the bumper made larger which makes the tail end more appealing. The 2020 Pajero Sport is a complete package and an attention grabber on the road and also oozes off-road capabilities even when parked.

Interior

The seats are comfortable and come with loads of electronic adjustment. The front seats are comfy but are set too high even in its lowest limit; while shorter drivers will find their driving position rather easily, things might not be the same for taller individuals.

Yes, the second row can easily accommodate three adults with utmost comfort. But you can’t help but wish for a couple more inches because at the end of the day the Pajero Sport is a big SUV, which raises a bigger question: where did all that space actually go? The answer… a third row! And a rather spacious one at that. Don’t expect the second-row level of space; the third row is just enough to take two adults on a fairly long journey.

All that space allocation has also gone into the boot of the Pajero Sport. Lift up the powered tailgate and what you find is a space large enough to accommodate a week’s worth of luggage for all seven passengers on board. Fold down the second and third rows and the cabin would probably be roomier than the room Harry Potter had growing up in Privet Drive.

Performance

Weighing over two tons, getting the Pajero Sport moving is no simple task. To do just that, the 2020 Pajero Sport is powered by a 2.4-liter turbo engine that guzzles diesel like my non-alcoholic-self guzzles juice. The SUV produce 178 bhp and peak torque of 430 Nm.  

On the tarmac the Pajero Sport is planted as all big SUVs should be, but it turns in rather quickly and with pinpoint precision. Once the smooth tarmac ends and the tough terrains begin, the Pajero Sport casually pulls out a large crate labeled “Heavy Artillery”, and tanks along, making you feel way more relieved than you ever were when on the tarmac. The 2020 Pajero Sport comes with a Super Select 4WD-II system that electronically switches between drive modes and splits engine torque 40 percent front and 60 percent rear when in full-time 4WD mode, and that’s just one weapon on its arsenal.

You have a two-wheel drive and full-time four-wheel-drive modes. Using the drive mode selector dial, you can switch between 2WD (2H) and 4WD (4H, 4HLc, 4LLc). When the going gets rough, you can lock the center differential by entering the 4HLc setting for rugged terrain or the 4LLc setting for inclines, mud, and snow. You can also lock the rear differential which minimizes differences in rotation between the rear wheels to ensure robust traction even on sand, mud and rocky surfaces.

Other weapons to help the Pajero Sport off-road better are Hill Descent Control (HDC) which automatically applies the brakes to maintain your current speed when traveling downhill. This lets you concentrate on steering and travel downhill with greater safety without having to manually apply the brakes. Going uphill, on the other hand, is managed by a Hill Start Assist feature that keeps you from rolling backward while you release the brake by maintaining the braking force for up to two seconds until the accelerator is applied. With a 30-degree approach angle, a 24-degree departure angle, and a 45-degree lateral travel angle combined with all the weapons at its disposal, the 2020 Pajero Sport is easily one of the best off-roaders in the country. It is one of those SUVs that encourages you to take the more unconventional path towards your where you are going and I quite love that.

Verdict

In a sea of pretend SUVs with equally pretentious off-road capabilities printed in their brochures, the 2020 Pajero Sport is a proper SUV that is more than equipped to handle anything that comes in its way. Its big, it is practical, it’s a comfortable place to be in and is a handsome looker.

It is shockingly powerful on the tarmac and is an absolute tank off-road, cruising over everything without breaking a sweat. To top it all off, it comes with an equally hefty price tag that is befitting of what it offers. And if you happen to have that much money lying around… I’d say you’d be making good investment.

Long ago, in a different car magazine far-far away, I had reviewed the old Pajero Sport and had named it, “The Beast from the East”. Today, driving it again after all these years I can say that the 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has proven itself to still be worthy of that title.

Price: Rs 16.5 million onwards

Funbrain Jr.

Funbrain Jr. has interactive games, worksheets, videos, interactive stories, and many more features to help your kid learn and explore. It engages them to the fullest. The app is free but there are in-app purchases, including an option to buy new and higher levels. Funbrain Jr. is available in both Android and iOS platforms.

Poptropica

Poptropica is free and easily available in both Android and iOS. Here, children can customize their own characters, complete quests, and play with friends. The app is most suitable for children aged 6-12.

Fish School

This app teaches children important concept likes letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and matching. The bright-colored fish in the app can form letters, shapes and numbers. With a simple touch and drag, your child can make the fish swim and do funny things. Winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and the Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award, the app is suitable for children aged 2 and above. It is also available both in Android and iOS.

In the lead up to the Valentine’s Day, many of you may be looking for gifts for your loved ones. If you are, why don’t you consid­er these possible tech gifts?

Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless Earphones

If your loved one is fond of music, you can treat them with Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless Earphones (Rs 34,000). The earphones, available in seven different colors, come with customizable options, and feature handcrafted acetate, beryllium drivers, an advanced antenna with a 20-meter Bluetooth connectivity, silicone ‘fit wings’ and a stainless steel charging case that holds three additional charges for 14 hours of listening time.

 Fitbit Versa

This amazing smartwatch (Rs 30,000) not only tells time but also tracks your fitness. It keeps track of your heartrate, counts your footsteps, and allows women to track their periods. Since the watch has so many useful features, it can be a perfect tech gift for this Val­entine. The device is equipped with a 1.32 inch (3.35cm) LCD display.

Unravel Wireless Charger

This device costing around Rs 12,000 features a trio of wireless charging pads, each with a power of 10W, which means you can charge three different devices at the same time. Unravel Wireless supports mobile phones and devices like Samsung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Google Pixel and many more. As the charger has a pop-out stand, it lets you place your phone in landscape position, allowing you to watch videos and charge at the same time.

Škoda’s new-gen SUVs will be big, ultra-spacious, conventionally attractive and, like its sedans, loaded to the gills with features. The first in line to enter our part of the market was the Škoda Kodiaq. Dressed to impress, yet seemingly a very utilitarian family SUV, the Kodiaq definitely seeks to make itself noticed.While it took us a long time to get our hands on it for a proper review, we were finally able to bag its keys.

Exterior

Step up to the Kodiaq and you will immediately notice the Ško­da design language that exudes the class and simplicity of former Head Designer Jozef Kabaň. The crisp details and bold lines easily stand out. The company has brought in the precision of the designs based on Škoda’s new design language for its SUVs.

The concept for its front head­lights is one of its characteristic elements. The Czech-crystal-like, multi-element, all-LED headlights are enclosed in slim and sharply defined pods. They are sharply drawn back and placed flanking the top of the radiator grille to protect it from damage when it ventures off the beaten path.

In the rear, the sharp design lan­guage continues with the rear lights penetrating deep into the fenders. Staying true to the notion of blend­ing form with function, you get a honeycomb strip between the “cat’s eye” reflectors that have an aesthet­ic as well as practical functions. It runs around the edge of the luggage space, protecting the bumper from damage during load handling.

In terms of the stance, the Kodiaq is built like a proper SUV. Then you come to realize that it is a seven seater, for which it is not excep­tionally large. In fact, shorter than the Superb and just 40mm over the Octavia, it is compact.

Interior

So how does it achieve all that space on the inside? First, it uses a transversely located engine as opposed to a longitudinal one, which allows it to have a short bonnet and a long cabin. Then you have the shal­low dashboard allowing the driver to sit far ahead in the cabin for more room. You are put right up against the windshield because of this but it did not pose much of an issue… once we got used to it.

Despite the compact dash, you get plenty of storage space with two glove boxes that get a faux wooden finish, which in turn enhances the up-class appeal of the interior. The dash and door-pad inserts are now finished in piano-black, with the Laurin and Klement inscription on the dash, seats and infotainment home-screen.

Other clever features that make you fall in love with the Kodiaq are things like the door edge protectors that extend to protect the door when it is being opened, umbrella holders in the doors and a mini LED torch that can be magnetically attached to the body of the car to provide illu­mination. You also get what Škoda calls a ‘virtual pedal’ for the boot. With the keys in your pocket, wave your foot under the hatch and the boot lid lifts up. This is for when you’re hauling groceries or other loads and your hands are full; it saves you the trouble of putting your stuff on the ground, opening the boot lid manually like a Neanderthal, pick­ing up your stuff and loading it in. However, it does not always work perfectly, and we imagine you would look somewhat like a doofus holding several bags and prancing on one foot behind your car. But we would definitely take the gamble as it is a pretty cool feature once you get the hang of it.

Performance

But, if you’re in the Škoda Kodiaq, short drives will rarely ever suffice. The Škoda Kodiaq is well adept to get you through the daily grind. It is luxurious, comfortable, and easy to drive around. However, you will always find yourself itching to take the Kodiaq out for longer drives, the ones where you just set out with no destination in mind, only certain of discoveries and adventures that the world holds for you.

Regardless of where you head out to, the Škoda Kodiaq is a willing com­panion. Under the hood is the VW Group’s 2.0 TDi engine that shells out 150BHP and a healthy 340Nm of torque from 1,750rpm. More impor­tantly you get the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox which is one of the best in the business.

This combination allows the Kodi­aq to make a massive impression on the driver. You might notice a slight turbo lag at lower revs, but once you’re past the 1400rpm mark the Kodiaq moves at a surprising pace. It moves effortlessly, belying its mass. The mid-range torque feels punchy and the motor shows sin­cere eagerness to rev, especially in Sports mode where the gears hold longer and the throttle response is improved.

Ride and handling fare better on smoother roads and at higher speeds. You do tend to feel sharper road undulations at lower speeds, but the firmer set suspension makes for fewer body rolls. The stiffness also pays dividends when at high­er speeds, allowing the passengers to ride in comfort. Steering is light and relaxed, cornering quickly and with confidence as well as slaloming through traffic with nimble grace. The AWD is continuously working in the background here, and in sit­uations where we pushed the car through a corner quicker than we should have, it pulled us in to main­tain the car’s line.

Verdict

We see the Škoda Kodiaq as a mas­sive stomp by the company into the SUV segment. Škoda has always been clever and premium, and their first SUV exudes just that with the Kodi­aq. The SUV gets the premium treat­ment through and through. It’s filled to the brim with features, especially with the L&K variant that we had on hand; just what you would expect from Škoda.

Based on the short time we spent with the Kodiaq, we can say it’s a car you can fall in love with. It has the characteristics to serve you as long-term companion, one that you will not tire of. One that you take out to the roads of Illam and take a moment to pullover, slip into the back seat, recline, lay back, and listen to the solemn pitter patter of the rain as you gaze up at the gloomy clouds through the panoramic sun roof.

The only thing in our way is the price tag of Rs. 15,800,000