The big Pajero is back but now as the Montero. It gets a new set of clothes and a new price which makes it even better than before.

You could call it a Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 in a new avatar but the new Montero is much more than that. It’s got a new face, tasteful, leather-clad interiors, bigger 16-inch wheels and a price tag that is a whole Rs 3 lakh cheaper than the earlier Pajero 3.2. The engine has been tweaked too, putting out a 165bhp; a marginal increase over the earlier model.
The Montero comes at a time when the HM-Mitsubishi alliance is trying to start a new innings in India and achieve success that has always eluded them. After a good reception to the first Lancer, HM-Mitsubishi got left behind in the Indian market with no more than a few people — who value the triple-diamond badge — buying a Mitsubishi.
You wouldn’t be far off when you say that HM-Mitsubishi is currently the underdog in the Indian market. But even the underdog can throw up a few surprises. Going by the slew of triple-diamond badges set to enter the market, HM-Mitsubishi is itching to bounce back into contention and has been discreetly working on a number of new models.

The Lancer Cedia saloon is a potential Corolla challenger while the Pajero 2.8 CRZ that we drove last month is set for a new lease of life with its Rs 4 lakh price cut. And sometime next year, HM-Mitsubishi will be bringing in the Outlander, an urban SUV that’s aimed straight at the CR-V’s jugular. What a shootout that would be!
Coming back to the Montero, the biggest improvements are in the interiors. While the earlier Pajero 3.2 had good quality, but very dull, grey plastics, the Montero’s cabin is now a nicer place to live in. The décor is a nice mix of wood and black and suede leather and the pleated seats look very rich.
Equipment levels are in keeping with the price tag as well. Electric adjusters for both front seats are standard (not present on the earlier Pajero 3.2) as are airbags. Our test car wasn’t fitted with an audio system but a CD/MP3 player will come as standard. The Montero also comes with an ‘RV meter’ that gives info outdoor fans will relish. Neatly integrated into the top of the centre console, the bright LCD screen displays altitude, atmospheric pressure, the date and time, AC vent positions and also has a compass. It’s a gizmo that’s sure to be a hit with owners.
The front seats are extremely comfortable and supportive and road visibility is superb. The middle row has decent legroom, but the seat base is a touch too low and doesn’t give sufficient under-thigh support. The last row is best for a couple of kids but what’s ingenious about this pair of seats is that they stow under the floor to offer a flat and unhindered luggage bay.
Though the Montero is essentially a face-lifted version of the earlier Pajero 3.2, it looks distinctively different with a new grille, a new bumper and reworked front fenders, which still have those characteristic bulges. The fog lamps are now round instead of rectangular and the narrower grille has a prominent central bar. Going over to the sides, the body-cladding is in a different shade and the rear wheel arch retains that huge bulge towards the rear-lights. The rear remains pretty much the same with just an addition of an air-spoiler.
The Montero’s 3.2-litre twin-cam, 16-valve unit is a direct-injection turbo but doesn’t come with ‘common-rail’ technology — a byword today for cutting-edge diesels. The specs are still pretty impressive though, especially the 38kgm of torque, which is developed at only 2000rpm.
However, refinement is something that Mitsubishi hasn’t been able to quite offer. Turn the ignition on and you will rock to an intrusive rattle. Warm it for a few seconds and the clatter gives way to a smoother, strong growl but there’s no mistaking that diesel clatter. In fact, that diesel drone is present at most speeds and it’s only when you are cruising in top gear that the unit quietens down.
Floor the throttle and you are struck by the sheer responsiveness of the engine. The over two-and-a-half ton Montero surges ahead with effortless ease. You always feel you have an abundance of power — irrespective of the gears — and the engine is quite rev-happy too. Besides, it doesn’t tail off rapidy near the red line like other diesels.
Acceleration is superb and the Montero can maintain a pace that would leave many luxury saloons floundering in its wake. All the controls like the steering, gearshift and pedals feel light. In fact, the Montero feels quite car-like to drive, both in town and on the highway.
You wouldn’t expect this massive piece of metal to be nimble, but the monocoque construction of the chassis and a raft of electronic driver aids make this a car you would want to take anywhere.
At any speed, on any surface, the Montero in a word is confidence-inspiring. Yes, there is a distinct amount of body roll given the Montero’s lofty dimensions but it always feels firmly balanced and doesn’t threaten to topple over even when you push the limits. The steering is nice and accurate and the huge tyres (265/65 R17) afford massive amounts of grip and impeccable ride quality on the roughest of roads.
Speaking of rough roads, you couldn’t possibly drive around in a Mitsubishi SUV and not plonk it off the road, can you? One gripe you may have though is the lack of an electronic 4WD selector, but the stubby lever the Montero comes with is easy to use with its ‘press and shift’ action. Off-road, the Montero is amazingly capable and it ploughed its way through the soft sands of Mahabalipuram like a duck in water.
It has a lot of electronic help like the M-ASTC (Mitsubishi Active Stability Traction Control) system where the engine ECU houses eight sensors within it, all on the lookout for loss of traction. If a wheel spins or is not in symphony with the other three, the ECU engages traction control providing a combination of braking and accelerating force through the hydraulic control unit, so you won’t be caught wanting for traction. Add the differential locks and you have an SUV that can brush off most surfaces.
While most owners would use the Montero as a mere eyeball-grabber in and around the city, the truth is that nothing comes close in terms of off-roadability this side of the Rs 30-lakh barrier, except of course, the Pajero 2.8.
Expected in January 2006 at an ex-showroom price of Rs 28 lakh, the Montero does have adequate credentials to humble even the Landcruiser Prado and the new M-class when it comes next year. A clash is but inevitable.