Mitsubishi Triton Raider 2026 Review

Priced from $74,990 drive-away, the 2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider sits at the very top of the Triton lineup – about $9000 above the GSR it’s based on.

That’s a lot of money – but here’s the rub: 60 per cent of dual-cab ute sales in Australia right now go to hay haulers priced above $65K. That’s a staggering factoid.

So Mitsubishi is making the decision to let Chinese brands fight at the budget end of the market and punch upward instead.

That puts it squarely in the crosshairs of the Ford Ranger Tremor ($75,090) and Isuzu D-MAX Blade ($80,900).

Visually, the Raider announces itself with a new front bumper, a red steel bash plate with Raider lettering, 18x9.0-inch ROH Assault alloy wheels in Brushed Bronze (although I’d call them pewter-coloured), Bridgestone Dueler AT 002 all-terrain tyres, rock sliders with side steps, a sports bar at the back and ‘Sandstorm’ side decals.

Raider branding appears on the headrests and a centre console plaque inside. It would’ve been nice to see a few more bespoke trinkets in the cabin but that may have pushed the price north.

Four colours are on offer: white, black, grey and silver. The 3500kg braked towing capacity carries over unchanged from the standard GSR.

Safety kit is comprehensive: seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, rear AEB, lane support systems, and Mitsubishi Connect telematics including automatic collision notification and eCall. The Triton holds a five-star ANCAP rating (2024 protocols).

Like pretty much every other tough truck ute on sale in Australia today – except the Ranger Raptor – the Raider doesn’t get any powertrain upgrades.

Therefore, it soldiers on with the same 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel engine offered across the Triton range.

It’s paired with a six-speed automatic and Mitsubishi’s SuperSelect II 4x4 system (2H, 4H, 4HLc, 4LLc).

The chassis is the star of the show. In fact the 2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider’s bouncy bits could be the star of the entire segment… Ranger Raptor notwithstanding.

Simply put, Premcar’s overhaul (revised front and rear springs, Monroe shocks with a larger oil capacity, bigger piston and Raider-specific rebound spring, redesigned bump stops) transforms the Triton’s ride and handling character.

On high-speed gravel roads, the Raider feels genuinely confident and predictable, soaking up big hits without drama and resisting body roll through corners far better than any standard ute chassis has a right to.

On bitumen it also impresses, riding flatter through corners than expected and absorbing urban road imperfections with near-car composure. The rear end is settled, the front end feels ultra-positive.

The Bridgestone Dueler AT 002 tyres are a standout. Mitsubishi and Premcar tested four different tyre options before landing on this one, and the choice pays dividends: they provide strong grip both on gravel and sealed roads, add a useful 15mm of ride height, contribute to a noticeably heavier and more connected steering feel, and remain impressively quiet at highway speeds.

That’s a rare combination in all-terrain rubber.

Slow-speed off-road performance also exceeded expectations given Mitsubishi’s stated brief of high-speed dirt capability, not slow rock crawling.

The 25mm of extra front ride height (+10mm from the new springs) nails approach angles, the steel bash plate adds real-world confidence, and wheel articulation is impressive.

The engine’s broad low-speed torque delivery makes it surprisingly easy to modulate on rough terrain as well, and the Super Select II 4x4 system is excellent. We did have enter the cheat code at a few points (locking the rear diff) but for the most the system is very savvy on the rough stuff.

Hill descent control is smooth rather than aggressive, and the traction control has been well calibrated – it thinks briefly and reapplies torque without abrupt lurching.

There’s also a simple but genuinely useful feature: a quick-access menu shortcut that kills driver attention alerts with one tap. On a long outback run, that single button will save your sanity.

Mitsubishi already had 200 orders for the Triton Raider – that’s $15 million worth – before any independent opinions were made public, and if it generates enough interest we could see the Raider name expand to other models, such as a dust-devil Outlander.

The engine is the Raider’s most obvious weak point on-road. The 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel (150kW/470Nm) is perfectly adequate for crawling over rocks and pulling trailers, but feels uncharacteristically lazy during sealed-road overtaking.

Throttle response is slow to build, the six-speed auto is unremarkable and there’s a sense the powertrain is doing the minimum required rather than enthusiastically joining in. That could prove handy in the longrun, however, given it feels fairly understressed.

However, in a vehicle that otherwise feels this dynamic, you’re left wondering what a PHEV powertrain – with its instant electric torque hit – would do for the overall package?

Rivals are already moving in that direction.

There is also a meaningful caveat to the on-road driving impression. The updated 2026 Triton GSR donor car now comes standard with revised factory suspension and a Yamaha performance damper across the chassis – features we haven’t yet tested in isolation.

Until we drive both back-to-back, it’s difficult to know precisely how much of the Raider’s impressive cornering composure belongs to Premcar and how much is simply the new standard Triton doing its thing.

If you regularly cover long distances on unsealed roads – or want the confidence to do so – the Triton Raider is a compelling option.

The chassis tuning is the real deal: it feels meaningfully more capable and more enjoyable to drive than a standard Triton both on gravel and sealed roads.

The overall package has the hallmarks of honest engineering effort rather than a badge-and-bodykit special. The fact you get to keep your 10-year warranty also adds appeal.

The diesel engine feels a generation behind where this chassis deserves, but the Raider elevates the Triton in the ute pecking order, without doubt. On first impression, Mitsubishi now has a legitimate horse in the tough-truck race.

2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider at a glance:
Price: $74,990 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel
Output: 150kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 202g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: 5-star (ANCAP 2024)

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