It’s finally here! Following a number of teasers on the internet, Mitsubishi has finally taken the wraps off its brand-new Triton bakkie, which is set to bring another worthy player back in contention.
The new Triton will replace the surprising and often overlooked fifth-generation model with a fantastic engine and lavish off-road abilities.
With bold and elegant styling cues, Mitsubishi offers the new Triton in three body configurations; Double Cab, Club Cab and Single Cab like most bakkies of this world.
However, the new Triton is not just about looks. It also boasts a number of technical improvements.
Unlike the outgoing model, Mitsubishi seems to have gone to extra lengths to make the new Triton even more stunning and bold while also benefiting from increased torsional rigidity of 60%, thanks to a switch to new high-tensile steel material which also sheds the overall weight of the car.
As for the cargo area, Mitsubishi says it has been lowered by 45 mm to 820 mm to make it easier for people to move cargo around. For easier access to the load bin, the Minato, Tokyo based automaker has added a step in the corner of the bumper.
The interior has gone through a major makeover. If you look carefully, you will notice that the steering wheel, gauges and infotainment touchscreen look like they have been borrowed from the new Outlander, which isn’t a bad thing as this gives the Triton a notably upmarket look.
Powering the range is a sole 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine in three flavours; 110kW/330Nm, 135kW/430Nm and 150kW/470Nm. The engine can be paired either with a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission depending on the model specified.
The new Triton can be had as a 4x2 or 4x4 configuration with the latter further offering the typical Mitsubishi Super Select 4WD-II system that consists of the 4WD modes such as 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc with low range.
For enhanced comfort, the new Triton now features a newly-developed suspension that soldiers on with the double wishbone up front and leaf spring setup at the back.
For towing enthusiasts, the new Triton’s braked trailer capacity has been increased to 3,500kg instead of the previous car’s 3,100kg.
Regarding approach and departure angles, the former has been increased to 30.4 degrees while the latter is now rated at 22.8 degrees compared to the outgoing model.
For comparison, the Ranger from Ford features the same approach angle as well as a slightly higher departure angle of 25 degrees or 23 degrees with the towbar. The Toyota Hilux on the other hand offers up to 31 degrees and 26 degrees respectively depending on the model.
With good looks, an improved interior and a rugged stance, Mitsubishi seems to have hit the nail on the head with its new Triton which, again, will no doubt put it back on the much-contested bakkie buyers' radar.
At this stage, there’s no word on local launch timing, but we can expect to see the new Triton on local shores before the end of 2023 or early 2024.
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