2016 Mitsubishi Montero review, test drive

The SUV has a very spacious cabin, and it’s quite easy to slip into it, thanks to the low seat height. There's ample headspace for taller drivers and passengers owing to the high-raked roofline. The seats do feel a bit flat, but are quite comfortable with the front seats being electronically adjustable. In the second row, there's a lot of legroom and enough space on the bench to seat three passengers comfortably; the seats can be reclined as well. But, the central armrest might make things a bit uncomfortable for the passenger in the middle on longer drives. The mechanism to fold the second row and access the third is fairly easy to use. However, the space in the third rows is pretty tight, and could probably only fit two children. One feature that hasn't changed from the older model is that the third row folds neatly into the floor to create 1,000 litres of boot space, while the second row folds to add approximately another 700 litres; here's where the Montero’s utilitarian nature really shows.

Powering the Montero is the same 3.2-litre, direct-injection diesel engine that has been tweaked for more refined performance and smoother torque delivery. This engine churns out a peak power of 192hp at 3,800rpm, and has a peak torque output of 441Nm at 2,000rpm. It gets a five-speed automatic gearbox and true to its off-road credentials, gets four driveline modes – 2WD High (2-H), 4WD High (4-H), 4WD High with locked center differential (4-HLc), and 4WD low with locked center differential (4-LLc) for the really gnarly stuff. All modes can be changed when on the go up to 90kph, except for the 4-LLc mode. However, operating the lever can be a bit daunting while driving and may take a few tries before you get it right. There's even a button located on the central dashboard to lock the front differential as well. One neat off-road function is the sonar which helps in detecting large submerged rocks while crossing through water.

Of course, out on the dry roads is where most owners would keep the Montero. Driving on the highway, the SUV feels calm and composed and is relatively stable at high speeds. It does, however, get a bit bouncy at low speeds and there is a bit of body roll which is characteristic of the robust, body-on-ladder frame chassis setup. But, despite its large size, the Mitsubishi doesn't feel very intimidating to drive; which is definitely a bonus for city driving. But on the other hand, the large steering wheel feels quite heavy to operate. It is also a bit vague with initial inputs from the center. The double-wishbone suspension setup at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, soak up bumps pretty well. Safety features include AWC (All Wheel Control) and switchable ATSC (Active Stability and Traction Control), as well as a multi-mode ABS and EBD. While the 17-inch ventilated discs do a stellar job in bringing you to a halt, keeping untowardly incidents at bay.