New 2.4 engine very refined
Continued from page 1
The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and rather well specced, with all versions coming with leather seats (electrically adjustable for the driver) as well as a touch-screen infotainment system with reverse camera and Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control and cruise control.
The fascia design is rather plain and straightforward and although the plastics are hard to the touch, Mitsubishi has put some effort into making the materials appear reasonably classy, once again, by bakkie standards at least.
On the safety front, the Triton packs dual front airbags, but strangely lacks side and curtain airbags, but it does at least come with an active stability and traction control system. When it comes to the crunch, the vehicle’s structure is safe enough to have achieved a five-star Australian NCAP rating.
As you’ll see below prices are pitched slightly below key rivals, with a 4x2 manual coming in around R11 000 below the equivalent Hilux and the top 4x4 auto saving you R13 600, and you’ll notice even bigger savings over the albeit-more-powerful Ranger.
That might not be enough to get the maddening crowds tripping each other up through Mitsubishi’s showroom doors, but if you want to stand apart from the Hilux-Ranger crowd, the new Triton is certainly a credible alternative.
PRICES: 2.4 Di-D 4x2 man - R479 900 2.4 Di-D 4x2 auto- 133kW/430Nm - R499 900 - 133kW/430Nm 2.4 Di-D 4x4 man - R539 900 2.4 Di-D 4x4 auto - R559 900 - 133kW/430Nm - 133kW/430Nm
BUT WHAT DO THE RIVALS COST? 4x2 manual Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT - 147kW/470Nm - R515 900 Isuzu KB300 D-Teq LX - 130kW/380Nm - R486 900 Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Raider 4x2 - 132kW/420Nm - R490 700 4x4 auto Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT - 147kW/470Nm - R577 900 Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Raider 4x4 - 130kW/450Nm - R573 500 VW Amarok 2.0 BiTDI - 132kW/420Nm - R587 400 4x2 4x2 4x4 4x4