Antilock brakes are standard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of the Montero in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier. Head restraint and bumper designs are evaluated separately. The driver space was maintained well in the frontal offset crash test. However, there was far too much steering wheel movement, which allowed the dummy's head to strike the steering wheel through the airbag.
Measures also indicate the possibility of knee and lower leg injuries.
Side airbags and new-design child restraint anchorages are pluses. There was minimal to moderate intrusion into the driver footwell area and minimal rearward movement of the instrument panel. There was far too much upward movement of the steering wheel, which contributed to the dummy's head bottoming out the airbag and striking the steering wheel. During rebound, the dummy's head contacted the B-pillar. Head acceleration from the steering wheel contact was high, but head acceleration from the B-pillar contact was low.