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Speaking of the 1990’s, the Montero Sport is actually a product born from that era. So, entering its cabin is like being sucked back in time. Interior materials are rather crude—some actually shared with Mitsubishi models long gone. Don’t let that dishearten you though: the cockpit is an ergonomic design—a throwback to Mitsubishi’s golden age. Every control is logically placed from the ventilation knobs to the fog lamp switches. The titanium-faced instrumentation and three-meter combination center cluster adds some machismo inside, while the 2-DIN Alpine audio unit is a joy to use and can actually be operated without reading the owner’s manual. The use of “black marble” accents instead of fake wood is commendable and looks absolutely spot on with the rest of the interior, especially with the black leather seats. Though the seats are well-designed and comfy, the Montero Sport seats only five instead of the usual seven or eight found in its rivals. Unlike its rivals though, this is one SUV you’ll appreciate flipped over. The front Double Wishbone comes from the multi-awarded L200 pick-up, while the Rigid Axle, 3-Link with Coil Spring rear end is lifted from the Baja Desert conquering Pajero. In addition, the Montero Sport also benefits from Mitsubishi’s Easy Select 4WD drive system. This enables the driver to shift on the fly from 2H to 4H from speeds up to 100 km/h thanks to a free-wheel front differential. There’s also a 4L mode for getting out of sticky situations. All in all, the resulting combination is nothing short of robustness and durability. On the open road, the Montero Sport feels every bit an SUV: solid and robust. It simply glides through any sort of bump whether small or crater-sized. The downside to this kind of suspension design is the rather cruel ride. Unlike car-based crossovers or those gargantuan American SUVs, the Montero Sport rides firm with a capital ‘F’. Entire lunches can be barfed out under the tremendous shudders that plague this SUV’s cabin. However, if you wait 45 minutes after every meal, the Montero Sport can turn to a good driving experience. At its heart is a durable 2.8-liter diesel inline-4. Turbocharged and intercooled, it generates a modest 125 horsepower and 289 Nm output. Mated to a 4-speed automatic, the Montero Sport accelerates well from standstill. In can tackle highway speeds, but expect progress to slow down beyond the century mark. Even so, the Montero Sport handles pretty tidily thanks to good, weighted steering. Shortfalls are relatively minor on the Montero Sport’s performance. First has to do with the overly audible engine, which makes conversations a bit harder under a lead foot. Not that’s entirely discomforting, but it’ rather annoying. Second has to do more with the Montero Sport’s cumbersome cornering ability on tight bends. Though it’s to be expected in this sort of vehicle, it requires a lot more steering effort to turn into those MMDA U-Turn slots. In the end, it’s obvious that the Mitsubishi Montero Sport isn’t perfect in any one aspect, whether it be styling, performance or whatever. However, taken as a whole, it comes out as an excellent vehicle—especially for those who venture the great outdoors. It may not be as sophisticated or suave as its rivals, but then again, that hasn’t been the allure of the Montero Sport nameplate. Part of its almost mythical identity has to do with this SUV’s popularity in the biggest SUV market in the world, the United States. Now that it’s officially available in the Philippines, it’s not hard to see why. The Montero Sport is a no-frills vehicle. It doesn’t have any passenger car pretensions. It’s robust, sturdy, capable and solid; the very adjectives that should describe a proper SUV. |
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