Mitsubishi has high hopes for its all-new Triton pickup that was unveiled in a global premiere staged late last month in Bangkok.
Development of this sixth-generation Triton took six years, and like its predecessors, the new truck is assembled at Mitsubishi's Laem Chabang plant and will be exported to over 100 countries worldwide.
Mitsubishi is no stranger to auto exports, and was actually the first to export from Thailand when it shipped out Lancer Champ saloons to Canada back in 1988. It was the top auto exporter from Thailand for years, before other major Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda started exporting vehicles from the Kingdom.
Last year the company celebrated its 5 million unit export milestone from its Thai manufacturing base, which comprises of three assembly plants at Laem Chabang.
Mitsubishi currently produces five models in Thailand -- Triton, Pajero Sport, Mirage, Attrage and Outlander PHEV.
Thailand is the first market in the world to start selling the new Triton. Eight variants out of 21 are being offered during the initial period while the remaining will be launched during the year-end period as well as in early 2024.
Design
Mitsubishi pickups are well-known for their outstanding design and the latest Triton is no exception. The "Beast Mode" concept is aggressive and robust, ensuring strong road presence.
The Double Cab model we drove had a body length of 5,320mm, width of 1,865mm and height of 1,795mm, while the wheelbase has been increased to 3,130mm.
There's a lot going on with the Dynamic Shield front end that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. The headlights, daytime running lights and foglamps are connected via eye-catching chrome bezels on each side, flanking the glossy black radiator grille.
The side profile features large, muscular, squarish wheel arches, chrome door handles and mirror caps, silver side steps and 16in-18in wheels depending on the variant.
The rear end comes with T-shaped tail lights and chrome tailgate opener with key lock, but in general the design is pretty bland, which is a big contrast compared to the front.
Mitsubishi has done a good job with the interior of the new Triton. There is more space thanks to a 130mm wheelbase increase and the quality of the materials has been improved compared to the outgoing model.
You'll get just fabric seat upholstery in the lowest double cab variant, but the other seven come with black leather/synthetic leather upholstery and powered driver's seat. The front seats are large and comfortable with a ridiculous amount headroom, and there are storage pouches at the back for tablets or smartphones.
The rear seats are comfy and offer decent legroom, although the short centre armrest appears to be suitable for children rather than adults.
The multi-function steering wheel is adjustable for both reach and rake, and feels nice in the hands. But Mitsubishi has decided not to offer a fully-digital instrument display in the new Triton, throwing in just a regular analogue rev counter and speedometer along with a 7-inch colour display in the middle.
Nevertheless, the 9-inch HD centre touchscreen in the Double Cab Plus Ultra is one of the best in the market (on par with the Ford Ranger), offering detailed graphics and smooth operation. Wireless Apple CarPlay is available as well, along with Android Auto (cable). Other variants get the regular 10-inch touchscreen.
There are four USB ports (two USB-C Fast Charge and two USB-A), along with a wireless phone charger, plus two 12V outlets.
There are some soft-touch areas on the console and door panels, and the glossy black/silver garnish gives the interior a sporty atmosphere. The interior carries strong Mitsubishi styling cues with a large number of straight lines and geometric shapes.
The hard button controls for the air-conditioning are easy to use while driving, while the information is shown via a colour display. There are air vents for rear passengers as well, strange-looking overhead air flaps with blower control.
Apart from four cupholders and four pocket bottle holders, there's a centre storage box between the front seats along with double-deck glove compartment.
In terms of safety, the model tested came with dual front airbags, driver kneebag, side and curtain airbags, along with active stability control, traction control and Hill Start Assist. The ADAS intelligent package is available in the Double Cab Ultra, along with 360-degree camera and front/rear camera.
Performance
The new Triton is powered by a newly-developed 4N16 2.4-litre engine that features three output levels -- 150ps, 184ps and 204ps.
The first output to be offered is the 184ps version, which comes with as much torque as in the previous generation, but the 430Nm is available at a wider range.
While the 150ps output will be for commercial Triton trucks to be launched late this year, the range-topping bi-turbo 204ps version with 470Nm of torque will be offered in the Triton Athlete due early next year.
The 184ps engine features a variable geometry turbocharger and is mated to a choice of both 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
We drove the raised 2WD variant with automatic transmission, and although there isn't a sport mode or shift paddles, in manual mode the gears remain locked and you can push it hard without worrying about unexpected upshifts or engine damage.
And although the output and torque figures are behind leaders like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux Revo, the Triton is no slouch on the highway, providing decent overtaking performance.
The average fuel economy according to the official Eco Sticker is 14.4kpl, with 182g/km of CO2 and 0.2g/km of NOx emissions.
According to Mitsubishi, the steering precision has been improved and there is more assistance from the power steering unit. Turning radius is claimed at 6.2m, which is narrower than most of the competition, losing to only the Isuzu D-MAX's 6.1m.
Apart from increased cabin space, a new high-tensile steel ladder frame that's larger and thicker provides the foundation for the Triton's good on-road performance.
The truck we drove came with 18in wheels mated to 265/60 tyres, while the newly-designed suspension comprises double wishbones and stabiliser bar up front, and leaf springs at the rear that offer a remarkably comfortable ride.
The raised 2WD variant has a ground clearance of 222mm, giving it some light off-roading capability, although there won't be as much traction for slippery surfaces as the 4WD variant (which comes with Mitsubishi's famous Super Select 4WD II system and seven drive modes).
Verdict
Mitsubishi fans should be delighted with the new Triton pickup that continues the company's long tradition of unique design and enjoyable driving performance.
Pros: Decent performance, good ride comfort, HD touchscreen
Cons: Analogue dials, boring rear end design
