Mitsubishi Triton – What you need to know

Light commercial vehicle sales have boomed in recent years with the ute now more a family lifestyle vehicle than a workhorse, as the Mitsubishi Triton was when introduced in 1986.

As such, today’s Triton is offered as a cab-chassis and a pick-up. Body styles include two-door single-cab and Club Cab (an elongated single cab), and by far the most popular, four-door double-cab.

One thing there is no shortage of with the Triton and that is choice. In addition to different cabs there are 4x2 and 4x4 drivelines, a petrol or turbo-diesel engine, and automatic or manual transmissions.

So let’s delve deeper and see which model has the features you want.

For $22,990 plus on road costs, the GLX 4x2 single cab-chassis, driven by a 2.4-litre petrol engine with a five-speed manual transmission, has the following as standard:

• Air-conditioning
• Cruise control
• Power windows and mirrors
• Steering wheel audio and phone controls
• 6.1-inch colour touch-screen
• AM/FM radio, CD player – 2 speakers
• Seven airbags
• Heavy-duty suspension
• Hill Start Assist
• Trailer Stability Assist

You can choose from a palette of eight colours with six of them being metallic or pearl at an extra cost ranging from $200 to $940 depending on the model variant.

The GLS 4x4 double-cab pick-up has a Deluxe option comprising leather seats and door trims, a powered driver seat, heated front seats and the 360-degree multi-around monitor and costs $2250.

If you like the look of a tan orange interior and have a spare $990, the GSR 4x4 double-cab pick-up offers it in the form of leather seats, console box and knee pad, along with heated front seats and a powered driver’s seat. 

All Mitsubishi Triton variants come with seven airbags, anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist, an emergency stop signal function, stability and traction controls plus trailer stability assist and hill start assist.

If you want a cab-chassis and with more safety features go for the GLX ADAS Club Cab 4x4 that brings with it forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing headlights.

However, if two-wheel drive is all you need the GLX ADAS double-cab not only gives you room for five, you also get forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing headlights.

To get the full arsenal of Mitsubishi’s MiTEC Intuitive Technology the most affordable way of doing so is selecting the 4WD GSR double-cab pick-up that has all of the above plus hill descent control, off-road mode, auto headlight high beam, front parking sensors, blind spot monitoring and lane change assist along with the rear cross traffic alert and, finally, a 360-degree camera.   

A 6.1-inch colour touch-screen comes standard on all Mitsubishi Triton GLX variants, so if you want the bigger 7.0-inch screen spend a bit more for the GLX+ Club Cab pick-up.

But don’t expect satellite navigation as it isn’t available in any model. The GLX+ variant also brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB digital radio, two USB ports and a rear differential lock (for greater traction), plus the convenience of rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and a double-wall ute body adding strength and quietness. The GLX+ is also dressed in 16-inch alloy wheels instead of steel wheels found on the GLX.

As a workhorse, vinyl flooring is easy to maintain but if you want carpet in the cabin you have to go all the way to the GLX-R double-cab pick-up. However, this model does include a leather-bound gearshift and steering wheel, privacy glass and auto air-conditioning replacing the manual air in the GLX. Outside it gains 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, side steps and chrome on the door handles and mirrors.

The ease of driving with an auto transmission with sports mode is available in the Triton starting with the 4x2 GLX single cab-chassis. If you want it in a Club Cab or double-cab look no further than the 4x4 GLX ADAS.

Paddle shifts, off-road modes and Super Select II are standard on the 4x4 GLS double-cab pick-up along with a centre diff and lockable rear diff. From the outside, this model is easy to spot with its LED auto-levelling headlights, LED daytime running lights and power-foldable door mirrors with the turn indicator in them. Inside, there is sports fabric trim and six speakers for the audio system.

If you really want to stand out, the 4x4 GSR double-cab pick-up is the go with its roof, alloy wheels, grille and rear bumper all in black, while inside it’s cosy with heated leather front seats, including powered driver’s seat adjustment. There’s also leather draped over the door trims.     

The only Mitsubishi Triton variant offering a 2.4-litre petrol engine (94kW/194Nm) coupled to a five-speed manual transmission is the 4x2 GLX single cab-chassis.

The other 4x2 variants – the GLX Diesel and GLX ADAS – have a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine (133kW/430Nm). The GLX single cab-chassis has a manual or optional auto transmission, while the GLX double-cab pick-up diesel is only available with an auto.

The diesel-powered 4x4 GLX single cab-chassis, Club Cab cab-chassis and double cab-chassis all come with a six-speed manual.

Both a six-speed manual and six-speed auto are offered in the double-cab pick-up variants of the GLX, GLX ADAS, GLX+, GLX-R and GLS. 

Exclusively automatic models are the diesel-powered 4x4 GLX+ Club Cab pick-up, GLX ADAS Club Cab cab-chassis and double cab-chassis, and the GSR double-cab pick-up.

With utes increasingly becoming more lifestyle and less workhorse in their set-up it’s no surprise to find many passenger car features and comforts on board the Mitsubishi Triton across all models.

From the driver’s seat, the Mitsubishi Triton feels like most others in the segment: heavy, oversized in an urban landscape and still truck-like in its execution.

If I was going to put one in my shed it would be a 4x4 dual-cab pick-up auto for ease of use, load space and ability to cart around the tribe.

Looking at the dollars, specs and value equation, the sweet spot for me is the GLX+.

If I wasn’t being so cautious with my money, I’d settle on the GLS as I can’t see the value in the extra bucks asked for the GSR.

How much does the Mitsubishi Triton cost?

4x2 GLX Single Cab Chassis
2.4-litre petrol manual – $22,990
2.4-litre diesel manual – $27,490
2.4-litre diesel auto – $29,740

4x2 GLX Double Cab Pick-Up
2.4-litre diesel auto – $36,990

4x4 GLX Single Cab Chassis
2.4-litre diesel manual – $34,240
2.4-litre diesel auto – $36,490

4x4 GLX Club Cab Chassis
2.4-litre diesel manual – $36,240

4x4 GLX+ Club Cab Chassis
2.4-litre diesel auto – $42,240

4x4 GLX Double Cab Chassis
2.4-litre diesel manual – $37,240

4x4 GLX ADAS Double Cab Chassis
2.4-litre diesel auto – $39,490

4x4 GLX Double Cab Pick-Up
2.4-litre diesel manual – $38,240
2.4-litre diesel auto – $40,490

4x4 GLX+ Double Cab Pick-Up
2.4-litre diesel manual – $41,740
2.4-litre diesel auto – $43,990

4x4 GLX-R Double Cab Pick-Up
2.4-litre diesel manual – $42,740
2.4-litre diesel auto – $44,990

4x4 GLS Double Cab Pick-Up
2.4-litre diesel manual – $46,240
2.4-litre diesel auto – $48,490

4x4 GSR Double Cab Pick-Up
2.4-litre diesel auto – $52,740

* Prices exclude on-road costs