The Mitsubishi Montero is for lovers of the traditional SUV; it is great off-road but lacks the overall performance, space and flexibility of the more market ready SUV competitors.
Launched in 1982, the two-door Montero has always been a simple, no-nonsense SUV. It’s off-road performance was reiterated when it won the 1983 and 1985 Paris-to-Dakar rally race. Mitsubishi released the 4-door version in the next few years, while in 1992 a new body design was implemented, added luxury touches were added and a powerful V6 engine plant was made available.
In 2001 the angular edges of the Montero body were mingled with rounded surfaces. It also got bigger, more luxurious and additional safety features. All of these ‘add-ons’ weighed the Montero down a lot and sadly lost all comparison tests against competitive SUVs.
Now equipped with a 215-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and five-speed automatic transmission with "Sportronic" shifting that allows manual gear selection, Mitsubishi's "ActiveTrac" four-wheel-drive system with both full- or part-time operation.
The Montero's suspension is firm to keep control during maneuvers; but as expected the performance is more truck-like than car-like. Road bumps are transmitted to the passenger compartment despite the very isolated cabin and soft ride from the dual-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension. No matter what the road surface, the Montero handles superbly and footing is never lost.
The Montero seats up to seven passengers, with very rugged interior materials that offer an up-scale feel. Third row seating is standard, but suited to small children due to its hard cushioning and limited legroom.
The V6 still does not offer enough power to be competitive in its class, but if you are looking for a true off-road vehicle, the Montero is the one to take from the showroom.
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