The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

There are an awful lot of media types writing about how big, fuelish sport utilities are endangering the earth. They advocate that all motorists drive little economy cars, because they’re much more efficient. We don’t need more than that, they opine. I say ship people like this off to a Third World country, where the whims of the few are imposed on the masses.

Here in America, where freedom of choice still exists, we’re free to choose a gas-sipper if we want or a sport utility if so desired.

Certainly on the day I drove the test vehicle, with snow falling faster than a politician’s promise after election day, most people would drive an SUV given a choice.

So, a Mitsubishi Montero is a wonderful vehicle to test in such conditions. Beyond that, it’s easily the best vehicle Mitsubishi makes, car or truck.

For 2001, the Montero gets a ground-up redesign, with an all-new unibody chassis replacing the previous body-on-frame design. The wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer and ground clearance has been raised 1.6 inches. Despite that, step-in height is 1.7 inches lower.

Other refinements include replacing the previous model’s recirculating ball steering with a more accurate rack-and-pinion steering. The suspension is fully independent. Brakes are disc all-around and include anti-lock. Trim levels are XLS, base, and the more upscale Limited.

A 3.5-liter single-overhead-cam 24-valve V-6 moves this SUV with power that feels stronger than its 200 horsepower rating would suggest. Still, it won’t pin you back in your seat. Sedans at half this price have as much power.

But it does have a five-speed automatic which is smoother than a politician at a pancake breakfast. It’s quite a sophisticated unit. This transmission also adjusts its shifts to your driving style. Just cruising? The shifts are smooth and as quiet as possible. Putting pedal to the metal? It allows shifts to occur at higher engine speeds for better power. Of course, if you’re power hungry, you can shift for yourself, with the h-shaped shift gate allowing for manual shifts on the right side — forward to upshift, backward to downshift. It’s all quite impressive in operation.

Ditto the flexible four-wheel-drive system.

The Montero gives a multiplicity of choices in Limited trim, including rear-drive, all-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive high and four-wheel-drive low. XLS models do without the all-wheel-drive mode. A limited-slip-differential is standard on the Limited and available on the XLS. It helps limit wheel-spin in all-wheel-drive mode. A standard locking center differential locks in four-wheel-drive mode to help with slick surfaces.

The result is a refined driving experience. Power is quite good, as is bump absorption. Only the worst roads brought out any noticeable rocking. Body lean is about average for the class. Road feel is good. Pushing this beast through sloppy weather incurs a great deal of noise — a lot less quiet than you’d ex pect. Stops were short and uneventful. Steering returned enough feel to tell what was going on under foot. It was much more impressive than the Montero Sport I had driven the week before.

All of these refinements would be fine, but it wouldn’t be enough to sell the vehicle without good looks.

For 2001, Mitsubishi abandoned the Land-Rover copycat looks of the previous generation and went with a more distinctive profile. The blunt front end has generous helpings of chrome and massive headlamps. The sheetmetal arcs over the wheel wells, a new styling signature for Mitsubishi. Even the side windows have a neat shape. It has a distinctive look that’s unmistakable and turned heads wherever it went.

The interior will turn your head, too. It’s pure luxe-cruiser with acres of hide and fake wood to impart a feeling of elegance. Seats were comfy up front, but a little short and shallow in the second row. A third row, which conveniently folds into the floor, is for children onl The cargo area is large and features a retractable cargo cover.

The dash has an aggressive look that works well against the similarly aggressive outside. The interior is littered with power points, cupholders and grab handles. One unusual item is two glove boxes, great for all your accumulated car stuff.

An Infinity AM/FM/CD audio system is standard, as are heated front seats, glass sunroof, a screen with compass, fuel economy and outside temperature readings, puddle lamps, roof rails, front and side air-bags and all the requisite power goodies.

Of course, all this comes at a price. The Montero Limited starts at $35,297. The test vehicle had a $900 option package which added automatic climate control and rear seat climate controls. The bottom line was $36,717.

Some will see this as hedonistic in price and fuelishness, while others will revel in it. Either way, it’s comforting to know we have a choice. We can still buy a truck if we want.

Besides, without trucks, who would plow our roads, parking lots and McMansion driveways?