Mitsubishi Triton Raider targets Tremor and Blade, not Raptor

Mitsubishi Motors Australia benchmarked the Ford Ranger Tremor, Nissan Navara Warrior, Isuzu D-MAX Blade, Toyota HiLux Rogue and GR Sport while developing the new Triton Raider, but says the halo ute was never intended to take on the Ford Ranger Raptor. The brand has also ruled out the Raider’s Premcar-tuned suspension being applied to the wider Triton range.

The 2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider costs $74,990 plus on-road costs and already has around 200 pre-orders before it’s even been tested by customers and critics alike.

And, unlike the 2023 Triton Xtreme produced by Walkinshaw, it will be a full-time model for the brand.

But which tough trucks will it challenge in the overcrowded ute space?

“We’re not thinking it’s a Ford Raptor beater or anything like that,” Mitsubishi Australia product strategy and PR general manager Bruce Hampel said.

“But we think we’re very competitive with those other nameplates.”

Hampel said the benchmark rivals (listed above) played a major role throughout the Triton Raider’s development process.

“We benchmark their performance, we set our targets, then based on what we want Premcar to deliver, we position ourselves where we want to be in market.”

Developed in tandem with Melbourne engineering firm Premcar, the Raider sits above the Triton GSR and underwent more than 40,000km of local development testing, including 7000km in the Australian outback after the program began in November 2024.

According to Hampel, Mitsubishi’s brief focused heavily on delivering the sort of dynamic capability local Triton buyers actually want, with tyre and wheel packaging becoming a key part of the final outcome – a revised front wheel arch liner was required to accommodate the chosen tyre package at full suspension travel.

“That level of detail really has set it apart,” Hampel said, who noted that it’s more than just a lift kit and a bash plate.

Premcar engineering director Andrew Lynch said the Raider’s 18-inch wheel package also helped differentiate it from many rivals that run smaller 17-inch wheel and tyre combinations more heavily focused on off-road driving.

The slightly shorter tyre sidewall delivers improved steering feel and greater composure on gravel roads, according to Lynch, giving the Raider “a little bit of that high-speed fun area that you don’t get in some of the rivals”.

That balance between off-road capability and higher-speed confidence formed a key part of the Raider brief.

Mitsubishi’s product strategy manager for frame vehicles, Rod Pinedo, said the target buyer was an adventurous customer who still spends significant time driving on gravel roads rather than tackling extreme off-road terrain every weekend.

Hampel described the difference between the Raider and a standard Triton on gravel roads at 80-100km/h as “chalk and cheese”.

The Raider receives Monroe dampers with larger pistons, increased oil capacity and unique valving developed specifically for the vehicle by Premcar to match the new wheel and tyre package.

The end result is 25mm more ground clearence at the front – 10mm provided by new springs and longer progressive bump stops – and 15mm more at the rear courtesy of the 18-inch ROH alloys and Bridgestone Dueler AT002 rubber.

Despite the extensive local chassis work, Mitsubishi says Raider-specific suspension changes will not spread across the wider Triton range.

“The Raider sub-brand is a high-end emotional derivative we’re trying to position above the base Tritons,” Hampel said.

He added the broader 2026 Triton range has already received its own suspension revisions, covering springs and dampers front and rear as part of the 2026 update, while the Raider’s setup remains too ‘specialised’ for mainstream production.

“It’s not suitable for mainstream production vehicles. This is more bespoke for a particular customer type, designed specifically for Australian conditions.

“Whereas the global vehicles are trying to make the best compromise that works in multiple markets around the world,” Hampel added.

Stay tuned to carsales and the carsales YouTube channel for the full review on Friday, June 5.

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