Mitsubishi Montero Sport – Pros and cons

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport has earned quite a reputation in the Philippine automotive industry. Competing with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, the Isuzu MU-X, the Nissan Terra, and the Chevy Colorado; the Mitsubishi Montero Sport is considered to be one of the top choices in the competitive Philippine mid-size Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment.

A few months back, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC), officially launched the 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. It featured a redesigned exterior complemented by a refreshed interior made to provide drivers and passengers alike a more comfortable and luxurious feel.

Not that there’s anything wrong with the previous model, it’s only because companies like MMPC, are always on the lookout for innovations and upgrades to its vehicles. This says a lot about how and why the Mitsubishi Montero Sport keeps a strong foothold on the market.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport leaves a lot of room for customization and personalization as it’s set to be released in four trim levels with seven color options. However, at the time of writing, only two of the variants have available pricing and only three of them have a full spec sheet.

Here are the trim levels -

• Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLX 2WD MT
• Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS 2WD AT
• Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT 2WD AT
• Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT 4WD AT

Here’s the available 2020 Montero Sport pricing in Philippines -

• Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS 2WD AT – ₱1.769 Million
• Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT 2WD AT – ₱1.998 Million

Here are the available engine specs -

	GLX 2WD MT	GLS 2WD AT	GT 2WD AT
Model and Type	(4N15) 2.4L In-Line 4 DOHC 16V Clean Diesel with VGT and MIVEC
Displacement	2,442 cc
Bore and Stroke	86mm x 105.1mm
Compression Ratio	15.5:1
Max Power	181 Ps/3,500 rpm
Max Torque	430 Nm/2,500 rpm
Fuel System	Common Rail Electronic Fuel Injection

 

2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Pros

The all-new Mitsubishi Montero Sport is more than a cosmetic face-lift. Having said, these enhanced features are one of the reasons why you should consider the 2020 model if you’re in the market for a new lifestyle SUV.

1. An updated infotainment system

The 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport specs sheet is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible. This is made possible through Smartphone-Link Display Audio that allows you to seamlessly integrate your smartphone into the large and crisp eight-inch display. This new setup makes for a coherent and user-friendly experience overall. The larger display screens allow passengers to watch stored videos keeping them entertained during long trips.

2. Refreshed Safety Features

Mitsubishi never skimps on safety. That’s why the 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport specs sheet comes fully outfitted with some of the most advanced safety features the Pickup-Platform Vehicle (PPV) segment has to offer. You’ll find industry-leading safety features like Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) and Brake Auto Hold (BAH).

Mitsubishi’s EPB automatically locks the parking brake as soon as the shift level enters the “P” position and automatically releases the parking brake the moment you shift out of it. On the other hand, BAH ensures that the 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport remains stationary so you won’t crash on what’s in front and behind you accidentally. The on-board computer detects if the vehicle remained still for more than 10 minutes and automatically brings the 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport to a halt.

We know what you’re thinking, Philippine city road situations are infamous for its heavy traffic. Having said, you can easily disable BAH with a push of a button.

The 2020 Montero Sport also offers Lane Change Assist (LCA) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) keeping you safe in both slow and fast driving conditions. Moreover, this mid-size lifestyle SUV is equipped with a multi-view camera system that limits inherent blind spots allowing beginners and advanced drivers to easily park the wide-bodied Montero Sport.

3. Convenience and Customizability

While it’s imperative for an SUV to be outfitted with infotainment and safety features, it’s still handy to have convenient and practical components to go along with your vehicle. Here’s what the subtly face-lifted 2020 model has to offer.

• Power Tailgate
• Height Memory Function
• Hands-free Tailgate Operation

One of the main reasons Filipino families use SUVs is because of its larger interior space and having to haul cargo oftentimes requires a helping hand. The new Montero Sport is intelligent enough to offer practical features like hands-free tailgate access allowing you to open and close the tailgate should you have both hands occupied.

All you need to do is to place your foot in front of the sensors and the on-board computer will automatically lift the tailgate for you. The height of the actual tailgate can also be adjusted to your preference.

2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Cons

While there’s a lot to love about the all-new Montero Sport, there are surely a few things we’d like to see improved.

1. Brake Feedback

Feedback on the new Montero Sport’s breaks could be a little weak for some and we didn’t like that other might find that modulating the brakes could take a little getting used to.

2. Third-Row Seat Stowing

Another component we’d love to see improved is the 2020 Montero Sport’s third-row seats. It takes too many steps just to stow the seats away. Third-row or rear-end seats often have to be flipped front and back to make room for luggage. And honestly, as easy and as straightforward the 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport’s hands-free tailgate operation is, the steps you have to go through to stow the rear-end seats might just defeat the power tailgate’s purpose.

Final Thoughts

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport offers its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. However, it’s still a solid option for anyone looking for a reliable and dependable mid-sized SUV. While we have minor gripes about how the brakes handle and just how complicated the process of shoving the third-row seats could be, the pros of the 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sports still outweigh its cons.
Make sure to check it out and find out why the face-lifted 2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sports is worth your money.

Also Read: 2019 Mitsubishi Montero Sport – Top features