Driving experience is pretty much the same. My daily driver is a '96 Pajero M/T and I get a lot of seat time in an '03 Starex A/T.
Being able to see the Pajero's nose is an advantage but the Starex's shorter nose also has it's good points. Forward visibility on the Starex is better. The taller windshield also allows you to easily see traffic lights.
Backing up the Starex is easy with the large rear glass, backing mirror, and OEM backing sensor. Backing up the Pajero is like staring at your spare tire.

and hoping for the best.
The cockpit of the Pajero looks older (1992 vintage) but you get more toys to play with (compass, thermometer, altimeter, inclinometer). The glove box is lockable, there is an armrest for your right arm, and the seat is equipped with its own suspension system. There are also two lighter sockets up front (a third one is in the luggage area). Fiddling with the low-mounted radio is not something you'd like to do while driving.
The Starex has a more modern dashboard (with the ugliest fake wood to ever come out of a fake forest). There are more cubby holes (none are lockable, though). There's even a clipboard on top of the dash (for non-Club/Gold models). Folding the center front seat produces a tray with cup holders but it is not tall enough to comfortably rest your arm on. And just like on a Victory liner bus, controlling the rear AC and rear cabin lights can be done from the driver's seat. The Starex also comes with a front and rear cabin heaters (a device that rarely works on ex-JDM Pajeros).
The Starex feels lighter and faster (it probably is) but the Pajero feels more robust.