looks, roominess, capability. Comfortable seating and high clearance.

mushy brakes, slow acceleration, noisy outside mirrors. New rotors, cold air intake, and ear plugs (haha)will fix this

I hear several people complaining about the vehicles tendency to lean around corners, this is an easy fix. GO BUY NEW SHOCKS. As any vehicle with factory $14 shocks they should be replaced. Try Bilstein, KYB, or Tokico. So far the only trouble I can attest to at 40K is a small oil leak near the transmisson/engine coupling. The 4x4 dash light burnt out, and there is a recall for the '01 Sport brake booster, which can be fixed for free at the dealer. Contact Mitsu for details. The mushy brakes were fixed with new cross-drilled rotors and pads ($200 for all 4 wheels, and boy do they make a difference) I have used this for moderate/heavy off roading, and the combination of new rotors and shocks has made a day and night difference over stock! I also turned the torsion bars in front to add about a 1" lift to accomidate larger 32" tires. This is not a vehicle that most drivers would even take off road, but it does have potential. Cargo room is gorgeous- passenger room is suitable and controls/gauges are set well. Bottom line: if you bought a 4x4 to drive to work, you're a fool. This machine will keep pace with the 4Runner, Cherokee, and will eat up the Explorer or Passport. 17 mpg could be better, but I only drive this 1x a week.

Great mechanical reliability, killer looks and color combos, good handeling,driver seat height control,ride comfort, good visibility.

Sloppy transmission - takes a while in hunting for the right gear; brakes feel mushy (but work well); no oil gauge, just a warning light.

This is my 3rd Montero Sport. I've bought many SUVs over the years, but the Montero Sport is by far the most reliable. I bought this '04 last month from my dealer for $17,500 with only 17,000 miles on it. I'm delighted to have it becaise this is the last year of production (snif). I heartly recommend it for those looking for a mid-sized, mid-priced SUV. Used, they're an exceptionally good value.

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Reliable

Oil is hard to change; rough ride; and high insurance rating.

Loved this truck. It is the most reliable vehicle ever and I wish I had it back. Traded with 80k miles on it and was never in the shop.

Sits high to see the road better, great gas mileage, smooth ride and easy to maneuver...strongly recommend

Breaking a bit mushy but OK once you get used to it.

This is my first SUV and I love it. I have ridden in others SUVs and mine is a lot quieter and doesn't ride rough at all. The gas mileage is great in comparison to what I thought it would be. I drive to and from work 60 miles everyday so i use up some gas. My monty is the best investmentI have ever made. Low price only $12,500 with 24K miles! What as steal and whatta truck!

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First SUV

The stereo is good, the seats are comfortable, transmission is good. very reliable and the interior has good fit and finish. controls are logically placed and easy to reach. not too wide of a turning circle; really easy to park.

Body lean when turning corners, stiff, rubbery kicks when hitting bumps or on rough roads. drives like a truck because is on a truck platform. wind noise is bad. acceleration is kind of slow, like the truck has to think about picking up speed. a big prob for merging in traffic. faux titanium finish fades after a few years and cleaning. seats stain with water and are hard to get completely clean.

Before I purchased my Montero Sport in 2001, i had done no research. i was currently driving a mitsu mirage and since i had just had a new baby, i wanted something larger and higher off the ground (bending down putting in a 9lb kid in a car seat was killing my back)! so since i wanted another mitsu, i figured i should get a montero sport. i chose the model strictly on the basis of fog lights. i had always wanted fog lights and only the 3.5 XS had them even though the LS would have been cheaper. I didn't negotiate price, interest rate, or anything. needless to say, i got taken for a ride (no pun intended). i paid 290000 for the truck which was about 3k above sticker and then found out over 2 years later when i checked my credit report, that i also had an 11000 balloon payment at the end of 5 years! I didn't even know i had agreed to or signed a lease. i had my husband and my mom both read the agreement before i signed it and they couldn't recall seeing that either. why would anyone sign a 5 year lease? the warranty ends in 3 years and i would have to pay for any major repairs out of my own pocket just to give it back at the end of term. long story short, i was had and it was definitely the most expensive lesson of my life. other than the buying experience, i love my truck. i've never had any major issues with it and the most expensive repair was the replacement of an oxygen sensor. I would definitely make the same choice again but i certainly wouldn't pay 40k for a 26k vehicle.

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none

Instrument panel easy to read.

bad acceleration, emergency brake sensor is flakey(fixed once, broke again).

The car runs very well. I have put 45,000 miles on it, and still have had no problems. Changing the oil on this car is a hassle though, because you have to remove the skid plates to get to the bolt and filter.

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The ride, Handles well.

Gas mileage could be better, Automatic Transmission is lazy. Also NEEDS, a better design in order to access oil filter.. this is unaceptable

Two wheel drive, 3.0, v6, auto trans. The ride is comfortable. It drives great. I feel that the windsheild wiper control operates backwards.Should be,push forward to activate. Pull back to deactivate. There doesn't seem to be anyplace to install a liter bag in the interior. My #1 complaint, who was the "Rocket scientist" that came up with the idea, that a frame plate(panel) must be removed, in order to change engine oil.It seems to be the only access. Even I could have designed something better. And, I just might!!

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LOOKS, reliability, loaded, good pick-up, nice interior, COOL XS badging, and TONS of cargo room.

Mush brakes I guess, but I've learned to work with them. And of course 16 mpg City is pricey, but what do you expect from a 4000-pound SUV?

I have had my 2001 Montero Sport XS for 4 years now (originally purchased in Nov '00). I have ZERO complaints and still love my ride every bit as much as the day I bought it. The number one thing I like about my XS is it doesn't look like all the other SUV's out there. It's not too big, and it's not too small, it's just right! I have had ZERO problems other than normal wear and tear items that have to be replaced on all vehicles, and the service I get from Lokey Mitsubishi in Clearwater has been superb. They are nothing like the schmucks I originally purchased the car from: Sonic Automotive's now defunct Clearwater Mitsubishi. I got completely SCREWED on the price I paid, but it's a hard lesson learned and I will NOT make the same mistake ever again. As a matter of fact, I'm still waiting to hear back about whether or not I'm eligible for a refund as part of a lawsuit settlement Sonic Automotive had for that exact same dealership. Wish me luck! But back to my Montero Sport...I think it absolutely ROCKS!!

smooth ride, great music system, great looks!! great handling in snow and offroad

Breaking system

Had this vehicle for 5 years. Bought it fully loaded. 3.5 ltr 200 hp. sunroof, heated seats, rear spoiler all the works. I think its a great buy for its price. Its offroading capabilities are also great. Never had any problems so far. Has a 110000 miles and it still feels like new.

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The vehicle's style, list of features, sound system, ground clearance.

Hmmmm.... more cupholders could be nice! Greater fuel efficiency would be nice, but that goes for any SUV.

I love this vehicle, and I haven't had a lick of trouble with it. We've driven it long distances and through icy weather, and it's performed great. We've also used the four-wheel drive but not often. AWD is fine. Factory racks have performed great for hauling kayaks. The four-wheel disc brakes -- a feature that led me to buy the vehicle -- have saved my bacon several times over. I've got the larger engine size, and it delivers sufficient power, even at the lower ranges. Plus the dealership has been incredible, giving me loaner cars, etc., and treating me far better than any dealership I've dealt with before. I'll give serious thought to purchasing a Mitsu again, and I recommend Rice Automotive to everyone!

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Ford and Dodge trucks. I had a Miata before this vehicle. Love the Mitsu far better.