Mitsubishi Triton 2008 Review

Mitsubishi Triton has a pretty good reputation for being a tough ute and in its current shape a bit of a style leader, too. Its latest variant could be a sales winner. The 4x2 Tritons now can be had with a new 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine and with an automatic transmission.

Mitsubishi found that when it introduced a 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder engine to Triton last year, its two-wheel-drive ute sales soared.

It's 2008 and not everyone wants to, or can, drive a manual vehicle. Manufacturers used to have diesel engines mated only to manuals - devices that can be laborious to use.

The four-speed automatic on the Triton diesel makes life a breeze - as easy as driving a medium-size automatic sedan.

I drove the single-cab version, excellent value at $22,990 for a five-speed manual and $24,990 for the automatic.

It includes airconditioning, power windows, cruise control, central locking and remote keyless entry.

The two bucket seats are fairly comfortable and appear to be covered in hard-wearing fabric.

There's not much cabin stowage space behind the seats, especially for taller people.

The cabin is minimalist but well finished. The 2.5-litre turbodiesel generates 100kW of power at 3800rpm and a healthy 314Nm of torque at 2000rpm. Mated to the automatic transmission, acceleration from traffic lights is smooth and at a respectable rate.

The auto shift lever has an overdrive button.

Exterior mirrors are manually adjusted but are a good shape and size.

The 4x2 sits high, with good ground clearance, like its 4x4 Triton brothers and has beefy suspension (coil springs front, leaf springs rear).

It was purpose-built as a ute, not a passenger car derivative.

The 2.5-litre diesel, and the optional automatic transmission, also are available in the Triton dual-cab ute as a 4x2.

Small torque

Customise

The Mitsubishi Triton 4x2 with 2.5-litre diesel comes in one trim level, the GXL, with 16 inch, six-stud steel wheels. Option packs are available to customise the vehicle.

Good size

The single-cab on test has good load area. Even with a tray liner, it offers 2150mm of load length and is 98cm wide between wheel arches. The tailgate has an adjustable angle or drops down. The ute has six chrome tie hooks.

Automatic choice

Triton 4X2 ute with 2.5-litre turbodiesel and four-speed automatic sits at 2200rpm at 110km/h.

Other choices

The Triton range includes single and dual-cab, ute style or cab-chassis, 4x2 and 4x4. The 2.5-litre diesel joins the 2.4-litre and 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines for 4x2 Tritons. The 4x4 Tritons have the 3.5-litre V6 petrol or 3.2-litre CDI diesel. “Customer feedback suggests the two-wheel-drive diesel - especially with the automatic transmission - is a variant that will find great popularity,” says Mitsubishi boss Rob McEniry.