"LJ909" (lj909)
09/01/2020 at 12:48 • Filed to: Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Montero Sport
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"LJ909" (lj909)
09/01/2020 at 12:48 • Filed to: Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Montero Sport | 3
| 7 |
Supposed to compliment the larger and more familiar world famous Montero (Pajero), the Montero Sport has been largely forgotten and I’ m not sure why. It had classic body on frame off road rugged looks, an interior that was utilitarian but functional, and some decent off road chops.
JDM Pajero Sport
I had to dig to find its debut year here in the US, but it looks to be 1997, though production started in Japan a year before. It was sold in multiple markets around the world: it was Pajeo Sport in Europe; Montero Sport here in the Americas and the Philippines; Nativa in Latin America, the Carribean and Middle East; Shogun Sport in the UK and Strada G Wagon in Thailand.
Here in the US, the Montero Sport entered a crowded marketplace that was packed with established body on frame players of the time (many have unfortunately either ended production, or morphed into crossovers) that included the Pathfinder, 4Runner, Passport, Rodeo, Explorer, Grand Cherokee and GM’s Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada triplets. Engine choices here were either a base 134 horse 2.4L I4 paired to a 5 speed manual, or a 3.0L 173 horse V6 with a 4 speed auto. The top trim, Limited, came with 200 horses out of the same engine for some reason. I did some digging and found that the 4WD models could be had with the 5 speed manual, though I couldn’t find whether or not that was with the 4 or the V6.
Like other entries in the segment back in the day, the Montero Sport actually had offroad chops. The Montero Sport came with a 4WD system with a 2 speed shift on the fly transfer case. It had low range and could be equipped with a locking rear diff as well.With 6 trim levels starting at a base of $18,750 up to a loaded 4WD Limited trim’s $33,070, there was something for everyone.
The Montero Sport was sold here from ‘97-’04 where it was replaced by the more modern Endeavor , itself forgettable. Total sales for those 7 years was just under 339k. Not too bad but strangely I don’t see many on the road anymore. I’ve never really heard anything bad about them either. And I’m sure 4WD models would still perform decently off road for cheap.
2018 Pajero Sport
The rest of the world, namely Japan, got 2 more generations of the Pajero Sport, something that we should’ve gotten instead of 2 Outlander variants.
Just Jeepin'
> LJ909
09/01/2020 at 13:20 |
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Interesting dash element from a random CL FS post . I wouldn’t mind more visibility into my 4wd status.
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> LJ909
09/01/2020 at 13:27 |
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I recall these sold in much larger numbers than much more expensive full-size Montero in the US, and there’s still a fair number of them running around the Southwest. I can’t remember the last time I saw a 2nd gen Montero.
They would be decent off road, although in the US market I think they always got a leaf spring rear suspension in place of the long-travel coil spring setup of the Montero and full-size Pajero.
HammerheadFistpunch
> LJ909
09/01/2020 at 13:27 |
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The current Paj Sport would actually do really well here as a store brand 4runner. The reason for the hp difference was that the 3.0 actually had 2 different versions, a SOHC and a DOHC version. Mitsubishi was weird in the 90's.
Textured Soy Protein
> LJ909
09/01/2020 at 13:45 |
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The 02-04 models added the full-time 4wd transfer case with a real center LSD from (I believe) the 2nd gen Montero/Pajero, rather than the 3rd gen that was on sale by that time. T he Limited trim added a rear LSD as well.
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LJ909
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/01/2020 at 13:47 |
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It’s because it was a decent entry into the segment of midsize off road suvs. My dad has a Montero in the late 90s and likened it to a Japanese Range Rover, which is something I don’t think the market asked for or wanted at the time. Which is most likely why this thing outsold it.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> LJ909
09/01/2020 at 18:41 |
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Still going in Oz...we knew your old versions as the Outlander. Now that it is Triton based and Mitsubishi are lead developer on the next one which will be shared with Nissan and Renault AND the recent announcement of the discontinuation of the Pajero...the future of the Pajero Sport is assured.
onlytwowheels
> LJ909
09/01/2020 at 20:24 |
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Grand Cherokee has unibody construction, not body on frame.
I have a friend from the dog walking crowd on the beach that still owns his 1997 Montero Sp ort that he purchased new. He uses it as his daily, tows his boats, and does some off- roading in it. Over 200K on it and no major repairs.