2016 Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero spied - Most likely coming to North America

[ManfromSnowyRiver]

Sure looks like its coming, but to have so few details weeks or months before due out seems quite odd. The mysterious 2017 Raptor has far more info out. That makes me believe it will be more of a me too hatch back attempt again, but I hope I am wrong. Looks too much like a car to me, but its not horrible. You can see glimmers of hope in wheel wells and rear departure.....Then there is the lift gate and lack of proper spare tire mount which would have helped it get back to its rugged looks and utility. Lets face it folks despite our bias it MUST compete with the Four runner (which we just bought new), FJ, Jeep, Xterra...If does not compete or competes with hatch back cars, it will flop.

So to sell it MUST have;

1. Room for 33" tires stock
2. Rear Solid Axle
3. More then 270HP, should be over 300HP
4. Unique innovations that set it apart from the crowd
5. On and Off-road 4WD system
6. Frame
7. Proper marketing
8. Better dealer support
9. Class leading something.....
10. Off-Road package with a rear locker(EVERYONE has one now, you dont, forget it)

Should Have;

1. Ability to grow to 35" tires reasonably and other short cuts for mods as other manufacturers now take into account
2. Significant effort at aftermarket parts such as the Xterra re-launch
3. More advanced off-road package to set it apart

 

[Toasty]

I agree, a half hearted attempt at this stage would be a failure. If one were in the SUV market and had to compare trucks in the same class and price range the new Sport needs to be more truck for less dollars like they used to be. 90% of SUV buyers won't take their rig wheeling but 70% of them like to think that they might some day so in a side by side comparison we consumers like to see those extra offroad features we'll never use that we can brag to our friends and coworkers about having.

 

[SirFrancisDrake]

From the article it sounds like we will know a lot more details when it is officially introduced Aug 1st. If this has all the offroad features we are looking for, then really it will just come down to price. Would we expect this to be priced similar to 4runner? Hopefully a little bit cheaper otherwise it will be a really tough decision between the two.

Edit: The other consideration is the depreciation of Mitsu vs Toyota

 

[bpfamily]

It could be a nice replacement for an Xterra Pro 4X

 

[Toasty]

Anyone else notice in the article that it mentioned the Montero going back to body on frame construction?





bpfamily, I had thought about buying a base model new X-terra and just swapping in my axles from my Montero just because I want a new truck and my axles are fairly fresh in the Monty and they don't explode for no reason. Seems the rest of the X-terra is reasonably solid.



Lloyd, aside from axles that grenade trying to leave the grocery store parking lot how was the rest of your X-terra?

 

[ManfromSnowyRiver]

The Xterra had tons of problems. The engine would conk out at altitude, transmission would implode due to a bad radiator design, and to this day they bottom out so badly that they self destruct from end to end. My Titan has a lot of problems at 180K but the Xterra was a disaster new.

The Toyota is probably the price point to aim for for a well equipped, durable 4x4. 35-45K. The Xterra is the only thing cheaper really, and its not good.

 

[Eric M]

Anyone else notice in the article that it mentioned the Montero going back to body on frame construction?

That's because the 'journalists' writing these articles don't know that the Montero and Montero Sport are not the same thing. Unibody is here to stay for the Montero, thats how it has stayed so light compared to the Land Cruiser.

 

[dieseltechJay]

I agree, a half hearted attempt at this stage would be a failure. If one were in the SUV market and had to compare trucks in the same class and price range the new Sport needs to be more truck for less dollars like they used to be. 90% of SUV buyers won't take their rig wheeling but 70% of them like to think that they might some day so in a side by side comparison we consumers like to see those extra offroad features we'll never use that we can brag to our friends and coworkers about having.

Unfortunately Mitsu is the king of half hearted attempts. When I worked for them in 2000-2002 our Product Long Term Strategies Division was working on the vehicles they should have been releasing then, not in 5 years as was the teams intent. Problem was Mitsu North America was the only division pulling their weight so the bean counters were not eager to rock the boat with fancy models and extra options that may not be necessary or sell. Back as early as the Evo 5 the Lancer was prepared for US delivery and then never given the green light. Instead we let Subaru beat us to the punch with the WRX in 2002 and then showed up to the rally party like the drunk uncle in 2003 with the Evo 8. I was asked, "What trends do you see happening that we need to be taking a look at?"
I told them wagons, and diesels. We got the Lancer Sportback with zero marketing, and instead of any diesels to test, we got a bunch of JDM GDI Lancer's we killed trying to get them to use our camel piss gasoline. Our requests to import diesels to test seemed to fall on deaf ears. I left the company in frustration only to watch them try to become an eclectic car company and fail....again. I have zero faith they'll give the new Montero Sport decent off-roading goodies and gadgets. Being only 10% of 4x4's still ever see any dirt roads they won't see reason to add actually off-roading capability. Gawd I still have a soft spot for Mitsu, but they never cease to frustrate the hell out of me.

 

[ManfromSnowyRiver]

How about missing the boat on the 4dr Pick up? I was literally begging them to bring it here and a few years later Nissan rolled there's out and cleaned up, now its only 4drs practically.....They had a lot going on and squandered it. That focusing on what is coming out now makes a bit of sense. Why would you roll out a huge luxo SUV in 1992 while your prior model is blowing off the lots like mad and put in an engine so underpowered it barely can go 55mph, instead of waiting until you had an engine to move it.

 

[Dake21]

Very interesting. The north american market beign what it is I don't have too much expectation but I can hope.

 

[Toasty]

It seems like MMNA would be frustrating to work for, they still have vehicles that would do really well here but it's like they don't even try.

 

[nasko]

This is the Mitsu board, so I will try to keep it short, but IMO this is not a fair statement. While you are correct that the springs of the Xterra are soft, the same can be said for all modern 4x4's including the 4runner and even the Land Cruiser. The issue with the transmissions is very well documented and easily remedied (the radiators were actually changed in 2008 I believe). The motors are very reliable and quite powerful, at altitude all engines loose power, it is just the nature of the game. So while the Xterra is no Montero it is a very affordable and with very little modifications can be a solid, no frills truck . It has great online community and is well used. Just my 2c, Canadian at that

 

[nasko]

The Xterra had tons of problems. The engine would conk out at altitude, transmission would implode due to a bad radiator design, and to this day they bottom out so badly that they self destruct from end to end. My Titan has a lot of problems at 180K but the Xterra was a disaster new.

The Toyota is probably the price point to aim for for a well equipped, durable 4x4. 35-45K. The Xterra is the only thing cheaper really, and its not good.

This is the Mitsu board, so I will try to keep it short, but IMO this is not a fair statement. While you are correct that the springs of the Xterra are soft, the same can be said for all modern 4x4's including the 4runner and even the Land Cruiser. The issue with the transmissions is very well documented and easily prevented (the radiators were actually changed in 2008 I believe). The motors are very reliable and quite powerful, at altitude all engines loose power, it is just the nature of the game. So while the Xterra is no Montero it is a very affordable and with very little modifications can be a solid, no frills truck . It has great online community and is well used. Just my 2c, Canadian at that

 

[ManfromSnowyRiver]

No my Nissan engine vapor locked at altitude, every time.(my 5.0 Titan V8 never does) Rare on modern fuel injected engines. But given what a disaster Gen I Xterras were, I was not about to wait around to see what would happen long term, despite the obvious improvements. To be sure I was terrified when I went to the first meeting in Moab and saw rows of self destructing Gen I Xterras(engineers were looking at them) and the carnage on the trail was scary.(I have yet to see a Montero engine fall out for example) And after the Diff exploded and it was not fixed under warranty I was pretty jaded. I can tell you our TRD Pro is solid as a rock, then again my Titan has a wonderfully tuned suspension, something they could have done just as easily with the Xterra rather then burying heads. How will the 4 Runner do down the road off-road? Anyone's guess at this point, but this 5th Gen feels VERY similar to the Gen 2 Montero.

 

[nasko]

Not to sidetrack the thread further, but I am talking about the 2005 onwards Xterra's. There are many reasons why a diff could explode, Xterra's are actually known for pretty solid rear Diff's, if there is a weak spot it is the front Diff and that applies only to trucks that are heavily modified and rock crawling... Anyhow, we can agree to disagree