2016 Mitsubishi Montero review, test drive

Civil behaviour aside, the car's real talent lies at the point where the tarmac ends. It is immensely fun to drive off-road, making gravel and dirt roads seem like child’s play. With 4WD engaged, the Montero absolutely gobbles up difficult terrain; it's no wonder then that Mitsubishi has dubbed it 'King of Terrains'. The levels of traction and stability give you the confidence to push it hard and still be in control of what's going on, within sane limits, of course. And for when the stuff gets really difficult, there's that 4LLc mode grinning at you, waiting to lug you out of whatever conundrum you've gotten yourself into. We didn't get the chance to test its capability in deep sand, but Mitsubishi's success at the Dakar Rally does say a thing or two.

But, there is a catch. Because it is a CBU, the Montero comes with an exorbitant price tag of Rs 71.06 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), thanks to all the import taxes. This puts it in the crosshairs of premium SUVs like the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, the Jaguar F-Pace and the BMW X5. Even though it is tough as ever, it just doesn't compare to its rivals in terms of luxury or features. It retains that old-school SUV charm that most seasoned drivers will really appreciate, but in a brand-conscious market like India that demands more luxury than off-road capabilities from SUVs, the Montero isn’t likely to find many takers.