washingtonpost.com's view

An ascetic would see things differently. He’d object to the wood trim, leather seats, tinted windows and big-boom sound system in the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Limited sport-utility vehicle.

He’d object to the Montero, period.

Never mind that it has been turned into a more socially acceptable version of its once brutish self.

Its heavy, fuel-guzzling body-on-frame construction has been replaced by a lighter, less-thirsty unibody design.

Its high-drag, fuel-wasting “tall box” exterior has yielded to a lower, sleeker, more aerodynamic body.

Efforts have been made to clean up its tailpipe exhaust, but more work remains to be done in that area. And though Mitsubishi claims that this more urbane Montero can still race across the deserts of Northern Africa, no environmentalist has to worry about drivers tearing up the ecosystem with the U.S. version.

I mean, get real. The tested Montero Limited, with taxes and fees, costs nearly $40,000. What is the likelihood of its owner deliberately subjecting the vehicle’s expensive pearlescent paint job, chrome-accented door handles and heated side-view mirrors to scratches, dents or worse?

It’s not likely to happen.

The Montero Limited is a cruisemobile, land yacht, a motorized ode to hedonism. It is the kind of indulgence that raises self-righteous eyebrows, that exposes the true character of Democrats who hate democracy, Republicans who disdain the republic and humanitarians who have little regard for humans who disagree with them.

That’s why I like it.

Certainly, other sport-utility vehicles have more oomph. The Montero Limited is equipped with a 3.5-liter, 24-valve V-6 that develops 200 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 235 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. Big deal. I could get that out of a Chevrolet Impala sedan.

Other sport-utes would do better off road. That includes Nissan’s wonderful Xterra and, for that matter, Chevrolet’s Tracker. Both of those vehicles have relatively narrow widths, which makes it easier to drive them along off-road passes lined with branches, rocks and sticks. Chipped paint, dings and mud aren’t problems for the Xterra and the Tracker. They don’t look good unless they’re nicked and dirty.

The Montero Limited has good cargo space — 96.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded and 42.1 cubic feet with those seats up. But other full-size sport-utes — the Isuzu Trooper comes to mind — offer competitive storage room, and they seat five people, just like the Montero Limited.

But the new Montero has a certain audacity that is lacking in its rivals. It has a “wow” quality separate and apart from size and function. For example, people turned heads a while back when I drove Ford Motor Co.’s gargantuan Excursion sport-ute. But they turned away just as quickly.

By comparison, spectators took time to examine the Montero Limited. “Pretty,” some s aid. “Loaded,” said others. But most simply uttered, “Wow!”

There are those of us who like this kind of attention, almost as much as we enjoy upsetting the finger-waggers and tongue-cluckers. Ours is a mixture of recalcitrant adolescence and an unabashed love for freedom — especially freedom of expression, be it in the clothes we wear, the things we say or write, or the vehicles we choose.

The new Montero Limited is a rolling testament to that freedom, and there is something inherently good in that.

Nuts & Bolts

2001 Mitsubishi Montero Limited Complaints: Mitsubishi needs to beef up the Montero’s V-6, perhaps through turbocharging, or start building a V-8 to put in this thing. A new-generation, more fuel-efficient turbo-diesel might also be nice.

Praise: The tested Limited, with its tinted windows matching exterior and interior colors, and with its excellent overall craftsmanship, is one of the prett iest luxury sport-utility vehicles around.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Excellent ride and very decent handling. Acceleration is adequate. Ride and handling are aided by a four-wheel independent suspension system. Brakes include power four-wheel discs and anti-lock backup.

Layout: Front engine, four-wheel drive with high and low gears.

Fuel and mileage: Premium unleaded required. Fuel tank holds 23.8 gallons. Mileage, for a V-6, is unimpressive at an average 16 mpg. Get a turbo in there somewhere, Mitsubishi!

Price: Base price on the tested Limited is $34,997. Dealer invoice on base model is $31,862. Price as tested is $35,492. Price does not include taxes, fees and certain dealer charges for options.

Purse-strings note: Compare with the Isuzu Trooper, GMC Envoy, Lexus RX300, BMW X5, Toyota 4Runner, Mercedes-Benz ML320.