2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT Review | Philkotse Philippines

Midsize SUVs are one of the most popular vehicles in the Philippines due to the versatility and functionality they offer. They can drive through almost any terrain, have relatively reliable engines, and have high ground clearance. The latter’s perfect for folks living in the urban jungle who want to have a vehicle that could give them a fighting chance when the need arises to drive through a flood.   

2021 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT Review: Feature-packed SUV for the family

Aside from that, midsize SUVs here can accommodate up to seven individuals, which lets people travel in groups – a common practice among Filipinos.   

With all that being said, car brands in the country are launching their respective challenger in the seven-seater midsize SUV segment. And one of the long-standing competitors is the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. So, what can the current Mitsubishi midsize SUV offer? To know the answer to that, here’s Philkotse’s 2022 Mistusibhi Montero Sport GT 4x4 review.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport comes with an aggressive exterior styling. It has a bold and commanding presence even at a standstill due to the design details of its front fascia as well as the sharp character lines that you can see at its side.

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport comes with a striking front end

Up front, you’ll notice that the Montero shares a bit of similarity to its other Mitsubishi sibling, the Strada. The Montero’s front end has this strong and confident appeal thanks to the brand’s signature Dynamic Shield design concept.

The said concept gives the Montero a proud fascia that’s made possible by its massive grille that’s complemented by crisp chrome trims. To add to that, the 2022 Montero Sport has sharp-looking LED headlights and an angular bumper that gives the vehicle a muscular look.

As a whole, the Montero’s front end gives the vehicle a commanding presence, which makes it stand out when it’s out on the road. Compared to its segment rivals, I consider this vehicle as one of the best-looking midsize SUVs in the market today.

The Montero still looks commanding even when viewed from the side

Turning at the side, the Montero Sport is not shy in showing off its sharp character lines that you can see from the front and rear parts of the vehicle. I like how the character line suddenly breaks in the middle part of the car since this gives the vehicle a more unique and standout look. The 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport also comes with prominent wheel arches that further give it a strong and distinct appearance when viewed from the side. Paired with the wheel’s stylish and sleek design, the combo balances the aggressive character of the whole car. Speaking of which, the Montero Sport comes with a set of 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels.

The rear is as striking as its front

The Montero Sport’s rear, though slightly looking similar to the older model, is now integrated with subtle design changes that make the vehicle more appealing. One of the things I like to highlight is the revamped LED taillights. If you will recall, the previous version of the Mitsubishi Montero is fitted with a sort of crying taillights, where the tail lamp cluster extends all the way to the rear bumper.

Now, some Montero owners and other individuals such as myself are not much of a fan of the said design. As such, owners resort to fitting aftermarket parts into the lower part of the taillight cluster to make it look shorter. But, that is no longer the case with the current Montero Sport. Mitsubishi revamped the taillights, which now looks better and more seamless as compared to the previous design. Aside from the taillights, this vehicle comes with a large and protruding bumper, as well as a spoiler. However, the chrome trim on the tailgate is a bit too thick for my eyes.

Stepping inside the 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, you’ll be greeted with a black interior theme along with splashes of silver trims. Once you get seated on the driver’s seat, you’ll notice that the Montero has a decent interior styling with a hint of premium cabin feel.

The straightforward dashboard layout 

The dashboard has a straightforward layout, which is a nice feature since the buttons and essential vehicle functions are within reach of the driver. The large steering wheel is integrated with several buttons for audio, phone functions, and adaptive cruise control. It also comes with paddle shifters in case you want to have a more spirited drive.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport also wants to prove that it’s a techie car. To prove that point, it comes with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster that delivers crisp images that shows helpful vehicle information to the driver. The instrument cluster can also be customized as you can choose from three different themes.

This vehicle also comes with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The touchscreen is responsive to every touch however the icons look a bit outdated. Of note, the infotainment system of the Montero Sport comes with a built-in navigation system. I was able to test it during the duration of the drive, and it’s a good alternative to other popular navigation apps as it gives you updated routes.   

Ride in style

The 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT’s interior also comes with leather seats all round, which is expected since this is the top-of-the-line variant. The leather seats give the driver and the passengers a comfortable overall in-cabin experience, which is going to come in handy when you and your family or friends will go on a road trip. However, the dashboard as well as the door panels of the 2022 Montero Sport is filled with hard plastics. I wish that Mitsubishi opted to put some soft-touch materials to it to give the cabin a more premium feel. To add, this vehicle comes with a sunroof.  

The Montero Sport has enough leg- and head-room for second-row passengers

The 2022 Montero Sport comes with a 2+3+2 seat configuration, which is the usual seat arrangement in seven-seater midsize SUVs. As such, the leg- and head-room for the second-row seat is generous. Three individuals standing 5’5” can easily fit in the second row without compromising too much on comfort. On the other hand, the third-row seats are also spacious but individuals standing 5’8” might have a hard time sitting due to the relatively cramped space.  

2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Exterior: Third-row seats

Cargo space is also not a problem for the 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. With the third-row seats up, you can easily fit up to three medium-sized luggage or maletas. It can also accommodate up to five overnight bags with more room to spare. Moreover, it can take on a week’s supply of groceries. The cargo space can further be expanded when you fold the third- and second-row seats. As such, you can fit an assortment of items in the Montero Sport.

You can fit an assortment of items in the Montero Sport

>>> Related: Toyota Innova & Mitsubishi Montero Sport: Which one do you prefer?

Aside from having a notable exterior and interior styling, the 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport comes with several tech and safety features. As mentioned earlier, this vehicle comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a welcome feature for those who always want to be connected on the go. Aside from that, the infotainment touchscreen transforms into a reverse camera that helps a lot when you’re backing into a parking space.

Plus, this vehicle comes with a 360-degree around-view monitor. The Montero Sport is also equipped with seven airbags, a forward collision mitigation system, traction control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, among many others.

The electrical dial knob

The cabin temperature can easily be adjusted through the dual-zone automatic climate control. Since this specific variant of the Montero Sport comes with a 4x4 configuration, it’s worth noting that it comes with what Mitsubishi calls the Electronic Dial Super Select. Basically, this is where you can switch the Montero’s driving characteristics or behavior.

Select 2H for normal driving conditions, then switch to 4H when you need to drive through rough roads and hazardous conditions like heavy downpours. On the other hand, 4HLc is used when you’re driving through rugged terrain with low-grip. Lastly, 4LLc is used when you need to go through rocks, mud, or sand.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT is powered by a 2.4-liter diesel engine that delivers 179 hp and 430 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. If you look into the power output rating, this Montero Sport is quite against the odds when you compare it to Toyota Fortuner’s new 2.8-liter diesel engine. 

The Montero Sport's 2.4-liter diesel engine

Despite that, the Montero Sport GT can deliver the goods when it comes to the overall driving experience. It has great power delivery, good handling, and a stable ride. The thing I like most about this vehicle is its stable ride, especially when you’re driving on the open highway. You’ll always be at ease with this vehicle as it feels well-planted on the road as you drive at highway speeds. 

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport has a commanding stance

In terms of steering, the Montero Sport leans a bit more on the heavy side. Yes, it doesn’t come with a light steering feel but I don’t see that as a problem since it has its own benefit. The slightly heavy steering feel of the Montero Sport gives you more control over the vehicle, especially when you’re cruising the highway.

This is also one of the reasons why you’ll feel at ease when driving at highway speeds since the steering characteristic of the Montero Sport allows you to have more control of the vehicle, which helps you have a more stable ride. However, the only downside of having a relatively heavy steering feel is when you need to park the vehicle or when you need to make a three-point turn. 

Look at that commanding presence

Power delivery is also good as the Montero Sport can accelerate quickly with minimum delay. As such, you can overtake slower vehicles with confidence. The eight-speed automatic transmission is also smooth and comes with minimal to none shift shocks. In terms of shifting, the engine shifts at around the 2,000 rpm mark, which is considered ideal when you want to have a good fuel economy. Uphill roads within the city of San Juan is also not a problem for this vehicle as it can easily climb up roads with the rpm set at 2,000. 

In terms of ride comfort, the 2022 Montero Sport can absorb impacts from potholes within reason and it drives well along the dilapidated roads of EDSA. Yes, there will be few bumps here and there but that’s just natural. The Montero’s suspension does a good job of minimizing the harshness as the vehicle drives through the urban jungle. Well, smooth ride comfort is one of the things that made the Montero Sport nameplate popular after all.  

Fuel economy wise, I was able to get 15 km/l while driving at an average speed of 80 km/h. On the other hand, city driving yielded 7 km/l while crawling through EDSA traffic at an average speed of 30 km/h. Of note, I was the only one on board the Montero Sport when the said fuel eco run was conducted. 

Overall, the 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT remains to be one of the best midsize SUVs you can buy in the Philippines. Priced at 2,341,000, the top-spec GT variant ticks all the boxes when you’re looking for a seven-seater SUV. It has a commanding exterior, a good interior layout, generous space, a bunch of safety and tech features, as well as a reliable engine. Indeed, this vehicle is more than capable to go head-to-head with its segment rivals.  

The Montero Sport is still one the best midsize SUVs in the local market

How much is Mitsubishi Montero Sport in Philippines? 

The 2022 Mitsubishi Montero Sport has a starting price of Php 1,568,000 for the Montero Sport GLX 2WD MT variant. The top-spec Montero Sport GT is priced at Php Php 2,341,000.