Mitsubishi Montero Sport: Mobility for the future

MANILA, Philippines — There is something about the Mitsubishi Montero Sport that makes it so much fun to drive – it is ready for the future.

I recently got the chance to sit behind the wheel of the Montero Sport and was delighted.

For starters, the Montero Sport is what I’d call a comfortable midsize SUV. This means that even a small driver would feel comfortable in the cockpit. Sometimes I am daunted by the size of the newer SUVs, but this was not the case with the Montero Sport. Often when stuck in traffic, it can be downright scary to overtake when one is driving a bigger-sized SUV. Not so with the Montero Sport because it is so easy to maneuver even in tight spaces during rush hour and heavy traffic on EDSA.

The Montero Sport that I drove was powered by a six-speed manual transmission. It was fun to get back behind the wheel of a stick shift that was so light to drive, that often I forget to shift gears because it felt like I was driving an automatic.

A good look

Before I took it for a spin, I took a good look at the Montero Sport’s exterior styling. It had been a few years since I’d been behind the wheel of a Montero. Let me just say that it has a futuristic look. The chrome grille, the swept-back headlights, the drooping taillights and the prominent air intake are all quite pleasing to look at.

Inside the Montero Sport are leather seats and a smooth silver trim. But it was the AVT multimedia system that got me on a tech high.  There, sitting before me on the center dashboard was a 6.75-inch touch screen tuner, DVD and MP3 player, USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. A console that the techie in me liked.

And I must add that although I am not one to really listen to music while driving (I much prefer silence), fiddling with the high-tech center console was fun.

I sat on the driver’s seat to get a feel of the comfort and I was not disappointed. I knew from how it felt that it would get a good grip of my body while I drove and maneuvered.

A look back gave me a view of the passengers’ seats, which look like they’d be comfy for long-haul rides. I felt that for a long drive, the third row might be a little tight and maybe better for loads like luggage.

The power 

I enjoyed the power behind the 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine. The Montero Sport’s ride leans toward the soft side. I felt a bit of sponginess when driving at a rapid clip, but there was still that palpable sense of control. You can confidently toss this midsize SUV into tight streets and sharp corners and it won’t betray you. It will even reward you with delightful feedback and enjoyable driving. When the Monty reaches triple-digit speeds, it shows off how stable it is. Vibration is minimal, and the SUV still feels very much planted.

This is very much a modern SUV, and it has the conveniences to prove it — like start/stop button ignition, electronic parking brake. Also, there’s no need to tire yourself turning a key for the ignition, as there’s now a start/stop button. Sensors and a backing-up camera warn you of obstructions while parking, and steering-wheel buttons make it easy to activate cruise control and fiddle with the sound system.

 The Mitsubishi Montero Sport is built with comfort, style and sportiness in mind  – just the way a driver like me likes it. 

I was done looking, so it was time to start rolling.

I started the engine and heard the engine roar.

I knew it would be a good day for a good ride.