Mitsubishi Montero 2018 Philippines review: Most favorite SUV of all time

It has been almost 2 years since the current generation Mitsubishi Montero was introduced to the Philippine market. Although the Japanese carmaker has yet to announce any plan for the next-gen Montero, it's recently brought a slight makeover to the top-spec Mitsubishi Montero GT.

Ever since its launch into our country, the mid-size SUV has become one of the most sought-after SUVs in the Philippines for its dynamic exterior, spacious cabin and especially great off-road performance.

It has been almost 2 years since the current generation Montero was introduced to the Philippine market

Our Montero Sport Philippines review on Philkotse.com will give you an insight into this classic SUV, particularly the mid-range GLS variant, so as to see why the Monty has been a favorite of many car enthusiasts not only in our country but also all over the world.

Is the all-new Mitsubishi Montero Sport a worthy heir to its predecessor?

At first glance, the 2018 Montero Sport exterior instantly shows a typical sense of toughness and firmness of an off-roader.

In detail, at the front fascia, the 3rd-gen Montero is refreshed with 'Dynamic Shield' grille, a benchmark of Mitsubishi’s future cars. The Montero also comes equipped with upswept headlights and box-flare wheel arches, providing the SUV a sporty, glossy and powerful appearance.

Other exterior refinements are composed of character lines making the slab-sided doors more stylish and the third window kink giving the car a more appealing look.

At first glace, the Monty instantly shows a typical sense of toughness and firmness of an off-roader

 The Montero Sport exterior also comes equipped with upswept headlights and box-flare wheel arches

Noticingly, the front fascia is interwoven with chrome layers surrounding the large air intakes and stretching up to the fog lamps, plus lustrous and longer-lasting LED headlights shining whiter and brighter, providing drivers better visibility on the go.

Complementing to the front equipment is advanced side mirrors which can be folded automatically when touching a button and when the car is locked from the outside.

The longer-lasting LED headlights shining whiter and brighter, providing drivers better visibility on the go

When it comes to the rear, the Montero brings about an overwhelming impression thanks to its long and flowing tube-type LED taillights which offer clearer visibility for both the driver and surrounding vehicles whether at night or during daytime.

At the rear, the Montero brings about an overwhelming impression thanks to its long and flowing tube-type LED taillights

Getting inside, it is not difficult to recognize that the manual Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS largely inherits from Mitsubishi counterparts. Highlighted by tiny combined touches, the Montero Sport interior offers a beautiful and elegant feel.

3.1. Cabin space

While the sunken stitching lines give the car a more fashionable and luxurious impression, the rounded shoulder supports together with multi-layer cushioning seats help create comfort and enjoyment for both driver and passengers, especially during a long drive.

The rounded shoulder supports together with multi-layer cushioning seats help create comfort and enjoyment for both driver and passengers

Passengers at the second row can enjoy roomy legroom while the third row comes with acceptable knee room for occupants under 5'6" and, however, no foot room. This means third-row passengers will have to suffer from a bit uncomfortable sitting position.

When not in use, the third row can be folded flat, releasing more room to house up bulky stuff. Nonetheless, you will have to perform multiple steps between the tailgate and the second row in order to get the seats in place. This is also one of the minus points of this mid-size SUV.

The third row offers a large space to house up a lot of big stuff when being folded

3.2. Infotainment system

Although the Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS is not adorned with the “Premium” tag, its interior still boasts exclusive equipment that not all variants are offered with, namely:

• Electronic parking brake switch
• Keyless operation system (KOS) with engine start/stop button
• The ergonomic and elegant instrument panel
• 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat 
• Steering wheel controls high contrast instrument cluster with a multi-information display

The GLS 4WD boasts exclusive equipment that not all variants are offered with

The 2018 Montero Sport interior is decorated with a 6.75-inch capacitive discharge touchscreen, tuner, DVD and MP3 player, auxiliary-in and USB ports, iPod compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone mirror link feature, GPS navigation and dual-zone (GT) automatic climate control system. For the GLS variant, the Japanese automaker replaces one cup holder by the selector for the Super Select II system.

The all-new Mitsubishi Montero 2018 is decorated with a 6.75-inch capacitive discharge touchscreen

The Mitsubishi Montero 2018 GLS features a kit of safety features including:

• 8 SRS airbags
• The Mitsubishi active stability and traction control
• Hill-start assist
• Hill descent control
• Blindspot warning system
• Reinforced impact safety evolution (RISE) Body Construction
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) System

The Montero 2018 GLS is equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) System

Mitsubishi Montero Sport sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incident

Some of you might still recall the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC)'s incident occurring in 2015 in which the Montero Sport was reported by multiple owners in the Philippines for causing sudden acceleration. Until  2017, there had been more than 100 complaints filed by 2010 - 2015 Montero model owners against MMPC.

TV Patrol: Mitsubishi: Walang 'sudden unintended acceleration' and Montero

However, the investigation conducted by a third party from the UK had clearly concluded that there was no technical cause in SUA incidents. The Japanese car brand had further asserted that the claims for the Montero’s SUA incidents were of no basis and that the model was totally safe to drive. However, Mitsubishi still offered a free inspection for those who were affected by the SUA incidents. 

Worth mentioning is that, regardless of its SUA incident, sales of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport were still recorded to remain strong.

As for the engine, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2018 is powered by a 2.4L turbodiesel 4-cylinder DOHC 16V MIVEC engine. MIVEC, which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system, is made to produce low exhaust emissions, low fuel consumption, and high power output.

Running with the MIVEC engine, the GLS 4DW is capable of dishing out 179hp and 430 Nm of torque, working in a conjunction with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The Montero Sport 2018 is powered by a 2.4L turbodiesel 4-cylinder DOHC 16V MIVEC engine

For fuel economy, urban driving earns 8.8 km/l at an average speed of 19km/h while highway driving reaches 14.3 km/l with an average speed of 88 km/h.

On the freeway, the Mitsubishi Montero 2018 is exactly a delicate cruiser. Running with the fifth gear, the revolution per minute remains low and cabin noise is minimized. On the other hand, the sixth gear is preferred for overdrive.

Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Well, coming to the off-road performance of the Montero Sport 2018, it surprises us a lot! Armed with a long-stroke suspension, soft damping, and a traction control system, the 4WD boasts to be a hero defeating every harsh, rugged or even mountainous terrain without shock to in-car people.

The 4WD boasts to be a hero defeating every harsh, rugged or even mountainous terrain without shock to in-car people

>>> Feel so excited to get the similar car specs with this Montero Sport? Visit our cars for sale to get the best deal.

Take a look at the table below for the latest Montero Sport cost:

>>> View full Price list of Mitsubishi Montero Sport Philippines to keep up to date with the latest changes.

It can be said that the Mitsubishi Montero GLS 4WD is born to be a great off-roader and also a top choice for those who usually have provincial trips. However, this SUV seems not to be one of the first names in the list of favorite vehicles for urban people. Even so, with its classic yet fashionable style, it can still satisfy those who are seeking a special addition to amassing their car collection. 

Philkotse.com hopes that our Montero Sport review Philippines has given you a comprehensive understanding of this delicate cruiser.

The Mitsubishi Montero is born to be a great off-roader