1994 MITSUBISHI MONTERO Review
Introduction
American automotive reality is that most people do most of their driving on conventional roadways, where a half-mile patch of gravel road qualifies as roughing it.
Still, many drivers today favor a big rugged, crunching 4WD that gives them a certain feeling of command and security-the kind offered by one of those definitive terrain-busting bruisers such as the Mitsubishi Montero, SR.
Motive doesn't matter much here. The Montero might be destined to crawl around cedar-studded hills in Minnesota's Boundary Waters area, or the driver may be interested only in tooling down the interstate, Walter Mitty-like, pretending as though the expressway were a dirt road outside Kuala Lumpur. What matters isn't always terrain, or even the possibility of chest-deep snows or freakish mud.
What matters is what the vehicle does for your psyche-as well as for your sense of security-which, in the Montero SR's case, is make you feel downright invincible. For a base price of $31,475, you expected something genteel?
Drive it to church if you want, but understand that the Montero SR, is built for just about anything this side of travel on the high seas. One tribute to its mettle: It has won the 5,000-mile annual Paris-to-Dakar rally that traditionally has its share of non-finishers. Credit there goes to the Montero SR's 3.5-liter, 24-valve, 215hp V6, with four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and Active Trac 4VVD system.
It shifts on-the-go with grace and provides precise power at the instant a situation calls for it. For a price tag that will exceed $34,000 when a host of desirable options (such as the $1,800 leather-and-wood package) are added, it's probably the least that should be expected.
Interior
New for 1994, and one more example of the sense of security this vehicle provides, is the addition of a driver-side air bag. The Montero SR interior is otherwise unspectacular, but most passengers will appreciate the attention to detail.
Bucket seats (leather on our package) in the front and back were most comfortable and, thank you very much, were equipped with armrests, as well as six-way power settings on the driver's side. Particularly handy was the way the two rear seats neatly folded down and over the wheel wells to create excellent storage space.
In an era when instrumentation and dashboard are found in increasingly difficult-to-spot places, Mitsubishi has succeeded in making this cluster of buttons and analog readouts a model of efficiency and convenience. There's even an altimeter, inclinometer, electronic compass and outside thermometer as part of the display grouping, which tells you everything about the kind of topography and environment the Montero SR was designed to handle.
Again, though, just because the Montero is a tough guy doesn't mean it lacks refinement. Here and there it has moments of true sophistication, as in the large sunroof that will be welcomed by backseat passengers especially. The sound system is also a winner with its six speakers and equalizer, all of which forms an impressive AM/FM stereo and cassette package for a vehicle of this ilk.
Even the temperature controls get a blue ribbon for their old-fashioned, easy-to-grasp styling. It's a match for cruise-control settings that enable you to set and reset in a snap, without having to fiddle with switches.
Walk-Around
In one sense, this vehicle is the equivalent of a beach-strolling bully just waiting to kick sand on the hoods of all those wimpy vehicles strewn across the landscape. But the Montero, is actually quite civilized and a downright handsome vehicle.
With dark cladding surrounding the Montero, (and offering some welcome protection from parking-lot dings), and with aluminum alloy wheels adding to the dress-up, Mitsubishi has definitely put together one of the more attractive vehicles within this hybrid niche of muscle builders.
Note that this look was achieved minus any serious focus on aerodynamics. There was some slope to the windshield, but beyond that our Montero SR was big, stocky and dramatically high off the ground. It was a considerable step up into this truck, which delivered one of the highest-riding views of a sport utility vehicle we've tested.
More subtle features we liked included two husky headlights that were outfitted with washers; curved-around amber turn signals; license-plate illumination; breakaway side mirrors with their own defrosters; and a sturdy U-hook trailer hitch that looked as if it could tug an earth mover through a swamp.
Impressions
One butter-smooth drive through deep mud and snow convinced us that we would feel comfortable taking the Montero into just about anything a remote, off-road region might offer. Combining 4WD with a rear differential lock, it plowed through serious slop without so much as a groan or any sense of the vehicle laboring.
On steadier roads, we found the Montero to be adequate on acceleration: 0 to 50 mph in about eight seconds. That suggested that we would not want less engine in this vehicle. However, the LS version of the Montero, carries only a 3.0-liter V6 (single cam, 12 valves) that we would worry is a bit too light for a beast destined to bear some serious off-road burdens.
On conventional roadways, the Montero delivered a throaty roar that quieted down once we clicked on overdrive and allowed the rpms to reduce to a more comfortable level. Still, this is a truck, and it reminded us of that when we pulled alongside an 18-wheeler and found ourselves almost eye-to-eye level with the guy barreling along in his big rig.
A qualifier here is that the Mitsubishi Montero's suspension took the bumps and potholes with surprising ease. No shakes or jarring jolts were transferred.
Steering, likewise, was comfortable and responsive, a relative breeze (360 degrees in 31/2 turns) except for those stretches over mud- and snow-covered hills, where two hands were an absolute necessity. Stopping, thanks to standard anti-lock brakes, was a slam-dunk, and parking was as manageable as it probably gets with a vehicle of this character.
Summary
What you see with the Mitsubishi Montero SR is definitely what you get-a big, toothy, robust truck that means business. What tends to surprise is the amount of real elegance this vehicle displays. From its paint and exterior decor to the leather seats and superb instrumentation, the Montero, SR has a fine-wine kind of sophistication that contrasts intriguingly to the viciousness of the terrain it is made to tackle.
There are no complaints against this well-regarded sport utility vehicle's performance. It delivered quite exceptionally in all categories, although we can't help but go back to the sticker-with our options it totaled $34,756-and say with justification that anything this expensive can't afford a falloffs.
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