2004 Mitsubishi Montero: MPG and fuel economy
The 2004 Mitsubishi Montero is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 15 combined MPG, with 13 MPG in the city and 18 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2004 model year is the Toyota RAV4 4WD at 22 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $12,250 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 15 MPG |
| City MPG | 13 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 18 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $4,600 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 592 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero compares
The 2004 Mitsubishi Montero returns 15 combined MPG. Cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year average 16.1 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 7%.
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2004 model year is the Toyota RAV4 4WD at 22 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Mitsubishi Montero alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2004 model year (across all classes) returns 18.4 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2004 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 1000 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $2,300 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $4,600 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $7,667 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Mitsubishi Montero
The EPA has rated the Mitsubishi Montero across 21 model years, from 1986 Mitsubishi Montero through 2006 Mitsubishi Montero. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 15 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 15 MPG | 2006 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 2005 | 15 MPG | 2005 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 2004 | 15 MPG | this page |
| 2003 | 15 MPG | 2003 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 2002 | 15 MPG | 2002 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 2001 | 14 MPG | 2001 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 2000 | 16 MPG | 2000 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1999 | 16 MPG | 1999 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1998 | 16 MPG | 1998 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1997 | 16 MPG | 1997 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1996 | 15 MPG | 1996 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1995 | 15 MPG | 1995 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1994 | 15 MPG | 1994 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1993 | 15 MPG | 1993 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1992 | 15 MPG | 1992 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1991 | 15 MPG | 1991 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1990 | 16 MPG | 1990 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1989 | 16 MPG | 1989 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1988 | 16 MPG | 1988 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1987 | 16 MPG | 1987 Mitsubishi Montero |
| 1986 | 17 MPG | 1986 Mitsubishi Montero |
Compare against other Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD for 2004
If you are cross-shopping the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Toyota RAV4 4WD leads this group at 22 MPG, 7 MPG ahead of the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero.
Specifications
The 2004 Mitsubishi Montero runs a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s5), sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Engine
- 3.8L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (S5)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 19.8 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero.
-
Is the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2004 Mitsubishi Montero returns 15 combined MPG, and the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year sits at 16.1 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero get?
The EPA rates the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero at 15 combined MPG, 13 MPG in city driving, and 18 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Mitsubishi Montero per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,600 for the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Mitsubishi Montero become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1986 Mitsubishi Montero, 17 MPG) and most recent (2006 Mitsubishi Montero, 15 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 592 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 8,887 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero?
City driving returns 13 MPG and highway driving returns 18 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero?
The 2004 Mitsubishi Montero has a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: SOHC). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero have?
The 2004 Mitsubishi Montero comes with a automatic (s5) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2004 model year is the Toyota RAV4 4WD at 22 combined MPG. The Mitsubishi Montero returns 15 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.