Mitsubishi Montero

This is an SUV all round. An off-roader with true-blue heritage. Paris-Dakar and other accomplishments are just part of its impressive resume. All the other SUVs have softened up to suit the city needs but not this one. You can switch on the low-ratio four-wheel-drive and just divert away from tarmac and into more dare devil activities and emerge out with slush all over like a survivor. This is because the Montero will survive unlike the other wannabe SUVs!

But the point in question that always bothers me is that would anyone pay so much and treat it this way? No doubt it is made for such harsh treatment but would you have the heart to? It looks bullish, uncompromising, and willing to take on all comers. In a word, it looks masculine and a chauvinist at that. The 3.2l diesel may be noisy and not well equipped to zip around within the city or even the highways for that matter but that underlines its USP. It’s a SUV, period. Do not expect a refined and smooth ride to drive around city malls. The power is 167bhp at 3800rpm.

As expected the interiors are roomy and space is well-proportioned. It has all the gadgetry that accompanies a hefty price tag. The torque is really well distributed, turbo lag is unnoticeable, and the gearshift is precise and consistent. Visibility is brilliant and the soft suspension makes the ride memorable. Overall it’s what an SUV is supposed to be. A far cry from the ‘SUVs for the city’ nowadays.