Mitsubishi Montero

The latest from Hindustan Motors (HM) and Mitsubishi, Montero is actually the third-generation Pajero. HM brought in the second-generation Pajero to India in 2002.Therefore, to have two different-generation but same products in the market could lead to confusion. So, the car will be called Montero in India. It is called Montero in the U.S., Shogun in the U.K. and Pajero elsewhere.

The new Montero is a completely revised car with a new common-rail engine, brand new interiors and a new face as well.

The timing for the Montero is perfect; people’s spending power is increasing and they are enjoying the outdoors a lot more. The vehicle is configured appropriately to fit into the super-luxury segment. The Pajero launched in 2002 was also aimed at the luxury segment but didn’t do too well as it wasn’t priced right, was not very comfortable and the interiors failed to make an impact. So with the new and better Montero, Mitsubishi and HM are hoping to enjoy success.

Design and engineering

The upright, elongated stance of the earlier car is retained in the new Montero and makes it look imposing, while heavy side cladding and the tailgate-mounted spare wheel add to the Montero’s SUV silhouette. The new face of the Montero is eye-catching and a huge improvement over the older car. It is built on a stiff monocoque chassis, which has a built-in ladder frame. The all-independent double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension used on the earlier Montero is carried forward here as well but with several upgrades. There is also a carbon fibre-reinforced driveshaft, massive 332mm brake discs front and rear, anti-lock brakes as well as stability and traction control.

Interiors

The new Montero fits the profile of a luxury car far better than the old one. Plastic used on all buttons, knobs and anywhere else is of top quality and the dash is finished in two tones: non-reflective black for the top and beige leather for the bottom half. The interiors are covered with quality soft-feel materials and leather. Steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise control and a comprehensive trip computer are just some of the goodies that come with the car.

The seats are quite comfortable and the driver and passenger seats are powered and you get lumbar support and side airbags. There is lots of space for the middle passengers as well. However, since the floor is high, the middle seat remains low and hasn’t got proper thigh support which can cause discomfort. The last row of seats has no legroom or thigh support and is only good for seating kids on short journeys. However, on the upside, this seat can be folded out of view into the floor and creates extra space for luggage.

Engine and performance

The new common-rail motor from Mitsubishi has been in the coming for a while now and is finally here. It displaces 3.2 litres and produces 165bhp and a hefty 39kgm of torque, which is not much more than the outgoing direct-injection motor. Refinement levels have improved but again, not by much. Idle is pretty silent and vibrations are well damped, but under load there is still a lot of diesel clatter. This is particularly noticeable when the car is accelerating and detracts from the now-otherwise luxurious feel of the car. Performance is only adequate, the new Montero being significantly slower than the older model. The power-to-weight ratio has dropped which has impacted acceleration. The dash to 100kph comes up in a leisurely 15.2 seconds and it takes 35.2 seconds to reach 140 from rest.

The short first and second gears help make the car quite driveable in the urban crawl. There always seems to be sufficient power on hand and turbo lag, though present, does not prove to be too much of a problem, the Montero lunging forward smartly with a tap of the throttle. Overtaking is also not much of a problem, the Montero having enough urge and power on hand most times.

Fuel efficiency

The additional safety kit and the extra features make this car is a heavy one at 2.3 tonnes and it isn’t a surprise that the fuel efficiency of the Montero isn’t all that great. It gave 7.3 kilometres per litre (kpl) in the city and 10.0kpl on the highway.