Mitsubishi Triton vs Mitsubishi eK X EV

What's the difference?

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.

If EVs are to make a meaningful difference to our collective environmental impact, there's one thing standing in the way: price.

Complexity, competency and capability have all improved since EVs started entering new car showrooms a decade ago, but in that time the price tags haven't improved all that much.

Buying an EV is still a rich person's game and scarcity on the used-car market means there are few true bargains for those willing to go with something second-hand. Even the Chinese aren't selling electric cars below the $40K barrier yet.

And that's where the Mitsubishi eK X EV comes in - or at least it would, if Mitsubishi Motors Australia chose to bring it to our shores.

Though it's unconfirmed for our market for now, we took the opportunity to spend a bit of time behind the wheel in its home (and so far, only) market of Japan.

Appetite for eco cars has been strong in Japan for a long time now, and the eK X EV (along with its platform twin the Nissan Sakura) arrives at a time where Japanese motorists are crying out for more affordable all-electric options.

Though its diminutive size and limited single-charge range would exclude it from consideration for a large number of Aussie motorists, would the compact eK X EV nevertheless make sense in Australian cities as a low-cost runabout for urbanites? It's certainly a question worth asking.