Mitsubishi Triton 2019: First impression

It was at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2018 where Mitsubishi Triton 2019 was first showcased. Based on the company’s new 'Dynamic Shield' design philosophy, the Triton became one of the major centre of attractions of the show. Now, Mitsubishi Malaysia has finally launched the Triton 2019 in Malaysia. This is Mitsubishi’s first launch in 2019. Here’s our first impression of this modern pickup truck.

Exterior

Mitsubishi’s new 'Dynamic Shield' design is quite attractive. The Triton 2019 isn’t the first vehicle to get this new appearance. We’ve seen it in the Mitsubishi Xpander which has been launched in the neighbouring countries and should be coming to Malaysia by year-end. The Triton gets a similar setup at the front. Its LED daytime running lights are at the top and the Bi-LED headlamps are located below them. While this approach looked a bit too much in the Xpander, it doesn’t feel that way in the case of Triton. We don’t know how Mitsubishi managed to do it but they’ve really pulled it off.

The all-new Triton 2019 is clearly a modern pickup truck. It’s good to know that companies are taking pickup trucks back to the drawing boards to get them redressed. The front fascia of the Triton is very stylish and handsome. Even its side profile is done brilliantly. The design of the double-cab is good and the loading bay fits in perfectly. Also, the strong side steps and the 17 or 18-inch dual tone alloy wheels just make things even better. We think a set of sporty roof rails would have spiced up things a bit more. The rear end features distinctive LED combination tail lamps and a horizontal chrome embellishment on the tailgate. In short, the Triton 2019 is one of the best-looking pickup trucks in its category.

Interior

The interior of the Triton 2019 is also pretty great. The black theme with a few silver accents looks lovely. There should be a good amount of room for everyone in the cabin. The steering wheel gets mounted controls for audio and cruise control and Mitsubishi has even included paddle shifters. For entertainment, there’s a touchscreen audio system that supports CD, MP3, USB, Bluetooth, Voice command system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Ready. Overall, we’re quite impressed with the interior of the new Triton.

Engine

 

The Mitsubishi Triton 2019 specs for all the available variants show the same engine option. It’s a 2.4-litre MIVEC Turbo Diesel mill with VGT intercooler tuned to produce a max power output of 181 PS at 3500 rpm and generate a peak torque of 430 Nm at 2500 rpm. Mitsubishi didn’t give any choice with the powertrain but it did with the transmission. There’s a 6-speed AT with sports mode and a 6-speed MT.

Off-road goodies

Mitsubishi clearly didn’t want its new Triton to just act like a normal pickup truck. Times have changed now and pickup trucks are also good off-road vehicles. Therefore, the Triton comes with features like 4WD system (Easy Select 4WD and Super Select 4WD-II), independent wishbone suspension with coil springs at the front and rigid elliptical leaf springs at the rear, off-road modes (gravel, sand, mud/snow, rock), impressive lateral travel angle, approach and departure angles, and ramp break-over angle.

Safety features

We’re glad to report that Mitsubishi has provided a healthy number of safety features in the new Triton. There are Mitsubishi’s advanced safety nets that include forward collision mitigation, blind spot warning, lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert, auto high beam, and ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation system. Then comes the active safety features- ABS, EBD, BA, active stability control, traction control, brake override system, rest reminder, hill start assist, hill descent control, trailer stability assist, reverse camera, parking sensor, etc. There are also 7 airbags on offer.

Verdict

One thing that's for sure, with new vehicles like the Mitsubishi Triton 2019 entering the market, rivalry among the likes will become more intense. It’s a good thing for the consumers as they’d get more options and perhaps and hopefully at a fair price. The Triton 2019 is a solid package that is going to give a wakeup call to the other brands who compete in this genre. We wouldn’t be surprised to see more new modern and advanced pickup trucks being launched in the country. The Mitsubishi Triton 2019 price starts at RM 78,890 and goes up to RM 135,200.