You have to hand it to Mitsubishi: they are not backward at going forward.
Take the latest Triton, for example, which had hardly hit the road Down Under in February this year before a technical upgrade in July and the addition of new payload options below 1000kg one month later.
Both, says Mitsubishi, were the result of real-world feedback across several key stakeholders, such as dealers, the media and all-new Triton customers. Of the original were the popular Pick-Up body style in Double Cab and Club Cab body; followed by enhancements to the Driver Monitoring System and finally the addition of Cab-Chassis GLS and GSR grades.
All are powered by a new bi-turbo diesel engine putting out 150kW and 470Nm, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. The range kicks off with Triton GLX front-wheel drive Double Cab Pick-Up at $43,690, plus on road costs and checks out with the GSR
Double Cab Pick-Up at $63,840. On test was the mid-range GLS at $59,090.
The Triton range is covered by Mitsubishi’s 10-year/200,000km manufacturer’s warranty provided that they are serviced exclusively at Mitsubishi dealerships. If not then it reverts to five years and 100,000 kilometres.
There’s 10 years of capped price servicing and up to four years complimentary roadside assistance.
STYLING
From bottom to top the new Triton has taken on new design features, with the GLS riding on new 18-inch alloy wheels. The unique Mitsubishi embossed black grille is flanked by LED headlamps, side turn lamps, front fog lamps, plus front and rear combi lamps.
The door mirrors are heated and electrically adjustable. The tray bed gets a liner and six anchorage points. Load tub is 1520mm long, 1470mm wide and 475mm deep. With 1085mm between the rear wheel housings, it will take a 1200mm x 800mm Euro pallet but not a standard 1165mm-square Aussie pallet.
INTERIOR
The all new GLS cab has a level of sophistication highlighted by soft padded surfaces with silver stitching, while the ute’s roots are hinted at by practical vinyl mats. There is a $1500 option, which ups the ambience with leather trim with silver stitching, driver’s seat power adjustment and heated front seats.
The Double Cab comes up with driver’s seat power lumbar support, seat back pocket with phone and tablet storage, while the second-row bench seat includes movable centre armrest with cup holders.
Up front storage includes a floor console box with lid, two cup holders, two bottle holders, sunglasses holder and driver’s side sun visor ticket holder.
INFOTAINMENT
There’s 7-inch part-digital-analogue display ahead of the driver and 9-inch dash-mounted touchscreen for the premium six-speaker multimedia system, including Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay and two USB ports. Sat nav is factory fitted.
There’s a new steering wheel with decent-size buttons to select tracks or radio stations, while air-con controls are off screen and easier and safer to use while driving.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
Key upgrade here is a newly developed 2.4 litre diesel engine with two turbochargers – one for quick response at low revs, the other larger turbo adding oomph at the top end – delivering 150kW at 3500rpm and peak torque of 470Nm between just 1500rpm and 2750rpm.
Mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and 4×4 drivetrain, plus stop/start engine system combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for the GLS are a claimed 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres and 203g/km, respectively. The entry-level GLX Double Cab comes in front-wheel drive.
SAFETY
With a swag of airbags and advanced safety systems, the new Triton was the first Dual Cab ute to earn a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Passive safety is in the hands of drive and passenger front airbags, centre airbag, driver and front passenger side airbags, driver’s knee airbag and curtain airbags.
Active safety includes adaptive cruise control, a suite of lane support, rear view camera and parking sensor, traffic sign recognition and driver monitoring. Braking and vehicle stability are covered by active stability control, traction control, brake assist and trailer stability assist.
DRIVING
Step up, literally to the Triton: it’s a bit of a climb, grab handles do the trick, as do oversized versions for the back seats. Theatre-style seating there helps to see over front occupants, improving visibility ahead.
Starting up the Mitsubishi Triton GLS comes at the press of an obscure starter button down near the wireless charger, releasing a distinctive, now dated, diesel rattle until the motor warms up.
The Triton GLS is the most affordable variant to pick up Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD II system that allows for four-wheel drive on sealed surfaces. Having full-time four-wheel drive adds security on slippery surfaces. The ute can be left in two-wheel drive to minimise fuel use, claimed by the maker to be 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban/highway cycle. Average on test was 10 litres per 100 kilometres; best was 6.3 on a motorway run.
Fuel isn’t the only running cost with the new Triton, however, with the addition of a 17-litre AdBlue tank fitted to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. And so, to the engine stop/start system that, according to the maker, does its bit with fuel savings – a jumpy operation that borders on the annoying. It lost me.
Finally, a trap for the unwary. The upgraded driver monitoring system has come in for some complaints of its being too intrusive. I agree. The new Triton has autonomous emergency braking, forward and reverse; there’s the rub. The test GLS was parked overnight on a driveway incline with its nose down when a heavy downpour caused the rain to puddle at the front of the tub, directly behind the cabin.
The unsuspecting driver (me), on reversing the ute up to the street, caused the rainwater to rush to the rear, cascading under the tailgate onto the road. The vehicle was stopped in its tracks, brake sensors having picked up the waterfall as a solid external structure. However, shocked cabin occupants gave the benefit of the doubt to this surprisingly efficient active safety system.
SUMMARY
Not for want of trying, the Triton continues to improve in many facets but is it enough to leave its mark on a crowded segment?
RATINGS
Looks: 7/10
Performance: 7/10
Safety: 6/10
Thirst: 8/10
Practicality: 7/10
Comfort: 6/10
Tech: 7/10
Value: 7/10
