In our last midsize SUV bout, we pitted the newly face-lifted Mitsubishi Montero Sport and the Ford Everest against each other. That was a fitting side-by-side comparison, to be honest, but we did notice that our readers were looking for a different matchup for the Montero: The Nissan Terra.
Of course, we at Top Gear PH are more than happy to oblige, so we’re here to give you what you asked for. Although we only lined up the 4x2 variant of the Terra because Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has yet to bring in the 4WD model of the beloved Montero Sport. Also, since the Toyota Fortuner still hasn’t received a proper facelift as of writing, its battle with its biggest rival will have to wait. With those out of the way, let’s get to it.
The Nissan Terra is relatively a newcomer in the Philippine market, having been introduced only in May 2018. The Mitsubishi Montero Sport, on the other hand, landed on Philippine shores way back in 2005 and has had its fair share of visual changed over the years, some of which stirred quite the debate (yes, we’re talking about the teardrop taillights). Nevertheless, in such a stacked segment, both vehicles have proven to be worthy competitors in their own rights.
The Montero Sport is powered by a 2.4-liter turbodiesel capable of 176hp and 430Nm of torque, and this engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the Terra packs a 2.5-liter turbodiesel that generates 187hp and 450Nm under its hood, and the said powertrain is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Both vehicles offer a plethora of driver-assist and safety features in its arsenal, which makes this an even closer contest than it already is.
Price-wise, it’s just as tight: The Terra (P1,919,000) is more affordable than the Montero Sport (P1,998,000) by only a slight margin, so it still boils down to which vehicle offers the better value for money. What do you think? See more of the details below, and tell us whether Nissan or Mitsubishi bags the victory this time around.
2020 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT 2WD |
2020 Nissan Terra 4x2 VL A/T |
|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 1,998,000 | 1,919,000 |
| Drive | RWD | RWD |
| Seating capacity | 7 | 7 |
| Engine | 2.4L turbodiesel | 2.5L turbodiesel |
| Power | 176hp | 187hp |
| Torque | 430Nm | 450Nm |
| Fuel tank capacity (liters) | 68 | 80 |
| Transmission | 8-speed AT with Sports Mode | 7-speed AT with manual mode |
| Wheels | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy |
| Brakes (Front/Rear) | Disc/disc | Ventilated disc/drum |
| Tires | 265/60 R18 | 255/60 R18 |
| Front suspension | Double wishbone with coil springs and stabilizer bar |
Independent double-wishbone with coil spring and stabilizer bar
|
| Rear suspension | 3-link coil springs with stabilizer bar | 5-link coil spring with stabilizer bar |
| Seats | Leather | Leather |
| Tailgate | Power lift with hands-free function | Manual |
| Keyless entry/Push-start ignition | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| Audio System | 8-inch infotainment system with 6-speaker setup |
8-inch infotainment system with 6-speaker setup
|
| Android Auto/Apple CarPlay | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| Paddle shifters | Yes | No |
| Tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment | Yes | Tilt only |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| ABS w/ electronic brakeforce distribution | Yes | Yes |
| Active stability/traction control | Yes/Yes | No/No |
| Speed-sensing door locks | Yes | No |
| Blind spot monitoring/lane-keep assist | No/No | Yes/Yes |
| Parking assist | Reverse sensors with camera |
Reverse parking sensors with around-view monitor
|
| Hill start assist | Yes | Yes |
| Hill descent control | Yes | No |
| Cruise control | Yes | Yes |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 218 | 225 |
| Wading depth (mm) | 700 | 800 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 4,785 x 1,815 x 1,805 | 4,885 x 1,865 x 1,835 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,800 | 2,850 |
