2005 Mitsubishi Montero Limited Road Test

Within its limits, the Montero can be driven like a car, although ride and tire squeal sets in very early in the handling game. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

More impressive is what you can do with the third row bench. With the pull of a latch, it folds backwards to form a rearward facing 'tailgate' style bench, or with two pulls it folds flat to form a horizontal surface, like a bed. Most Montero owners will keep the rear bench stowed away in the floor, leaving a flat cargo area to pack with whatever load you must lug.

Despite the reputation of being a Japanese mountain goat, the Montero is quite refined and modern. Under its pumped up skin, and triangular T-section grille, you won't find the typical macho SUV ladder on frame chassis, nor an archaic live axle. Instead, it's a unibody structure that offers greater stiffness and safety than the latter, while reducing overall weight.

Mitsubishi also took the 2001 facelift as an opportunity to convert the Montero to fully independent front and rear suspension systems. Double wishbones are used in front, while a multi-link setup ousted the previous model's three-link live rear axle, improving on- and off-road comfort, increasing wheel travel, increasing ground clearance by some two inches and creating enough underbody space to allow a folding third row to be added. The steering is also different than previous Monteros, and most other SUVs; it's conducted via rack and pinion rather than a space-saving recirculating ball unit.

Visibility is a strong point; with thin pillars, tall sheets of glass and a high ride height, the view in front and to the sides is unparalleled. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Direct, linear and well weighted aren't the normal words used to describe the handling of a large sport utility, but they aren't out of context concerning the Montero. Turn in is slightly slow to prevent unintentional over-exuberant maneuvers, but it's crisp and the turning circle is tight enough to allow most inner city corners to be executed without breaking a sweat. Within its limits, the Montero can be driven like a car, although ride and tire squeal sets in very early in the handling game. The ride is also a surprise; it's smooth over all but the choppiest pavement, where instead of wallowing like a four-wheeled waterbed it allows a little unexpected harshness. One thing for sure is that it's different; where most large SUVs just bounce all over the place, leaving you to hang on and hold tight, the Montero feels completely in control, regardless of the surface below.