Mitsubishi Triton

Overview

The Mitsubishi Triton, despite being a pickup van, has had a good piece in the market share. Over the years, the Triton has only grown to be the perfect pickup. The first time it was launched in the market, we could see how well-accepted it was by the buyers. But then again, the updates went on to better the position further with the newest generation model been nothing short of practicality and urbanism.

While talking about such pickups, we can well say that gone are the days when they were just commercial vehicles. The present breed of such cars has the urban bit attached to it with a lot of utility in place. And the Triton is what makes for the perfect example. In fact, it is only the last couple of updates that made it the way it is now, thanks to the slew of visual upgrades and safety features.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has been doing a great job in getting the Triton to succeed in the market and a couple of those amazing promotions are the GST rebate and Merdeka bonus.

Interior & Features

Hop inside the Mitsubishi Triton and you will find it similar to any passenger car. It has the friendly and feature-rich approach intact and would please any tech-savvy owner. The four-spoke steering wheel has control buttons for the driver’s convenience.

The seats are spacious on both the rows and the upholstery is comfortable. Speaking of the seat-wrapping, the lower variants has fabric upholstery while the top trims get leather with orange stitches. The legroom and headroom are huge, which makes it perfect for longer trips.

Up at the dashboard, there is a touchscreen infotainment system that has Apple CarPlay connectivity along with Bluetooth, USB and voice command. However, the VGT Adventure X and Premium do not have the CarPlay. The lower models just have the 2-DIN system.

The audio system is routed to either six or four speakers, depending on the trim. However, the base variant just has a two-speaker system on offer. Barring the base variant, all the other trims feature automatic climate control (the top end even has dual-zone control).

Exterior

The new Mitsubishi Triton is undoubtedly one of the best-looking cars in the segment. It is both stylish and urban, especially after the recent facelift. The pre-facelift model did receive a lot of competition from its peers like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, and Chevrolet Colorado.

However, the makeover was welcomed with wide arms. The current model is rich in features, especially the top-end VGT Athlete. There are auto Bi-Xenon HID headlamps with manual levelling and LED DRLs. Rear fog lamps are given as standard in all the variants while the top end models have the front fog lamps.

The van rides on alloy wheels as a standard and there are no rim options offered. However, the base variant has the 15-inch wheels while the VGT MT has 16-inch units. All the other higher variants have 245-section 17-inch wheels. The rear deck is quite big and the dimensions read as 1,520 mm length and 1,470 mm width.

Ride & Handling

The presence of a 4WD selector and cruise control work wonders for the Mitsubishi Triton. The Independent-Wishbone and Coil Springs front suspension, and Rigid and Elliptic Leaf Springs rear are tuned in the aptest way possible to support both private as well as commercial driving.

The engine impresses to a great extent, especially the 2.4-litre variant. There is a very strong mid-range pull if you get the throttle up higher. However, rigorous acceleration feels a little laggy while you are still on the low rev range. The moment you cross the 1,000 rpm mark, the feedback is effortless.

When at a standstill, rev the engine hard on neutral and you will find the exhaust sound to be pleasing. Also, it's very different than conventional pickup vans.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Mitsubishi Triton is offered in two states of tunings. The 2.5-litre intercooler turbocharged engine comes in two setups for the base trims. The lower one can make 110 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque while the higher tuned mill delivers 136 PS and 324 Nm.

The other 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel motor is more powerful and makes a humongous 181 PS at 3,500 rpm along with a peak torque of 430 Nm, which comes at 2,500 rpm. The lower trims have either a 5-speed or a 6-speed manual gearbox. However, the top trims get a 5-speed automatic unit with manual mode (paddle shifter).

Braking & Safety

The Mitsubishi Triton has ABS and Electronic brakeforce distribution given as standard braking features in all the trims. Apart from that, all the VGT variants have Brake Assist, Traction Control, Active Stability Control, Trailer Stability Assist, and reverse parking sensors. The reverse camera is also given but not with guidelines in the VGT GL.

Moreover, there is one more thing that takes the safety concerns to a higher level. Upon testing, it received a 5-star rating at the ASEAN NCAP crash test. This could be achieved with the help of an extra-rigid frame, side door impact beams, head impact protection structure, etc. The lower variants have dual front SRS airbags while the higher models have seven airbags on offer, thus making the cabin safer.

Verdict

The Mitsubishi Triton, unlike most pickup vans, hasn’t had a lot of success right from the beginning. It had to battle it out against the segment greats, which was not very fruitful until the latest generation upgrade came into the picture.

That, combined with certain other attractive offers and benefits from the company has made it a striking option to go for, in the mid-range pickup van segment in Malaysia.