February 29th 2016
The Mitsubishi Montero is one of the most popular mid-size SUVs, which has been under production since 1982. It is also known as Mitsubishi Pajero and Mitsubishi Shogun in the international markets. The 2016 Mitsubishi Montero Sport was officially unveiled by the automaker in April 2015, at the Bangkok International Grand Motor Sale show in Thailand. In the UAE, the Montero Sport is offered in two variants: GLX and GLS. I recently got a chance to test drive the GLS version. Below is my take on this sporty SUV.
Walk Around
I found absolutely nothing unattractive as I gazed at the Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2016. The front fascia incorporates a sporty persona with an aggressive bumper and sleek LED headlamps. The wheels are 18-inch alloy and complement the overall bold nature of the SUV. One thing which caught my attention is that lots of exterior elements are chrome plated including the front grille, side mirrors, door handles and the rear trunk lid. Towards the rear, the body is bulging out slightly, which of course creates more space in the interior.
Cockpit Impression
I found the spacious and opulent. The wooden trim is used on the front dash and the doors giving the interior a premium feel. The second row seats are comfortable with adequate headroom and leg room; however, the third row seats are compact and can best be used to seat your children.
The cargo space measures 673 litres with second row seats in place, which is pretty impressive, and it can be further increased to 1,624 litres by folding the rear seats.
Engine Specification of 2016 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
The 2016 Montero Sport is available in only one engine option in the GCC region i.e. 3.5-litre V6 gasoline unit producing 226 horsepower and 284 Nm of torque. Paired with the engine is an improved 8-speed automatic transmission that renders flawless shifting of gears on all sorts of terrains.
Driving Dynamics
In terms of performance, I would say that the Montero Sport is exclusively made for off-roading purposes. As you can see in the video, I drove it on the sand dunes and rocky landscape out of the city and the ride was simply exhilarating.
Just below the gearbox, there is a drive mode selector dial which gives the option of switching between 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc modes. The 2H mode is ideal for city driving, but since I drove it on the desert, I switched to 4HLc. The 4LLc mode is perfect for extreme rugged terrains such as mud, sand and snow.
Technological Overview
The Montero Sport 2016 boasts a number of high end technological features which aid in driving. The centre console features a 7-inch touch display infotainment system with integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can connect your smartphone easily and enjoy all the apps on the centre display. The voice recognition comes standard and works well with the navigation system. The infotainment system also includes USB port and HDMI slot.
Safety
The safety of the Montero 2016 and the driver is ensured through a number of safety facilities including Blind Spot Monitoring, Ultra-sonic Missaceleration System (UMS), Forward Collision System, 7 SRS airbags, seat belt pretensioners, Hill Start Assist, Active Stability Control and a lot more.
Dislike
I believe the rear section of the 2016 Montero is a bit bulky making it difficult to park in tight spots. However, safety features like the UMS aids in parking the Montero with ease.
Verdict
The 2016 Mitsubishi Montero Sport starts from AED 89,900 and is available at the official Mitsubishi Dealer ‘AL-Habtoor Motors’. It is an ideal family SUV with an impressive interior, tech and safety facilities, and a large cargo are. Furthermore, if you love going off-road, the Montero won’t disappoint you on the desert safari.