Personally I like the dramatic change from stereotypical suv look in the gen III. Lets face it, the gen I and II look very similar to the offerings from Isuzu, Nissan, & Toyota of that era. Only thing I don't like in the gen III's is the unibody.
In 1991 I had a Trooper as a company vehicle. It's utilitarian appeal and practicality won me over to SUV's despite little idiosyncrasies like not being able to put a cassette tape in the player while the Trooper is in fifth gear. Then my assistant bought a Gen II Monty, upping the ante on SUV expectations. I loved driving it, I love the bit of style it added beyond the box of the Trooper, and its driving position was unbeatable. Enter the 2.5. I was a bit confused at first with the Buick-inspired fender vent, but, man, I really liked it. Look at
Destro's pics. His Plastidip paint job brings out the muscle in this design. Those flares are begging 35s and a lift. Beautiful.
Then the Gen III, breaking tradition, and probably Mitsu's beginning of the end of them taking the SUV seriously. Fortunately for that generation, Dakar competitors felt differently, banking on a reputation established by previous Pajeros. Like off-roader, I was attracted to the break; the exaggerated fender treatments begging for some serious boots, the line of the rear fender trailing back to the tail light, the height difference to the front wheel arc hinting to the long-traveling suspension of a Baja truck. It's rear facia gives a nod to Land Rover. But alas, no cajones. A narrow track that almost loses wheels in the wells at a three-quarter angle, and enough domestication to turn it into a driveway darling to haul the troops to soccer practice.
Now I'm seeing styling cues picked up by Nissan in Europe, front facia and headlamp treatments and earlier on, fender flares. Interesting.
