Mitsubishi L200
FOURTH REPORT We’ve swapped our top-spec Mitsubishi pick-upp for a more modest version. So how does the Warrior model shape up against the Barbarian?
MITSUBISHI’S L200 pick-up has been a hard-working addition to our fleet – but with us doing so many miles in the truck, we had a few ideas for improving the specification of our example.
So we organised a swap and took the opportunity to change the trim level and extras based on my experience so far. Duxford Motor Group sales executive Paul Dray then handed us the keys to our new motor.
I’ve gone for the eye-catching metallic Electric Blue and dropped a trim level to Warrior, which does away with much of the external chrome on the top-spec Barbarian we had before; a subtle but pleasing change.
I also prefer the new-for-2017 sidesteps which drop the chrome for a muted silver finish. Inside it is much the same, although there is a slightly different design to the range-topping Barbarian. Plus there’s a revised in-car entertainment system and steering wheel in this 2017 version.
The built-in USB still doesn’t provide enough power to keep my iphone 6 Plus charged when streaming and using a sat-nav app, but it is sufficient for less strenuous use. The ability to pick up incoming calls via Bluetooth has been restored, though. Previously I could only make outgoing calls through the head unit.
I’ve also gone for front parking sensors to help when manoeuvring, and seven-pin electrics on the tow bar to suit my trailer.
The biggest changes have been in the back, where I’ve opted for a retractable tonneau cover and a mat for the bed liner in a bid to stop shopping and other smaller loose items from sliding forward. So far it is working and is much easier on the knees if I have to get into the bed to retrieve things.
I’m beginning to think there’s no ideal cover for a pick-up, because the hard-top and the tonneau both have limitations. The tonneau makes it easier to use the full depth of the bed and is quite a bit cheaper. Not so good is the need to use the key to open the cover, because it is not part of the central locking system, like the hard-top’s tailgate is.
Plus, there’s no light in the bed, so it’s not ideal for use at night. You also need to take a little more care with how you pack the bed to keep the load under the tonneau. We’re also not convinced the cover would put up much resistance if someone unsavoury decided the bed is full of tools they want.
We have gone for the locking tailgate this time, but the drop in trim level means we’ve
lost the damper that takes the weight when opening it. Like many things, you don’t truly miss it until it is gone; or in our case, if you’ve got in the way of a falling tailgate.
I may be only a thousand or so miles into my time with the new L200, but it has been earning its keep as a tow car, because I recently bought a Lotus Elise for track days.
Not surprisingly the lightweight Lotus barely troubled the L200, which continues to impress with the ease with which it tows. The Elise’s arrival meant a couple of other cars had to go, and the L200 was pressed into service transporting parts and wheels. That lengthy trip towing and a tight new engine did the fuel consumption no favours, as in this model I’m managing 22.3mpg. Hopefully the winter break and no towing will see that improve.
So far, so good then; we’re really looking forward to seeing how the Warrior shapes up over the next three or four months.
“The tonneau makes it easier to use the full ddepthth of the bed and is quite a bit cheaper”