Mitsubishi off-roader fans assemble! After a nearly 20-year hiatus, the full-size Montero is returning to America along with the .
received confirmation after attending a closed-door North American Mitsubishi dealer conference. During that conference, Mitsubishi Cars execs shared the news with dealer principals, as the brand is looking to revamp its presence here in the States.
The Montero strikes back
The last time Mitsubishi sold a full-size Montero was between 1999 and 2006 with the third-generation model. When the fourth-gen arrived in 2007, the Japanese Three-Diamond yanked the model from American shores.
Reasons for the US discontinuation were due to slumping sales and rising price tags on account of unfavorable taxes and currency conversion rates at the time. Additionally, Mitsubishi suffered a major blow after rollover safety became a huge priority in America in the 2000s.
Sadly, both the Montero and Montero Sport achieved poor rollover crash ratings, which affected their Stateside reputation. However, fans and off-roading enthusiasts still love the worldly four-by-four to the point that it has reached cult status.
Mitsubishi wants to be whole again in America
Additionally, Mitsubishi’s presence here in Yankeeland has fallen by the wayside over the past nearly two decades. From the Galant and Lancer sedan to the Eclipse sports coupe, it’s lost some great ones. And even some pioneering electric vehicles, such as the i-MiEV.
Mitsubishi Motors is a shadow of its former glorious past today, rebadging Nissans just to say somewhat relevant. The carmaker’s lineup only consists of the Outlander Sport and Outlander SUVs.
But the brand now wants to completely change that, with its new “Momentum 2030” strategy.
“It’s night and day from the current aging lineup,” an unnamed dealer principal told AN in a brief interview. “Mitsubishi’s a niche player, I don’t want to sell $20,000 cars.”
The plan reportedly consists of reviving the Montero for the US, along with a potential Montero Sport and even , a la Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger fighter.
Expected arrival dates? The strategy is calling for the Montero to return by 2030 while the midsize pickup is slated for 2029. Said pickup will also apparently utilize a Nissan body-on-frame chassis.