Evolution in the sport-utility world has led to the appearance of three distinct vehicle breeds. The first, and oldest, is the rock 'em, sock 'em go-anywhere type, as typified by the Jeep Wrangler. In time, the piano-case-on-wheels
variety followed, slightly less stark and capable of holding more passengers and cargo within a station wagon-like
body. The most recent arrival is the luxury sport-utility, which combines the toughness of the first two with liberal
helpings of style and luxury.
Mitsubishi has long been a player in the second category with its Montero. It's rough and tough, always ready to
take a pounding. But, even when laden with the luxury features customers have come to expect from their sport-utilities,
it sits low on the style scale, and that has kept some buyers away.
Rather than replace a successful product (which the Montero assuredly is), Mitsubishi chose to supplement the big
box with a slightly smaller, more modern version. Enter Montero Sport, a hybrid drawing from the best of two breeds.