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Mitsubishi Montero Sport: A force to be reckoned with

In the expanding segment of seven-seater SUVs, the Montero Sport can still shine brightly.

Jerome Tresvalles on Jan 24, 2024

The seven-seater SUV segment is a highly contested area among automakers, you’ve nearly every major brand in the Philippines vying for the top spot. Even the newly arrived Chinese brands want a slice of the action. For example, you’ve got Jetour with its X70 range, and Changan with the X7 Plus aiming to entice buyers with their modern tech features and accessible price.

On the other hand, we’ve got the more established brands from the U.S., South Korea, and of course Japan. Some of their offerings you might even already recognize or know someone who owns one. You’ve got the Fortuner from Toyota, the Santa Fe from Hyundai, the Terra from Nissan, the Everest from Ford, and the mu-X from Isuzu. If you think we’re missing something that’s because we’ve deliberately left out our main focus and this week’s star, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

The Montero Sport was first launched in the Philippines in 1996 as a counterpart to the much larger Pajero, this generation lasted until 2008 with the launch of the second generation Montero Sport. The Montero Sport as we know it today was launched in 2016, and it continues to grab the attention of Filipino buyers. Let’s talk about why.

Good looks, comfort, and decent tech

On the outside, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport carries the brand’s Dynamic Shield design language, a new style that is carried by all of Mitsubishi’s current vehicles. Mitsubishi’s seven-seater SUV sports an aggressive face complemented by muscular proportions. On the whole, the Montero looks fresh and modern, not to the extent that we would call it futuristic though.

Inside, the Montero Sport has a decent amount of features and tech across the range. Cruise control is standard even for the entry-level GLX with Handsfree and Voice control functionality being offered on all infotainment systems. All the kit you would expect from a modern car.

In terms of comfort, this is where the Montero shines. Despite being a PPV SUV, the Montero Sport has a plush ride, a better ride than you would expect for sure. It’s not in the same realm as the Terra in terms of comfort, but riding in the much older Montero won’t leave you feeling tired and beaten after a long drive.

A competent rival to the Fortuner

The Montero Sport has its fair share of flaws as with any car, however, this SUV has an answer for the perceived flaws people complain about with its main rival, the Fortuner. The consensus among car owners is that if you want a more comfortable ride, a better seating configuration, and better hauling capabilities, the Montero Sport is the car to go for.

However, the SUV segment is not a two-way fight between the Fortuner and the Montero Sport like before. There are newer entries in the market like the Ford Everest and the Nissan Terra which are much younger with a bit more tech depending on the variant you choose which makes the Montero Sport’s (and the Fortuner’s if we’re being honest) age more apparent. Despite this, the Montero Sport still makes a great case for itself when we consider the price, which we’ll be talking about next.

A low barrier to entry

When compared to its main competitors, the Everest, Terra, Fortuner, and mu-X, the Montero Sport has the lowest price for its entry-level variant and the lowest price for the top-of-the-range variant. At the time of writing, the entry-level GLX MT has a price tag of P1,568,000 with its aforementioned competitors starting above the P1,600,000 mark. This positions the Montero Sport as the most accessible choice among mainstream PPV SUVs. Of course, the discussion would be different if we took into account brands from China, but for now, we’ll focus on the five mainstream SUVs in the Philippines.

Why choose it over anything else?

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport offers numerous appealing features, but we believe its standout characteristic lies in being a well-balanced vehicle across all aspects. It’s not as rough as most PPV-based SUVs but it’s also no softie when the going gets tough. What's more, the design still holds up despite the age with a price that is realistically attainable for most people. When we consider all those things, the Montero Sport definitely is a force to be reckoned with in the segment. Why, you ask? Well, even after being in the market for eight years, it has the power to make you pause and ponder, holding its ground against much newer competition. Before we go though, word is going around in the industry that a new Montero Sport is coming in 2025. Excited? So are we.

You can check out the Montero Sport’s specs, variants, and prices on AutoDeal.com.ph. If you’re considering getting the Montero Sport as your new ride, you can also get a quote from dealerships all around the Philippines with just a click of a button.

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