LDV Deliver 7 vs Mitsubishi Triton

What's the difference?

Following up the electric LDV eDeliver 7 comes the diesel-powered model which may look identical from the outside but is an altogether more traditional package. 

Effectively replacing the G10 as LDV’s mid-size (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) van, the Deliver 7 competes against segment stalwarts like the Ford Transit Custom, Hyundai Staria Load, Renault Trafic Pro, Toyota HiAce and Volkswagen Transporter. 

Unlike some of the others in that list, the Deliver 7 has its eyes firmly set on the fleet operator crowd with all the required safety equipment, plenty of payload capacity and – crucially – a cheap starting price.

There was a time when utes were bought purely for work but some these days look more like high-riding prestige cars with their sparkling pearlescent paint, sumptuous leather seats that heat, cool and massage, high-tech hybrid drivetrains, independent rear suspensions and 0-100km/h times that were once the sole domain of supercars.

However, traditional ute buyers like tradies, farmers and fleets are still well catered for by some brands when seeking a utilitarian turbo-diesel workhorse designed primarily for hard yakka.

Mitsubishi has recently added 4x2 and 4x4 cab-chassis variants to its local Triton line-up comprising single-cab, club-cab and dual-cab body style across most model grades to broaden the Triton’s appeal for either working roles or adventuring.

We recently spent a week aboard one of these new cab-chassis variants in base GLX specification, to see from a tradie’s perspective if it has what it takes to cut it in the rough-and-tough world of working utes.