Pros and Cons: Mitsubishi Triton - Cheaper than Hilux, a better buy?

Arif · 2021-02-20 10:50:04

Launched in 2008, the Mitsubishi Triton is the closest rival to the Toyota Hilux in terms of price. The latest iteration is a facelift from 2019 which features Mitsubishi’s prominent dynamic shield up front.

4×2 Quest – RM 79,890
4×4 M/T – RM 100,200
4×4 A/T – RM 105,900
4×4 M/T Premium – RM 113,300
4×4 A/T Premium – RM 121,000
4×4 Adventure X – RM 137,900

*OTR price w/o insurance. SST exemption not applicable to commercial vehicles.

Imported (CBU) from Thailand, the Mitsubishi Triton also rivals the Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger.

In its range topping form, the Mitsubishi Triton is cheaper than the range-topping Toyota Hilux by about RM9,000. Is it worth getting over the Hilux? Let's look at a few of its pros and cons.

Pros

Nimble
Longest warranty mileage
Comfort and extra "storage space"

Con

No “easy lift” tailgate
Long rear overhang
Not the most powerful engine

Pro – Nimble

Despite its imposing stature, the Mitsubishi Triton is easy to drive. The Mitsubishi Triton has the shortest wheelbase in its class (3,000 mm), subsequently giving it the smallest turning radius too (5.9 meters).

The Isuzu D-Max has a 6.3-meter turning radius, while the Toyota and Ford Ranger have a minimum turning radius of 6.4 meters.

The Triton's Super Select 4WD system features a centre LSD (limited slip differential) with a viscous coupling. The short wheelbase and lockable rear diffs make the Triton a very capable off roader.

In urban conditions, the centre LSD allows for pleasant driving even with all 4 wheels engaged. Turning is a breeze, and the rear tires don’t skip.

Pro – Longest Warranty Mileage

The Mitsubishi Triton offers a warranty period of 5 years/200,000 km. The other trucks offer 5-year warranties too, albeit with shorter mileage limits.

Mitsubishi Triton – 5 years/200,000 km warranty
Ford Ranger – 5 years/160,000 km warranty
Toyota Hilux – 5 years/150,000 km warranty
Isuzu D-Max – 5 years/150,000 km warranty

Pro – Comfort and Extra storage space

For a pickup truck, the Triton offers the comfort you expect from most modern-day cars. The seats are plush, the rear seats are reclined, and there’s a good amount of deco in the cabin.

Cabin noise is slightly higher than that of an average passenger car (70 dB at 110 km/h), but is acceptable for a work truck.

An additional thing you’d appreciate in the Triton too is the small storage space behind the rear seats. You could at least put a laptop bag or a small gym bag hidden from prying eyes.

Other trucks don't offer much space behind the rear seats for hidden storage.

Con – No “easy lift” tail gate

One lacking bit of the Mitsubishi Triton is the lack is the lack of an “easy lift” tailgate. It is not a big problem, but is rather disappointing since the Toyota Hilux and the cheaper Isuzu D-Max offer this.

Con – Long rear overhang

About 80% of the bed length sits behind the rear axle of the Triton

The short wheelbase of the Mitsubishi Triton is great for giving it a small turning radius and making it more manoeuvrable in tight space. However, this comes at the cost of less load capacity.

Since the rear axle is closer to the “C-pillar” of the truck, about 80% of the load on the tuck bed sits behind the rear axle. With a fully loaded bed, the far-positioned weight will severely affect the driving performance.

The Hilux sacrifices turning radius so the bed load is more "centred"

Con – Not the most powerful engine

The Mitsubishi Triton is powered by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine (181PS/430Nm) and paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

It is easily more powerful than the Isuzu D-Max 1.9 (150 PS/350 Nm), but loses out to both the Toyota Hilux 2.8 (204 PS/500 Nm) and Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0-litre bi-turbo (213 PS/500 Nm).

The Triton came first place in our very own drag race, but the outcome would have been different if the truck beds were loaded. Some additional torque would be beneficial for traversing inclines with a loaded truck.

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi Triton is a nimble pickup truck with advanced 4×4 technologies. The comfort levels are impressive for a pickup truck and it almost feels like you’re driving an urban crossover in some situations.

From a value perspective, the 5 year/200,000 km warranty is an attractive offer.
In optimizing nimbleness, some sacrifices have been made to the load-carrying ability.

Depending on your style of use and the type of work you do, its load carrying ability may not even be an issue. The only thing left to nit-pick then is the lack of an “easy lift” tailgate.

Arif Writer

Previously an engineer in an automotive manufacturing company and a highway concessionaire. A part-time research student on biofuels and diesel engines. Obsessed with vehicle electrification and the future of transportation.