Getting dirty with the new Mitsubishi Strada Packed with tech for tough conditions
Besides being one of the few segments untouched by the TRAIN law’s taxes, the competitive pickup segment is one where almost every manufacturer has a new pickup model to offer. Just before the end of the year, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation revealed its new Strada pickup truck in Bangkok, Thailand, last month. It sees improvements in several key aspects, but is it enough to remain competitive?
The new Strada sports a new exterior design and upgrades to its 4WD system and safety features. Coinciding with the model’s 40th birthday this year, the new Strada was developed under Mitsubishi’s “Engineered Beyond Tough” and “Rock Solid” concepts, with improvements in several key aspects, making it much more competitive in the segment. Are they merely aesthetic? We find out as we experience what the new Strada can do firsthand around a grueling off-road course.
The course consisted of several segments, each one challenging the Strada in a variety of ways. A deep river crossing allowed us to appreciate the changes made to the Strada’s front end, which now conveys Mitsubishi’s new-generation “Dynamic Shield” design concept that offers equal amounts of form and function. The high engine hood line and beefier-looking lamps located higher up do a lot to give the Strada a much more imposing look up front, but they also raise the front lamps by 100mm, and sets the fog lamps 700mm from the ground, which keeps them from being submerged, even in high water levels.
The Strada had no problems crossing the river, which led directly to a slippery high-incline hill. Thanks to the its 31-degree approach angle, the Strada was able to confidently tackle the steep ascent. Going down was just as challenging, as the summit of the hill leaves the driver with very low visibility of what’s around. Switching on our Multi Around Monitor, we were able to get a bird’s eye view of our surroundings, easily able to gauge just how far (or near) we were from the edge. The Strada’s Hill Descent Control, working with its new larger front ventilated disc brakes, kept its speed