Move up to the $34,397 LS and Mitsubishi adds cruise control, keyless remote entry, a variable intermittent rear wiper, 60/40 split rear seatbacks, a rear seat armrest with integrated cupholders and two additional speakers for the audio system. Put an X in front of the LS and a leather-wrapped steering wheel joins premium sport fabric upholstery to take the Montero Sport a little further upscale, while a panic feature gets added to the keyless remote, all for $38,497. An XLS Luxury Package can be added that includes a one-touch power sunroof, 8-speaker 210-watt Mitsubishi/Infinity AM/FM/CD audio system and leather seating surfaces, all of which come standard in the $41,937 Limited. The final top-tier trim level adds heated front seats and, like the LS and XLS, a few exterior styling details to set it apart from the rest of the fleet. A 6-disc CD player is optional across the line.
While in Quebec last fall I had the chance to take it through a series of rough and tumble two-lane secondary highways as well as a fairly extreme off-road course, both of which made the midsize SUV look good. Sure there is a long list of car-based SUVs that will beat it through the slalom, but the tables turn as soon as the cones are taken off a level playing field and placed on the undulating, switchback logging roads and mountain goat trails of Canada's wild green yonder. There are few SUVs more capable out here and even less that don't punish driver and passengers during the process. Also the knowledge that skid plates for the transfer case, front end and fuel tank come standard definitely puts the mind at rest when the truck makes contact with a rock.