Keeping Up With The Pack, Or Leading It?
For many years, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport has been the perennial choice of Filipino families needing a 7-seat family SUV. It’s comfortable, powerful, economical, and well kitted out. For model year 2013, Mitsubishi introduced a few minor tweaks on its popular midsize ladder frame SUV. Will the 2013 Montero Sport continue leading in an ever-growing market of 7-seat ladder frame SUVs?
Exterior
The overall looks remains mainly unchanged, but there are noticeable tweaks. For 2013, Mitsubishi revised the front grille of the Montero Sport GLS-V. Looks familiar? The Montero Sport GLS-V now has the same grille as the Montero Sport GTV model. There are a few more minor tweaks too, like the LED turn indicators on the side mirrors, giving it a classier and more modern look.
Interior and Features
Inside, some of the stories remain on why the Montero Sport is a popular choice. For one, it has a modern interior. It looks mature and premium, but it is actually far from truly feeling premium. The materials quality remain the same. Hard and brittle feeling plastics are used all around, but I would’t mind at this price point. For my taste, I always preferred the interior of the GLS-V over the GTV, because faux wood never captures the physical properties of real wood, therefore you easily know the wood is fake. Silver plastics simulate real aluminum trim well, and I prefer the more “youthful” and “sporty” vibe of aluminum.
Space and Practicality
The third row seats are fine. There isn’t plenty of legroom, but it is adequate, and so is headroom. This is helped by having a very low third row seat, though it is too low for my taste. As with other vehicles, the third row seats are best left for children. If the third row seats aren’t needed, they do fold flat, also helped by that low third row seat height. Unlike the Fortuner’s third row seats where you have to hang them on the side and limit your rear visibility, these seats are much easier to operate. This kind of third row seat configuration leaves you with a big and flat cargo area, and the absence of ant load lip means that sliding things in and out of the Montero Sport isn’t a challenge.
Features
As for features, the GLS-V has Bluetooth, GPS navigation, DVD, USB port, and many more of the usual media connectivity sources. For 2013, the GLS-V has switched from a manual AC into an automatically operated climate control system. Also, along with the usual array of rear parking sensors, an optional back-up camera has been added for 2013, which makes parking less of a chore and more of a joy. Once again the Mitsubishi Montero Sport has upped the ante in bringing class-leading technology in the affordable ladder-frame midsize SUV segment. There’s not much off-road features to talk about since this is the RWD model.
Powertrain
Powering the Mitsbusihi Montero Sport GLS-V is a 2.5 liter DI-D direct-injected common rail, diesel engine, which delivers a healthy 178 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. If you are an owner of the now discontinued GLS SE, which is powered by a 3.2 liter DI-D common rail diesel engine and is still wondering why the engine displacement became smaller, it’s because thanks to VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo), the 2.5 liter diesel engine now delivers more power and torque over the old 3.2 liter diesel engine. Power is delivered through a 5-speed automatic transmission via the rear wheels, though 4WD is available.
How It Drives
Step in the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the tall, commanding driving position gives you a good view ahead. When I drove the Toyota Fortuner before, I never considered it a comfortable SUV, and though the suspension has been revised in it’s second facelift, I still found it a bit too stiff. To be honest, I am actually not a fan of ladder frame or body on frame SUVs, since I prefer the rigidity and car-like agility of a monocoque body, but the Montero has good overall comfort. The suspension soaks up the bumps decently. Some engine and road noise goes through the cabin, and admittedly, it isn’t the quietest of SUVs, but it isn’t too bad.
Put the Montero’s 5-speed automatic transmission in manual mode, and you can take advantage of the paddle shifters, a unique Montero Sport feature traditionally seen only in sporty sedans and sports cars. Acceleration off the line is decent and you never feel the 2.5 liter diesel engine work hard, mainly because of the VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo). Since the 2.5 liter diesel engine doesn’t need to work hard, it returns an efficient fuel consumption rating of *10.4 km/l (in full automatic mode) and *11.5 km/l (in manual mode), which includes sporty driving on a back road, and normal cruising in the city and highway.
Bring the Montero Sport off-road, and the advantages of its body on frame construction becomes evident. While not as composed, comfortable, or as dynamic as its more sophisticated and more high-end siblings like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and Ford Explorer on the tarmac, it certainly is a lot more capable off-road. Thanks to its tough chassis, drivers need not to worry when driving the Montero Sport in some of the roughest terrain its owner will probably take it to.
On The Downside
Like everything in life, nothing is of course, perfect. I never described the Montero Sport as, well, “sporty” and fun to drive. The trade-off for a comfort oriented ride is of course, body roll. Steering feel is also vague, as it isn’t that responsive to driver inputs, though when suddenly changing directions, it is agile and predictable for the kind of vehicle it is. If you want an SUV to put a smile on your face on a twisty road, go for midsize crossover SUVs like the Mazda CX-9, Ford Explorer, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Verdict
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS-V remains to be a practical choice for Filipinos. Priced at PHP 1,458,000, the Montero Sport GLS-V 4×2 AT is certainly a good value to buyers. It is practical, spacious, and well kitted out. It also seats seven people comfortably. It is not the sportiest of SUVs, but its body on frame construction gives it an edge when the going gets tough. For 2013, they have further refined the details and made it a notch better than the competition. With the arrival of newcomers such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the facelifted Toyota Fortuner, the 2013 Mitsubishi Montero Sport remains to be a strong competitor in an ever-growing ladder-frame midsize SUV segment.
More Photos
Rating
Exterior Design: ★★★★☆
Interior Design: ★★★★☆
Interior Quality: ★★★★☆
Features: ★★★★☆
Acceleration: ★★★☆☆
Handling: ★★★☆☆
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Fuel Efficiency: ★★★★☆
Value For Money: ★★★★☆
OVERALL: 3.78 out of 5
*Fuel consumption results may vary depending on conditions and the driver itself.
pwedi po bang pang financial yan ..
As far as I’m concerned I think pwede po pang financial ang majority of Mitsubishis on sale.
How was the handling compared to the toyota fortuner? Hindi ba mas mabigat manibela at mahirap i-liko?
I find it a bit more fun to drive without any trade off in ride quality. The source of the Fortuner’s harsh ride is from the rear suspension, and though it is softer than before, it still firmer compared to the competition. As for steering effort, it was moderate if not light. It’s not difficult to point the nose, but it lacks steering feedback.
May narinig kana ba about Montero Sport Differential and Propeller Disconnected. I experience it, we almost had an accident with 2012 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS-V with 5950 km mileage on it kagagaling lang ng casa for 5k PMS 2 Weeks before it happens .Swerte nalang at lumipat ako sa outer lane nakabig ko pa sa shoulder along km 52 in pulilan viaduct. You can verify with Carworld San Fernando. Pampanga. It happens recently.
Never heard of the issue. Probably it’s very rare.
It just happened
last 27 May 2013
It just happened last 27 May 2013 here’s the link of another diffrential issue.
http://tsikot.com/forums/mitsubishi-cars-talk-94/mitsubishi-montero-sport-differential-humming-sound-problem-83615/
i just bought 2013 montero gtv in 2014. bago yun.. less than 4k km and meron leak from the propeller. carworld sanfernando says propeller, oil seal, and transmission something needs repaired. they dont have parts have to order from thailand, so just drive till the parts come in. really!
they said prob been leaking since you bought it, i ask why it wasnt caught on the 1k check up, they said missed. really? i hope not a lemon
did you pay anything for it or mitsubishi charged it to warranty?
mine had replaced both rear shock absorber at 5k pms. already leaking and noisy
My montero sport is just 3000km but the steering wheel mounted control of entertainment sounds is already unoperational it is always ON/OFF. sometimes working and sometimes not.
I actually have a friend of mine who had the same issue. Most probably if it’s still under warranty you can have it fixed for free. By the way, the navigation and multimedia system in the Montero Sport, and other Mitsubishis are actually made by AVT.
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Thank you very much for your kind words. I do this as a hobby, since I am an engineering student. However, I still do my best in updating the site as soon as there are news, and if I have also have the free time to do it. 🙂
Dre meron na bang labas na bagong Montero?? Balak ko kaseng bumili ok ba ang GTV??
The GTV seems to be the model to buy only if you really needs its extra features. The GT-V and GLS-V almost have the same equipment, sans the woodgrain, leather, 6 speakers instead of 8 for the GLS-V, and stability control. For me though, I’d save the extra P290,000 (4×2 AT) or P200,000 (4×4 AT) and go for a GLS-V. The extra features for me aren’t worth the extra cash, and if you are like me, who prefers a sporty interior, the GLS-V has carbon fiber panels (probably faux) instead of wood.
Other choices, since you have the budget for a GTV Montero, I suggest you check out the Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ. For mid-2014, it has been revised, now having the most powerful engine in its class (200 hp and 500 Nm of torque), a better infotainment system (Chevy’s MyLink vs. Mitsubishi’s AVT manufactured system), and at least for the third row passengers, a more comfortable place to sit in, since the third row seat’s cushoning is thicker compared to the Montero’s. The seats don’t fold flat onto the floor however, but Chevy has partially fixed that by adding an underfloor storage to flatten the load bay, though that made the load bay higher. Check out my review on the Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ, however this is the initial 2013 model without MyLink and has the less powerful 2.8 Duramax motor, and see what fits your needs perfectly. http://goflatout.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/driving-the-2013-chevrolet-trailblazer-ltz-4×4-at-out-to-oust-the-king/
san po nakalagay ang usb port nyan?
sorry kung natanong ko po yan??
hehe
Sir pwede po bang 8 or 9 ang sasakay sa montero? 1st row 2 then 2nd row 4 tsaka sa 3rd row 3. Pwede po ba yan? Bali 9 na tao sasakay. Pwede po ba sir?
Kaya ng Montero ang 9 na tao. However, it’s hard for me to actually recommend doing it because while the Montero’s basically an SUV version of the Strada, its recommended to seat only 7 people, and there are some areas in the Philippines (mainly privately owned roads) that restrict any sort of overloading to the vehicle since it also can compromise the car’s handling in emergency situations.
Hello, just like to inquire about the 2013 montero sport, was there any report of sudden unintended acceleration? Just concerned of this since we own one but my wife is now having doubts about it’s safety.
Hi. Sorry for the late reply. Yes there have been reports of SUA for the Montero Sport, but when we saw the video shared by Top Gear Philippines (https://www.facebook.com/topgearphilippines/videos/997600533620348/?theater) we firmly now believe SUA is merely a driver error issue. All of these victims claimed they were stepping on the “brakes” when the engine went “wild”, but immediately in the video, their claims that they were stepping on the brakes are now false because if they really were stepping on the brakes, the brake lights should’ve lit up, and from the numerous cars we have driven and have conducted launches by mashing both the brake and gas, stepping on the brakes can and should overpower the engine.