1996
Mitsubishi Montero

Starts at:
$28,470
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr LS Manual 3.0L
    Starts at
    $28,470
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr SR Auto 3.5L
    Starts at
    $37,780
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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Expert 1996 Mitsubishi Montero review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

The Mitsubishi Montero LS is a seven-passenger, four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle that boasts on the window sticker of “contemporary styling.” In its dreams.

Montero is a box that sits high and feels top heavy in the entrance/exit ramp. You’ll want to ease off the gas pedal whenever not traveling a straight line.

Base price is $29,360, brought to more than $32,000 with options. Dual air bags are standard but ABS is an $1,159 option.

Comfy seats, but you have to step high to get to them. The outside mirrors are large but need to be wider. A vehicle for those who want the function of an SUV, if not the cleaner looks of a Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Grand Cherokee.

1996 Mitsubishi Montero review: Our expert's take
By

The Mitsubishi Montero LS is a seven-passenger, four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle that boasts on the window sticker of “contemporary styling.” In its dreams.

Montero is a box that sits high and feels top heavy in the entrance/exit ramp. You’ll want to ease off the gas pedal whenever not traveling a straight line.

Base price is $29,360, brought to more than $32,000 with options. Dual air bags are standard but ABS is an $1,159 option.

Comfy seats, but you have to step high to get to them. The outside mirrors are large but need to be wider. A vehicle for those who want the function of an SUV, if not the cleaner looks of a Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Less than 5 years / less than 60,000 miles
Basic
Remainder of original 5 years / 60,000 miles
Dealer certification
123-point inspection
See all CPO program details

Consumer reviews

100% of drivers recommend this car
4.6 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.6
Performance 4.0
Value 3.6
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 4.8

Most recent

  • By NoBoringCars from Denver, CO
    Used to own this car
    September 23, 2020

    Probably the Best Car I ever owned

    I had the SR version with 214 HP. I bought it new in ‘96 because I couldn’t afford a Toyota Land Cruiser but it had similar capabilities. I did EVERYTHING you can do with this vehicle, from towing a camper, to hauling the soccer team to taking very very tough 4WD trails over the Rockies. I drove along trails with 1000 foot drop offs on the side of trail (Colorado) and over 13,000 foot passes. I sold it with 105,000 miles and in that time nothing ever broke. I just did maintenance on shocks, oil, etc. The low-low gears and locking diffs, etc. all came in handy. It also hand all the underbelly protections like skid plates and differential protection. Good angles of attack. All solid steel bumpers. Now, I wish I had never sold it. It’s one of the few you could keep for a lifetime. It would be a bargain even if you had to rebuild the engine. If you’re the type in the market for this kind of vehicle go for it. The only negatives were the ground clearance was not great and a fairly high center of gravity.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Whitney from Clearwater, FL
    Owns this car
    April 24, 2014

    1996 Mitsubishi Montero LS

    I think this is the best 90s SUV for the money. I purchased mine a couple of months ago as a second car to my 2013 Caddy to pull my waverunners. Tfunny thing is I prefer to drive the Montero LS over the Caddy. The Mits drives perfect with 155k, no leaks, super cold AC, and fun to drive. I will own the car forever. It you see a nice one that has been taken care of, buy it. I like the Landcruiser better, but you can buy two Montero's for the price on one Landcruiser.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Chiran from Rowland Heights, CA
    Owns this car
    December 25, 2012

    Very Reliable Suv

    WE have had this car since May 2011 and got it from a friend with 162K miles, Today on 24 Dec 2012 it has 196k miles. Drove it a lot and took 80 to 250 miles trips and mainly did city driving in it and love it. It drives, I guess just like it was when new. Some minor problems are that some electronics failed over the time. All i had to do was change oil, brake pads and this car runs like a charm. The only thing i have to take care of nowadays is that it burns oil so i have to check it every couple weeks but it is a very reliable and a fun car if driven and maintained over the time.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • By TheBob912 from Virginia - Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
    Owns this car
    February 7, 2012

    Owned since 1996 and going strong!

    Although we now only use "Monty" as our "third car" in recent years, this vehicle has proven to be sturdy and consistently reliable. It has never been stored indoors and still has a great finish. The seats remain firm and comfy and the material is just like new (except where we have stained them with spills). A couple electronic devices have failed or required attention after all these years - probably due to non-use (see opening line). If you look past adjusting the mirrors yourself (we haven't tried to get the power feature fixed - not a big deal - may be a fuse?), this thing goes just about anywhere - and MUCH better in deep slop than most other SUV's, new or old (we passed a fat-tired, decked-out Jeep Cherokee with oversize wheels and suspension that was stuck in deep sand at the beach - the driver looked at us in disbelief as we slogged past him in "Ol' Monty"! We only have about 85k on the odo., and I keep saying that as long as this thing keeps running well, we will keep it. Things we like: Big cargo area (useless hanging back-seats removed when we bought it): We cart canoes, kayaks, and tons of gear to places others can't even drive, let alone park without getting stuck. All things considered, I would MUCH rather have this vehicle available to me than have the $4,500 it is still worth. I hear story after story from the dealership and others that Monteros of this age come in for service with hundreds of thousand of miles on them and the owners are delighted to just keep on going. I got a "tip" from a Mitsu. engineer that I could be confident in "buying and keeping" this vehicle, mainly b/c it was designed for international sales and use in deserts and all other sorts of difficult places. It truly is a work horse, despite its boxy and not so muscular looks or feel (the V6 only puts out +/- 180 hp, but it is sufficient). If you can find an old Montero LS (not "Sport") like mine (or the SR which is merely a higher-level version) that hasn't been neglected or abused, chances are you will be very happy with your purchase for years to come.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 2.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • By Sonny
    Owns this car
    May 22, 2011

    Car I owned

    I would say that still you are comfortable with this car. thought he body was remodelled.The engine features are still the same.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero?

The 1996 Mitsubishi Montero is available in 2 trim levels:

  • LS (1 style)
  • SR (1 style)

Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?

The 1996 Mitsubishi Montero has an average reliability rating of 4.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1996 Mitsubishi Montero owners.

Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.6 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.0
  • Interior: 3.6
  • Performance: 4.0
  • Value: 3.6
  • Exterior: 4.0
  • Reliability: 4.8
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