Mitsubishi Montero 3.2 DI-D (Old)

The Montero ticks all the boxes luxury SUV owners want

Published on Sep 13, 2009 07:00:00 AM

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You wouldn’t expect this massive piece of metal to be nimble, but the monocoque construction of the chassis and a raft of electronic driver aids make this a car you would want to take anywhere.

At any speed, on any surface, the Montero in a word is confidence-inspiring. Yes, there is a distinct amount of body roll given the Montero’s lofty dimensions but it always feels firmly balanced and doesn’t threaten to topple over even when you push the limits. The steering is nice and accurate and the huge tyres (265/65 R17) afford massive amounts of grip and impeccable ride quality on the roughest of roads.

On slippery roads, the Automatic Stability & Traction Control keeps you on the straight and narrow. Driving with the ASC switched off, it is easy to break traction especially in two-wheel-drive mode. Like most SUVs, driving in regular 4WD mode on a loose surface gives a greater sense of security, the added traction making the Montero a lot safer to drive.

Speaking of rough roads, you couldn’t possibly drive around in a Mitsubishi SUV and not plonk it off the road, can you? One gripe you may have though is the lack of an electronic 4WD selector, but the stubby lever the Montero comes with is easy to use with its ‘press and shift’ action. Off-road, the Montero is amazingly capable.