Mitsubishi Triton 2003 Review

What we liked
>> Engine's highway performance
>> Sure-footed off-road handling
>> Good access/egress

Not so much
>> Noisy at low speeds
>> Black tray scratches easily
>> Standard tyres are bitumen biased

BOTTOMLINE
Pajero's turbo-diesel engine makes Triton a smart, strong, capable and good looking sports truck with mid-pack pricing. Rough and ready interior doesn't inspire

OVERVIEW
If you're wondering why all the activity in the diesel ute market these days, it's easily explained. Of all categories within the 4x2 and 4x4 market segments, diesel powered utes are showing the healthiest growth.

According to industry stats, while the market for 4x2 petrol powered utes is growing slightly, at the expense of petrol powered 4x4 utes, the most impressive gains have been made in metropolitan sales of the 4x4 diesel. In 2002 there were 40 percent more diesel 4x4s sold than in 2001. This is where the action is.

FEATURES
Sports trucks like the Triton GLS are becoming more popular among recreational users with a need for comfort, style, and occasional two-diff operation. The Triton's interior trim level is not quite as plush as the Holden Rodeo's but has all the appointments you're looking for.

The upholstery is a relaxing two-tone grey velour, and on fully-optioned versions the steering wheel, hand-brake lever and gear shift lever are trimmed in a soft grey leather. Storage space for casual odds and ends is okay, although the centre console storage box between the seats is small. Central locking, remote-entry, chrome mirrors and fender flares are standard. So are sports-cloth seat trim, an AM/FM radio and CD unit, childproof rear door locks and side door intrusion beams. A chromed grille, chromed exterior and interior door handles and tailgate handle are optional. So is air-conditioning.

Instrumentation is easy to read and easy on the eye, although Mitsubishi has persisted with that eccentric, dash-mounted instrument pod housing an inclinometer -- whatever for? -- next to an external temperature gauge and a volt meter. Climate controls are a little old fashioned in the age of push-button-everything but they're functional enough and easy to operate.

One of the 'delete options' is black gloss paint in the tray. Despite our best efforts we found it scratched easily. If you intend to carry anything at all, give it a miss. Like its competitors, the Triton warns you if you've left the key in the ignition or left the vehicle with the headlights on. The warning is in the form of a buzzer, and sometimes you feel like punching it.

Mitsubishi offers a range of accessories for the Triton, including an alloy nudge bar, a double-walled tray liner (now that's a good idea), a towbar, mesh sunshade, and driving lights.

COMFORT
CarPoint evaluated the fully-optioned GLS turbo double cab in both city and country running. The sports seats have plenty of adjustability, although they do seem firmer than those in the Ford Courier and for that reason are not quite as comfortable. The steering wheel is tilt-adjustable and the controls fall easily to hand, although it does seem odd that when the slide-out drink holder is extended it blocks access to the radio controls.

The Triton diesel vibrates noticeably at low speeds during suburban running, and engine noise intrudes into the cab more than expected. Cabin glass is tinted; sensible in a country where the sun can melt bitumen, and, as we discovered in contrary conditions, the heater is very effective.

The GLS is a five-seater but putting three adults in the back will again highlight the lack of rear legroom in any sports pickup. There is simply not enough space between the back of the front seat and the front of the rear seat to comfortably accommodate a normal-sized bloke, let alone three of them. On a long trip, we'd fight Spiderman for a seat in the front.

SAFETY
The GLS may be Mitsubishi's top-of-the-line diesel 4x4 but some active safety features remain optional. Side door impact beams and childproof rear door locks are standard but SRS airbags for the driver and passenger are not.

Four-wheel drive Tritons have larger drum and disc brakes, and a more powerful tandem booster than the lighter 2WD trucks. All Tritons have a load sensing apportioning valve on the rear brake set to ensure reliable braking regardless of the load size Ð a proven safety feature, particularly in severe weather conditions.

One of the vehicle's passive safety features is the ladder-type chassis which incorporates front inner side members. These members enable the body to deform in what Mitsubishi calls 'a controlled, energy absorbing fashion' in the event of frontal collision. We didn't test it.

MECHANICAL
Big news for Triton fans this year is that Mitsubishi decided to dump the naturally aspirated version of the 2.8 litre diesel and replace it with the turbocharged and intercooled variant most recently seen on Pajero. Along with the upgrade comes a huge lift in power and torque. The old donk shoved out 76kW but the turbo'd version develops 92kW at 4000rpm and 294Nm of torque at a chugging 2000rpm.

Standard equipment on all 4WD models is the five-speed manual Õbox. There's an auto option for the GLS double cab petrol but not for 4x4 models. Auto free-wheeling hubs are standard, so is a limited slip rear differential. Front suspension is by double wishbones and torsion bar springs while the rear suspension comprises a rigid axle located by rugged, rudimentary leaf springs.

COMPETITORS
Triton's competitors are a slick group of peers with very little between them in standard trim levels. Think Holden Rodeo LT, Toyota Hilux SR5, Nissan Navara ST-R, and Ford Courier. The Toyota is the dearest and the Ford Courier the least expensive. Only the Rodeo has coil spring front suspension. The rest use double wishbones and torsion bars.

ON THE ROAD
The Triton is fairly noisy at low speeds but a brilliant highway performer. Turbocharging has made a world of difference and you can feel it. Torque is abundant, and the vehicle has no trouble keeping up with petrol powered freeway traffic at legal speeds. Oddly enough, it's also quieter at 110km/h than when crawling through suburbia.

The ride on rough country roads is excellent and the handling feels safe and predictable. Low range gearing is adequate and the Triton would be more capable off-road with all-terrain rather than highway biased H/T tyres. Fuel consumption after mixed running, some of the time with 120kg in the tray, was 9.3km per litre (10.8lt/100km).