If you were to pick one word to describe the Montero, a good choice might be
imposing. From its muscular presence on the road to the way it?s packaged, the Montero stands out from the rest of the compact sport/utility crowd, both figuratively and literally.
Imposing isn?t a bad thing for a sport/utility to be, and the Montero is rolling proof.
Being one of the biggest cars in its class gives it some distinct advantages in terms of passenger and load space. Being more powerful than most competitors certainly doesn?t hurt driveability. And the comfort and convenience features Mitsubishi supplies with every Montero give buyers fair deal for the money.
The Montero was totally redesigned in 1992, the last year received substantial interior improvements, including a standard driver?s airbag. This year, the base LS Montero receives a new, more powerful engine, while the top-of-the-line SR is unchanged.
It appears surprising that the company would go to such lengths to maintain and improve the appeal of a vehicle that sells at a rate of fewer than 10,000 units per year in the United States. But the factors that keep Montero sales low have more to do with import quotas and a small dealer network than with the vehicle itself. Mitsubishi?s big bopper offers a lot to serious sport/utility buyers.
Although aerodynamic design - sloping noses, sculptured sides and sharply raked windshields - has spread to the sport/utility class, it has hardly affected the Montero. Mitsubishi carried on with a traditional upright piano look in designing the latest Montero. From bluff front to slab sides the Montero resists contemporary style trends - a successful resistance in our opinion.
There are practical aspects to this choice. The long wheelbase makes room for wider doors, to the benefit of entry and exit as well as riding comfort. And the Montero?s high ground clearance (7.5 in. for the LS, 7.1 in. for the SR) is good for travel over bad roads, or no roads.
