This is the refreshed Mitsubishi Montero Sport

AFTER teasing photos of its updated Montero Sport, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) on Thursday launched to the international market the latest version of the SUV.

In a statement, MMC said the Montero Sport is one of its global strategic models, with some 77,000 units of these delivered to customers globally in 2018. The model is built at Mitsubishi’s Laem Chabang plant in Thailand. It would soon be sold in around 90 countries, including the Philippines and Australia.

MMC said the Montero Sport fuses “sedan-like comfort and functionality” with “off-road capability, reliability and durability” in a midsize SUV package. The new model has a redesigned exterior and a cabin with advanced functions.

Powering the Montero Sport is a 2.4-liter MIVEC turbocharged diesel engine that is bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Also retained is the available Super-Select 4WD-II system whose enhanced off-road mode includes a “self-extraction capability through the integrated control of engine output, transmission settings and brake power.”

Among the changes done to the latest Montero Sport are:

• Mitsubishi’s corporate Dynamic Shield design makes it to the model. This means the hood is higher, with headlights continuing from the grille to the combination lamps at the bumper’s corners.
• Found in the cabin are a new eight-inch color LCD meter and eight-inch Smartphone-Link Display Audio.
• A power-operated tailgate with a safety mechanism can be opened or closed via a smartphone app, which can also lock the doors when the driver leaves the vehicle unlocked. The keyless system works within Bluetooth operating range.
• New floor console and soft padded interior door handles make the cabin more luxurious and comfortable. A storage tray under the floor console is added. An AC power outlet accompanying the existing USB plug at the console’s rear panel improves utility.
• Lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert add to the vehicle’s safety features.