Almost every age of cars gets at least one mid-cycle upgrade. That’s the time before a car is fully redesigned a few years later. During that time, models got small but (sometimes) big changes, usually to the way they looked or some small pieces of equipment. Today, we want to know which car did the best. People who follow me on Instagram know what I’m going to say because I often post pictures of my favorite 1998 Mitsubishi Montero there. The new-for-1998 Montero for the U.S. market was based on the second-generation body design of the truck. It’s one of my favorite mid-cycle updates in the history of cars. Yes, my feelings about it are that strong. Between the 1980s and the early 2000s, three versions of the Montero were sold in the U.S. The unique “square body, round lights” style that has been used on almost all off-road SUVs for decades is still used on first-generation trucks. Although it’s common, it looks good. At the start of the 1990s, the second-generation Montero got a lot of changes that made it rounder, bigger, and more Mitsubishi-like. This was done to make a stronger impact in the quickly growing market for family SUVs. The Monteros were made from 1992 to 1997. They had a sleek look and some interesting details, like small vents, body covering, and different types of material used on different parts of the body. But in 1998, Mitsubishi added some beautiful flares to the front and back bumpers. The second-generation trucks had huge pieces of plastic cladding on their fenders that made them look good, but the “Gen 2.5” (as truck fans call it) has great body sculpting that blends the back quarter panel, sides and over-wheel area. The way it looks is just beautiful. The facelift made the car look a lot better without taking away from the good things about the old design. A few changes were made to the engine and the inside, but the change to the front and rear bumpers made the SUV look even better. People are really into the Pajero Evo with two doors; it’s really cool. Still, the second-generation Montero for the U.S. market is one of the most beautiful SUVs I’ve ever driven. It got a makeover from 1998 to 2000. Which change to your car do you want the most?
