The Mitsubishi Montero Sport officially entered the Philippines as a second-generation model in 2008, taking the battle to the ever-popular Toyota Fortuner, which paved the way for the Pickup Platform Vehicle (PPV) revolution...
On a more personal note, I was once a proud owner of a 2010 Montero Sport, which ticked all the right boxes. It was robust, powerful, and parts were easy to source. Fuel efficiency was a plus, and while the interior was far from luxurious, the materials held up very well. The Montero had such broad appeal in the Philippines that even some members of the AutoDeal team purchased units of their own, Earl's family had one at one point and even our esteemed video host, Caco, still has one to this day.
The third-generation Montero Sport arrived later as a 2016 model and continued the success of the outgoing PPV, with similar traits but built in a much more refined standard. Of course, with the Montero Sport changing with the times, so have its competitors, and with us being halfway through 2023, we delve into five enduring features as to why the Mitsubishi Montero Sport is still a great choice today.
Robust engine
The 4N15 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel engine replaced the previous generation 2.5-liter 4D56T engine. It presents equal reliability that the 4D56 was known for but in a smaller, lighter, more efficient package thanks to MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) technology and the use of an aluminum cylinder block, which helps to reduce weight, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce emissions. It produces 179 hp and 430 Nm of torque, which is more than enough for any out-of-town getaways, and is easy to maintain as well.
Turning radius
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport features best in class turning radius of 11.2 meters, making it easy to maneuver in a tight street or into a tight parking spot. While this is not a spec sheet figure that people tend to notice, it makes a huge difference when driving around the metro.
Digital instrument cluster
The fully digital instrument cluster of the Montero Sport was the first in its class to offer this feature, and up to this day, only one other rival is able to offer this. While the display could use some improvement in resolution, it is easy to read and displays all available information at a glance, plus it’s customizable as well.
Flat-folding third row seats
The Montero Sport offers flat-folding third-row seats, which again was the first vehicle to offer this in its segment. This feature offers neat third-row storage, easy access, and generous cargo space, with 502 liters with the third row folded down and a whopping 1500 liters with the third and second-row seats folded. This makes the PPV a perfect hauler for just about anything you can think of.
Super Select 4WD-II
Another first, the Montero Sport uses the legendary Mitsubishi Super Select four-wheel drive system, which allows the driver to shift from two-wheel to four-wheel drive on the fly under 80 km/h. While all competitors offer a similar feature nowadays, it is of note that Mitsubishi developed this system in conjunction with their experience in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the grueling Dakar Rally, which makes this four-wheel drive system one of the best in the market.
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