Does Mitsubishi still make Montero

The Mitsubishi Montero, more commonly known in most markets as the Mitsubishi Pajero, is the largest and most expensive SUV that the Japanese automaker has ever made. The very first generation of the Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero made its debut at the 1981 Tokyo Motor Show, and remained in production up until it was replaced by the second-gen model in 1991. With the introduction of the brand’s now famous Super Select four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, multimode anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronically-controlled shock absorbers, this generation of the Mitsubishi Montero quickly rose in popularity among hardcore off-roaders and even city-dwelling families who just wanted a big, tough 4x4.

The third-generation Montero came about in 1999, bringing in newer design and mechanical updates along with it. The Montero had also grown in size, moving up the scale from being a mid-size to a full-size SUV. Finally, the fourth (and the last) generation of the Mitsubishi Montero arrived in 2006, and as always, was made available in short wheelbase (SWB) 3-door and long wheelbase (LWB) 5-door versions. In the coming few years, the fourth-gen Montero will be updated a few times -- styling tweaks, upgraded safety features, improved underbody protection for off-road use, and several other modern technical additions. However, Mitsubishi recently announced that it’ll end the production of the Montero/Pajero nameplate in Japan.

The Mitsubishi Montero received its most recent (and significant) facelift back in 2015, where it got both exterior & interior updates, though it was mechanically identical to its pre-facelift model. In certain regions of the world such as the Middle East, the Mitsubishi Montero (locally called the Pajero) is the brand’s best-selling and well-liked SUV -- with literally truck-loads of them driving out of showrooms every month. In the UAE, there are currently five different versions of the fourth-gen Pajero on sale - all of which are powered by naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engines, and come equipped with the latest iteration of Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD II system and a 5-speed automatic transmission.

The most affordable variant of the UAE-spec Mitsubishi Pajero is the 3.0L GLS 5 Door Mid and it starts from AED 96,900. It’s powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder that develops 177hp and 259Nm of torque, enabling this SUV to hit a top speed of 180 km/h and 100 km/h in 12.7 seconds. There’s only one short wheelbase variant of the Pajero available as of now, and it costs AED 107,900 and is only sold with the larger 3.8-liter powerplant. This MIVEC unit is capable of chucking out nearly 250hp at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 330Nm from just 2,750 rpm. While it’s mated to the same 5-speed torque converter as the base model and a ‘Sports Mode’, the more powerful variants of the Pajero come fitted with a rear locking differential as standard. Meanwhile, top speed now climbs to 200 km/h, while the run from naught to the ton-mark goes past in 10.8 seconds - an improvement of nearly 2 seconds over the base V6 models.

Now, at the very top of the pecking order in the Mitsubishi Pajero line-up in the UAE is the 3.8L GLS 5 Door high, which wears a sticker price of AED 130,000. Being a long wheelbase version means you get seating for seven, a total length of 4.900 meters, width of 1.875, height of 1.870 meters, and an overall wheelbase of 2.780 meters. On the equipment front, there are 18-inch alloy wheels, projector headlamps with washers, LED DRLs, skid plates, keyless entry, power sunroof, leather upholstery, wood & leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, power front seats, split-folding rear seats, cooler box, automatic climate control with rear vents, 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system, parking sensors with reversing camera, and a 6.1-inch touch-infotainment system to name a few.