When it comes to Japanese car brands, Mitsubishi hasn’t exactly been in the spotlight recently. As of late, their focus seems to have shifted into niche areas where they know they stand a better chance. In Thailand, their Mirage brought in emergency autonomous braking before the new Perodua Myvi was launched. And the Outlander PHEV in UK regularly posts high sales numbers. And with this 2019 Triton, they’ve actually brought in quite a number of goodies that their competitors have yet to introduce to the market.
Modern Engine with a new Gearbox
In 2017, Mitsubishi updated the previous Triton with an all-new 2.4-litre MIVEC Diesel. That unit is carried over to this model. This engine’s actually one of the more modern Japanese diesels, using a variable geometry turbocharger to extract the kind of power and torque one normally expects from a slightly larger displacement motor. While it’s no 2-litre Panther engine, it’s up there with the leanest engines in the pickup segment.
And now, it comes with a 6-speed conventional automatic. This replaces the 5-speed in the older Triton and helps keep revs lower at higher speeds. Given how much quieter diesel engines can be below 2000rpm, this single extra gear ratio actually adds more value than one might expect.
On-the-fly 4WD
A new Super Select 4WD II system on the Adventure X variant allows the Triton to go from RWD to 4WD at up to 100km/h! That’s pretty incredible if you ask me. Perhaps something most users might not need to use, but the specification that it’s rated for is certainly up there, showing Mitsubishi means business. For serious off-roaders, this variant of the Triton also has a locking centre differential which works on both 4H and 4L settings.
Class-Leading Safety
Pick-up trucks are rarely thought of as the safest class of vehicle, but it’s good to see some real effort being made here. Not only does Mitsubishi meet the expected 7 airbag quota on their top model, but they’ve also gone above and beyond in driver assistance systems.
This is the first and ONLY Japanese pick-up truck in Malaysia to give you an Autonomous Braking and Collision Warning system. There are other systems on board to help out like misacceleration mitigation and blind spot warning. And since its launch in January and beyond half of 2019, no other Japanese pick-up truck has been updated with any of these features. While Mitsubishi has the lead, we should definitely acknowledge and appreciate it.
Other nice-to-haves
Looks are subjective but I personally think this chiselled and squared off look really suits the truck. It’s a lot more masculine, mature and futuristic than the Triton has ever been. At the same time it incorporates and sticks to the Dynamic Shield face that Mitsubishi has committed to for its family look.
They’ve also continued their class-leading warranty of 5 years and 200,000km. Think about how much confidence Mitsubishi must have in their product if they expect it to be problem-free for that many miles.
There’s also a new rear air circulator for passengers in the back. While rear vents may be a little better, these are a practical and functional addition that serve the double cab well.
At just over RM135,000, the Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X clearly is aiming high, but given everything we mentioned above, I think it deserves its slice of the upper tier pie. It manages to lead the pack in terms of equipment without needing to rewrite the rule book as Ford has done with their new Ranger. This approach shows a kind of competitiveness and eagerness to please that we’ve missed from many brands as of late.
Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X Specifications
Engine: Inline 4, DOHC, VGT Diesel
Capacity: 2442cc
Gearbox: 6-speed Conventional Automatic
Max power: 178hp @ 3500rpm
Max torque: 430Nm @ 2500rpm
Price: RM135,200
