Review: Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X – Great to drive, but smaller than the Hilux

You can't daily drive a pickup truck in Malaysia. Or at least that's what I thought before I tried the Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X. Pickup trucks are purely meant for work, right? They are supposed to be hard to manoeuvre, reek of diesel, have immense body roll, and be uncomfortable to ride in. Well, I'll give you a heads up – the Triton drives like a crossover. It is surprisingly nimble and comfortable.

We tested the Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X, which is the only variant with Mitsubishi's Super-Select 4WD. Super-Select 4WD makes the Triton behave like a full-time 4WD instead of a part-time 4WD. This means you can drive on tarmac roads while putting the transfer case in 4H and it will still drive fine (thanks to a centre LSD).

The 4x4 Triton comes in 5 variants:

• VGT Adventure X (A)
• VGT Premium (A)
• VGT Premium (M)
• VGT (A)
• VGT (M)

Although mid-range variants are usually good enough when buying a car, the super-select 4WD does seem like a great feature to have if you fancy using the 4WD system on tarmac at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Let's have a look at what the Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X has to offer:

In terms of power, the Mitsubishi Triton generates 181 PS of maximum power which is higher than the maximum power output of both the Toyota Hilux 2.8 (177 PS) and Isuzu D-Max 3.0 (177 PS). The 2.0L bi-turbo Ford Ranger puts out the highest max power output of 213 PS. In terms of torque, the Triton exerts 430 Nm of maximum torque which is more than the 380 Nm of the D-MAX but less than both 450 Nm of the Hilux and 500 Nm of the Ranger Wildtrak.

The Mitsubishi Triton has the shortest wheelbase in its class at 3,000 mm. That has its own set of pros and cons that we will discuss soon. The Triton is also the narrowest and the shortest (front to rear) double cab pickup truck.

Exterior

The dynamic shield of the Mitsubishi Triton is good looking. Although smaller than its rivals, the overall presence of the car is strong and prominent. 

The tail-gate has no "easy-lift". Having tested the "easy-lift" tail-gate on the D-Max 1.9, it felt like something was missing in the Mitsubishi Triton. But then again, truck drivers have strong muscles so this shouldn't be a problem.

Interior

The crossover-like steering feel is matched with a comfortable interior. The interior is not refined and no unnecessary steps were taken to make it look more luxurious than it should be. It is not something to complain about. In fact, it serves to remind you of the true purpose of the Mitsubishi Triton – to do work and haul stuff.

The front seats provide ample support and are quite soft. Rear passengers get decent space and a reclined seat.

Ride Comfort

Features like the knee cushion and electronic seat controls provide extra comfort for the driver. The position of the center armrest and door trim armrest are also decent, providing good support for long-distance driving.

Being a body-on-frame vehicle, the Mitsubishi Triton feels floaty over wavy roads. Although the Triton seems to aim for driving comfort (in a truck), we are thankful the Mitsubishi Triton hasn't gone the Navara way and still uses leaf springs in the rear for maximum practicality.

Driving Experience

The Mitsubishi Triton drives like a crossover. The most obvious thing you will notice when driving the Triton is just how easy it turns. Its turning radius is the smallest at 5.9 meters compared to the Toyota Hilux's 6.4-meters turning radius and the D-Max's 6.3 m turning radius. This is thanks to the short 3,000 mm wheelbase mentioned earlier.

The small size of the Mitsubishi Triton also makes the truck a lot more manoeuvrable in urban areas. If you still find it hard to drive a truck like the Triton, you could use the assistance of the 360° camera when driving through tight spots. Another very useful feature in the Triton are the side cameras that activate when you indicate to go right or left. It helps to watch out for motorcycles and other things in your blind spot.

Overtaking is effortless thanks to the 430 Nm of torque and 181 PS of power. Although not instantaneous, the power delivery is decent. The 2.4 L turbo diesel pulls all that weight very well and always has a generous amount of torque ready when you need it. Throughout the test period, I never had to second guess an overtaking manoeuvre. The Triton's acceleration was consistently a breeze.

0-100 km/h is achieved in 11.5 seconds while going from 100km/h to a dead stop is done in 47 meters. The Triton is equipped with disc brakes in front and drum brakes in the rear.

The Triton manages around 10.5 km/l in slightly urban conditions. The figure was obtained by driving the car in 2H mode. The fuel tank is able to hold up to 75 litres of diesel goodness.

What is Mitsubishi Super-Select 4WD ?

Well, there are two types of 4WD – Full-Time 4WD and Part-Time 4WD. Mitsubishi's Super-Select 4WD kind of combines the best of both worlds.

The Super Select 4WD feature in the Mitsubishi Triton means that it can drive like a full-time 4WD while still being able to go into 2WD mode when needed.

The centre Limited Slip Differential (LSD). A Fulltime 4WD has a Centre LSD, while a Part-Time 4WD does not. A Part-time 4WD only has a transfer case that is either disengaged or locked. There is no centre differential for Part-Time 4WD vehicles. The centre LSD in a full-time 4WD can be locked on command.

In the case of Mitsubishi's Super-Select 4WD system, the centre differential can also be completely disengaged via a viscous coupling to enable 2WD driving. A normal full-time 4WD cannot do this (disengage the centre differential).

Some part-time 4WD cars like the Toyota Hilux have a lockable rear differential which helps pull you out of muddy situations. The Isuzu D-Max does not come with factory-fitted lockable rear differentials, but that is a problem easily solved with aftermarket customization. Centre differentials and rear differentials are different things. Refer the figure above.

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi Triton Adventure X drives well. Handling is decent but it comes at the cost of a slightly smaller truck with a shorter wheelbase. You could almost daily drive the Mitsubishi Triton even if you don't need a truck. At RM137,900, The Triton is cheaper than a 2.8 L Toyota Hilux, but more expensive than a 3.0 L Isuzu D-Max.

Although the Mitsubishi Triton may be smaller than its rivals, it is still a worthy 4x4 work truck and not just some fancy pick up that you only drive around town. The Super-Select 4WD system does give you added confidence in less than ideal driving conditions and the low range transfer case with centre locking diffs and the low Mitsubishi Triton fuel consumption are great features for some off-road action.