2016 Mitsubishi Montero review, test drive

At a time when most manufacturers are going the luxury soft-roader way with their SUVs, Mitsubishi has stayed true to its off-road credentials and given us a rugged-looking and very capable SUV. It may not have all the frills and fancies that the premium SUVs of today offer, but when the going gets tough, the Montero likes to get going. It's got that old-school charm of the go-anywhere, survive anything SUVs of yesteryear; from the looks to the feel, be prepared to fondly remember the mighty Pajeros of the past. The Montero was discontinued in 2012 due to low sales figures. However, Mitsubishi has reintroduced the SUV in the Indian market, albeit at a very high price.

As far as looks go, the 2016 Montero has retained those classic SUV rugged lines, but it’s been slightly toned down from those seen on the boxy-looking Pajero it descends from. Bear in mind, this base design has been around for almost fifteen years now, save for some updates to the front and rear styling. The good thing here is that even though it does look imposing, it doesn't look like it’s trying too hard. It still has the horizontal chrome-lined front grille with minor changes, and what’s interesting is that it contains small directed vents that channel air to cool all engine pistons equally – a technology developed from Mitsubishi's active participation and success in gruelling rally events.

The Montero comes equipped with these swanky new headlamps that have a high discharge output, headlight washers, and an automatic high beam that is controlled by a camera. The air dam and front bumper have been revised, and it also gets DRLs integrated into the bumper, near the fog lamps. From the side, it looks similar to the older model, except for the chromed-out ORVMs. The rear also gets a fog lamp on the spare wheel for night driving duties, as well as slight changes in the contours of the hatch. It has a locking mechanism to keep the door ajar; something that would be helpful in camping scenarios.

As far as creature comforts go, the Montero now gets a panoramic sunroof and is fitted with a Rockford Acoustic Design sound system, and an infotainment system that offers Bluetooth. There is also a central information display to relay information from a compass, as well as altitude and fuel consumption. The dash has a nice, soft feel to it but still looks rugged and functional. The automatic climate control works quite well, but uses the rather dated, rotary dials for controls; they do have a solid feel nonetheless. At the front, the seats get heating functions; quite unnecessary when driving in India. The Montero, however, does miss out on features like a USB port, a keyless stop-start option and a navigation system.