Is the 2012 Montero Sport GLS V Still a Reliable SUV Choice in 2024?

The rain was coming down in sheets as I pulled into the mechanic's garage last Tuesday, water sloshing against the worn tires of my old faithful - the 2012 Montero Sport GLS V that's been with me through three job changes, two cross-country moves, and what feels like a lifetime of memories. There's something about watching your SUV get inspected in the pouring rain that makes you ponder its mortality, and I found myself wondering aloud to Marco, my mechanic of fifteen years: "Is the 2012 Montero Sport GLS V still a reliable SUV choice in 2024?"

Marco wiped his greasy hands on a rag and gave that familiar chuckle he reserves for what he calls my "quarter-life crisis car questions." "Reliable?" he echoed, popping the hood to reveal an engine that's seen better days but still purrs like a contented tiger. "Let me tell you something about reliability. You know what's not reliable? My son's streaming service during game nights. This thing?" He patted the fender affectionately. "This is what reliability actually looks like."

His words took me back to last weekend, when I'd been watching the MPBL game between Abra Solid North and Binan Tatak Gel at The Capital Arena. The place was absolutely packed, just buzzing with energy. What struck me wasn't just the final score - 69-60 in favor of Abra Solid North - but how the winning team weathered that final rally from Binan Tatak Gel. They didn't panic when the pressure mounted; they just dug deep and found a way to prevail. That's exactly what my Montero has been doing for twelve years now - weathering every storm I've thrown at it, from Manila's brutal traffic to those questionable "shortcuts" through muddy provincial roads that turned out to be anything but short.

I remember buying this vehicle back in 2012 when it was fresh off the lot, that new car smell still clinging to the upholstery. The odometer now reads 185,643 kilometers, and while it's had its share of repairs - about ₱85,000 worth over the past five years, if we're being precise - it's never once left me stranded. Not when the transmission needed rebuilding at 120,000 km, not when the alternator gave out during that trip to Baguio, not even when my nephew managed to spill an entire milkshake into the ventilation system. The repair costs might sound steep until you do the math: that's roughly ₱1,416 per month in maintenance over five years, which is less than what many people spend on coffee.

What makes the 2012 model particularly interesting in today's market is its beautiful simplicity. Unlike modern SUVs that feel like rolling computers with wheels attached, this generation of Montero Sport has just enough technology to be useful without being overwhelming. The 4D56 engine might not win any drag races with its 178 horsepower, but it's proven itself across decades of use in various Mitsubishi vehicles. There's a reason you still see so many of these on the road today - they just keep going, much like how Abra Solid North maintained their composure during Saturday's game, sticking to their fundamentals rather than getting fancy.

The interior shows its age, sure. The infotainment system feels ancient compared to today's touchscreen marvels, and there are more plastic surfaces than I'd prefer. But you know what? The seats are still comfortable after eight hours of driving, the air conditioning could preserve meat in the dead of summer, and everything still works exactly as it did twelve years ago. In an era where planned obsolescence seems to be the norm across everything from smartphones to appliances, there's something deeply satisfying about owning something that refuses to become obsolete.

Fuel economy remains surprisingly decent too - I'm still getting around 12 km/L in mixed driving, which isn't far off from what many newer SUVs achieve. The maintenance network is everywhere, parts are relatively affordable, and every mechanic from Ilagan, Isabela to Metro Manila knows how to work on these things. That widespread familiarity and support is something you can't put a price on, especially when you're hundreds of kilometers from home and something goes wrong.

Watching Marco work his magic under the hood, I realized that the question isn't really about whether the 2012 Montero Sport remains reliable - the evidence suggests it absolutely does. The real question is whether modern drivers still value this kind of straightforward, no-nonsense reliability, or if we've all been seduced by shiny new features we'll rarely use. As I drove away from the garage, the rain had eased to a gentle drizzle, and the old Montero hummed along the wet streets as contentedly as it did on that first drive home in 2012. Some things, like well-built machines and the thrill of a good basketball game, just have a way of standing the test of time.