One butter-smooth drive through deep mud and snow convinced us that we would feel comfortable taking the Montero into just about anything a remote, off-road region might offer. Combining 4WD with a rear differential lock, it plowed through serious slop without so much as a groan or any sense of the vehicle laboring.On steadier roads, we found the Montero to be adequate on acceleration: 0 to 50 mph in about eight seconds. That suggested that we would not want less engine in this vehicle. However, the LS version of the Montero, carries only a 3.0-liter V6 (single cam, 12 valves) that we would worry is a bit too light for a beast destined to bear some serious off-road burdens.
On conventional roadways, the Montero delivered a throaty roar that quieted down once we clicked on overdrive and allowed the rpms to reduce to a more comfortable level. Still, this is a truck, and it reminded us of that when we pulled alongside an 18-wheeler and found ourselves almost eye-to-eye level with the guy barreling along in his big rig.
A qualifier here is that the Mitsubishi Montero's suspension took the bumps and potholes with surprising ease. No shakes or jarring jolts were transferred.
Steering, likewise, was comfortable and responsive, a relative breeze (360 degrees in 31/2 turns) except for those stretches over mud- and snow-covered hills, where two hands were an absolute necessity. Stopping, thanks to standard anti-lock brakes, was a slam-dunk, and parking was as manageable as it probably gets with a vehicle of this character.
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