MITSUBISHI TRITON GLS PREMIUM
No longer an ugly duckling
The love affair with dual-cab utes doesn’t show any sign of slowing down in 2020 with the vehicles dominating the sales charts. Three out of the top five spots in 2019 were the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Mitsubishi Triton. Comfort and safety, in combination with utility, is now a pursuit made by each manufacturer.
The GLS Premium is the top-of-the-range choice in the Triton line-up and throws everything into a single package that adventurous families will want. On the inside, we have leather-appointed seats, steering wheel, gearshift and park brake. Upfront the seats are heated too, and a roof-mounted air circulator to keep the back seats cool. Active safety features are plentiful with lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beam and plenty more. As the Triton is quite large, and visibility in crucial areas can be limited, these included features are very much welcome. Only available in the GLS Premium is the 360-degree top-down view making parking very easy in tight spots.
Looks-wise, the Triton has never been an attractive or tough-looking ute, but the latest iteration has improved that somewhat with straighter lines, and a bolder front end. The 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and chrome sports bar finish the look. A bonus is the pre-installed tubliner protecting the tray, an aftermarket option for other brands.
Getting the power to the ground isn’t exactly smooth, torque down low is non-existent meaning smooth getaways aren’t easy. Once you’re rolling, the ride is smooth and relatively quiet for a dual-cab ute. We couldn’t test the towing capability, but it has a 3100kg braked towing capacity.
Mitsubishi hasn’t forgotten about off-road capability with the Super-Select II 4WD system allowing on-the-fly shifting between rear-wheel and four-wheel drive. In the event of needing to use 4WD on a hard surface, there is a full-time road-friendly mode – perfect for slippery or steep hills, snow or gravel.
The approach to aggressively price the Triton means you can find a drive away price that tends to undercut most of its competition. Combine the price with the other familyfriendly features it starts to build a solid case. Many other Australians seem to agree too based on the 2019 sales figures.