I only have experience with Pajero Sport. Our company has 2 units of these SUVs, and we have covered a lot of mileage on these vehicles. Fairly comfortable during long journeys due to the high seating, and the bouncy but firm suspension soaks up the bumps and irregularities on the roads. Leather seats are quite comfortable during long journeys, quite thick. NVH is not too bad for a diesel-powered SUV. Diesel engine's noise is acceptable. There is an audible whining sound from the CVT during acceleration, but it is rather soft. ie. acceptable.

A caveat, the Pajero Sport is the only diesel-powered SUV I have experience with. No experience with Fortuner or other equivalent diesel SUVs.

By the way, if you want a quieter vehicle, you may want to look at petrol version SUVs. Although the Pajero Sport is quite acceptable in terms of NVH, when compared to petrol vehicles, the (diesel) engine sound of the Pajero is loud.

The Ford Focus TDCI (Turbodiesel) which runs on diesel is quieter than the Pajero Sport VGT, but it is a sedan and not an SUV. Unfortunately, the Ford SUVs are all petrol versions.

Wau... Petrol version SUV like fortuner is 2.7, less torque compare to pajero sport. And I think the FC would be much higher
The noise wise I think I can live with that. My home got a hilux, so, get used to that.

Any focus tdci in malaysia? Did not see at any place. Hmm..

Hmm, miss the Everest pulak. will go and survey
My dad drove the SR Turbo version of Hilux, before the vigo version. get used to the kro..kro... sound, from far can know dad is coming home.    How is the GLS version? mind sharing fuel consumption?