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Face-lifted and updated for 2000, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport is an attractive, useful SUV with many favorable features and a decent bottom line. And Mitsubishi has a reputation for building durable four-wheel-drive vehicles, highlighted by Montero’s annual success in the grueling Paris-Dakar rally across the Sahara.

Still, the Montero Sport remains a niche player in the broad U.S. sport-utility market. For whatever reason, after two years in the showrooms, it has not made much of a splash in the SUV pool.

The Sport is a smaller version of the regular boxy Montero, a relationship similar to the Toyota 4Runner with the Land Cruiser, and the Isuzu Rodeo with the Trooper. It has a lower profile and sleeker styling than its tall, beefy sibling, and a slightly lower price.

Perhaps the name game is part of the problem. Mitsubishi should have dreamed up one for its compact SUV, rather than just tacking on the ubiquitous and meaningless “sport.” Perhaps the automaker should have dubbed it Pajero, as all Monteros are known in most other parts of the globe.

By the way, I looked up Pajero in a Spanish-English dictionary, where it translated literally as “straw dealer.” Go figure.

The test Sport, a four-wheel-drive mid-range model fully loaded with all the leather and electronics it could manage, received a heavy-duty workout as the Golfen family vacation mobile. It was just the ticket for a mountain trip, though we could have stood a slightly larger SUV for our load of gear, which included four bicycles.

As it was, the Montero handled the whole kit and kaboodle, leaving room for four humans and three dogs (one regular, two smalls). But while the Sport handled the load, it also struggled with the steep mountain grades on the way.

The XLS is equipped with the standard 3-liter V-6 that puts out 173 horsepower, which just can’t deal with the heft of a 2-ton SUV. The long upgrades seemed a might too strenuous for the Sport at highway speeds, especially when it was loaded with gear. The engine roared and the automatic transmission downshifted heavily.

The upper-end model, the Limited, comes equipped with the 3.5-liter engine from the bigger Montero, which I’m sure would tip the balance in the Sport’s favor with better acceleration and hill climbing. That could be worth the extra $2,500.

Handling, steering and braking were about average for this class of vehicle, which means it drives like a truck. The bulk of our driving was on pavement, as is 99 percent of SUV miles generally, with some dirt-road driving and a couple of brief forays on woodland trails. But although I didn’t get a chance to wring out this four-wheeler on rugged terrain, I have had past experience with a variety of Monteros, and I know they can do the job.

A new suspension system makes the Sport feel more compliant, with a more cushioning ride and more stable cornering. Highway cruising is quiet, and the ruts of a dirt road are absorbed nicely.

Th e interior is exceptionally comfortable, though people accustomed to larger vehicles might notice it’s a tad narrow. The accommodations are roomy for all positions, and especially noticeable in the back seat, where legroom and headroom are excellent. The seats are firm and supportive, though the manual height adjustment of the driver’s seat is clumsy to use.

The tester came with full leather seating, full power accessories, a power sunroof and a Mitsubishi/Infinity stereo system. The stereo was good but not as good as I thought it should be, considering its price.

The leather-trimmed and heated-seat package goes for a steep $1,235, and the premium package of upgraded stereo, sunroof and limited-slip differential tips the checkbook at $2,655.

There are some nice touches in the interior, various bins and stowage, but my favorite was the collection of bins just under the cargo floor sections.

Sales are rising for the Montero Sport, but it’s still a statistical blip compa red with the big guns. In calendar year 1998, according to the Automotive News Yearbook, 38,439 Monteros were sold, up 21 percent over the previous year. But during the same time, Ford sold 430,000 Explorers, Jeep sold 230,000 Grand Cherokees, Chevy sold 220,000 Blazers and Toyota sold 118,000 4Runners.

That’s a lot of SUV iron, and those models are right in the same range as Montero Sport. Mitsubishi needs to tap into that action.

2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Vehicle type: Five passenger, four-door sport-utility vehicle, rear/four-wheel drive. Base price: $27,417. Price as tested: $32,967. Engine: 3-liter V-6, 173 hp at 5,250 rpm, 188 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Transmission: 4-speed automatic. Curb weight: 4,075 pounds. Wheelbase: 107.3 inches. EPA mileage: 17 city, 20 highway. Highs: Interior comfort. Stylish appearance. Cruising finesse. Lows: Needs more engine power. Needs its own name. Expensive options.