I remember the first time I saw a Montero Sport on Philippine roads - it had that commanding presence that made you turn your head. Fast forward to 2018, and Mitsubishi had perfected this mid-size SUV into something truly special. The pricing that year reflected its premium positioning, starting at around ₱1.58 million for the GLS 4x2 AT model and climbing to approximately ₱2.25 million for the top-tier GLS 4x4 variant. What fascinates me about these figures is how they represented incredible value compared to competitors like the Fortuner and Everest, especially considering the Montero Sport's superior features and road presence.
Looking back at the 2018 lineup, I've always felt the sweet spot was the GLS 4x2 model. Priced just under ₱1.6 million, it offered that perfect balance of luxury and practicality with its 2.4-liter MIVEC diesel engine generating 181 horsepower. The eight-speed automatic transmission was surprisingly smooth for an SUV in this class. I recall test driving one through Makati traffic and being impressed by how it handled both city streets and highway merging with equal confidence. The leather seats, touchscreen infotainment system, and dual-zone climate control made it feel genuinely premium, yet it never lost that rugged SUV character that buyers in this segment truly appreciate.
The market dynamics in 2018 created some fantastic deal opportunities that I wish more people had taken advantage of. Dealerships were offering free insurance worth ₱50,000 to ₱80,000, plus comprehensive LTO registration and sometimes even cash discounts of up to ₱100,000 during promotional periods. What many buyers didn't realize was that you could often negotiate additional accessories like roof rails, step boards, or upgraded audio systems at no extra cost. I remember advising several friends to visit dealerships toward the end of the month when sales teams were pushing to meet quotas - that's when you'd find the most flexible pricing and generous package deals.
There's something about the Montero Sport that reminds me of that Ginebra basketball game reference - it might not have been perfect in every aspect, but it fought hard and nearly pulled off remarkable feats. The Montero Sport had its quirks, like the slightly firm ride quality on rough roads, but it compensated with exceptional reliability and resale value that still impresses me today. Current owners I've spoken with consistently report minimal depreciation, with 2018 models still commanding ₱1.1 to ₱1.3 million in the used market depending on mileage and condition.
If you're shopping for a 2018 Montero Sport today, my advice would be to focus on finding well-maintained units with complete service records. The diesel engines in these vehicles are remarkably durable, but proper maintenance is crucial. I'd budget an additional ₱30,000 to ₱50,000 for immediate servicing and potential tire replacement unless the previous owner can provide recent receipts. The beautiful thing about buying a five-year-old Montero Sport is that you're getting about 60% of the original value while still enjoying 90% of the performance and features. It's one of those rare vehicles that ages gracefully while maintaining its sophisticated appeal and rugged capability.