Tough love

Mitsubishi’s Series 5 L200, with its rugged good looks and five-seater double cab, is primarily a working vehicle but generous equipment levels, spacious cabin and good refinement is testament to Mitsubishi’s understanding that many of its pick-ups will, at the very least, be asked to perform the dual role of working vehicle and family car.

There are four trim levels – 4Life, Titan, Warrior and Barbarian – and all models are equipped with air conditioning, bi-xenon headlamps, selectable 4x4 system and a comprehensive array of safety equipment that includes seven airbags, traction control and Trailer Stability Assist.

The L200 is a reasonably compact vehicle – for a pick-up – and is 134mm narrower than VW’s Amarok (which I’ll be reviewing next week). Don’t be fooled, however, this is still a very capable and capacious machine. Mitsubishi’s pick-up is robust and ready for anything, but it can also double up as family transport as Paul Acres discovers

The load bay is 1,470mm square and 475mm deep.

The manual, which I drove, will carry 1,045kg. Automatic versions 5kg more. The L200 will also pull a braked trailer of up to 3,100kg offering a total capacity of 4,090kg, a figure no rival can match.

Under the bonnet of all L200s is the 2.4-litre MIVEC diesel engine.

In the Barbarian it produces 178bhp and 317lbft making for surprisingly potent performance.

Press on hard and the diesel clatters away audibly but once you’ve settled down at cruising speeds it’s a very refined unit.

The ride is composed, although large holes can send shudders through the cabin, and there’s admirable control of lateral movement through corners despite its tall profile. Over smooth roads, the L200 holds its own against most passenger vehicles.

The steering has a welcome meatiness to it that suits the character of the L200. It’s reasonably responsive around the straight ahead and provides good feedback.

The six-speed manual is slick, with a nice short throw.

The cabin is spacious and durable and, in the Barbarian’s case, bedecked in leather. Some of the switchgear looks a little dated and the quality of the plastics isn’t quite up to scratch but, like Rocky Balboa, the interior could take a serious beating and still come back for more.

There’s plenty of room to sit three adults across the rear bench, I’ve two sisters and a brother-in-law who will gladly act as witnesses to that fact if required, with generous head and leg room.

There’s a distinct lack of storage space with just a bin between the seats, small door pockets and a surprisingly small glovebox that isn’t that far from living down to its name.

The instrument cluster is nice and clear and the controls nice and chunky. The Super Select 4x4 control dial – which offers four modes of drive – sits behind the gear lever while your chosen mode is indicated on simple black and white display between the speedo and rev counter.

There’s a large touchscreen display in the centre of the fascia. Although it’s poorly integrated into the dash, looking like a bit of an afterthought, it works well.

There’s no disguising the fact that the L200 is a working vehicle and it will fulfil that single purpose exceptionally well. However, should you also need reasonably comfortable, efficient and spacious accommodation, the Mitsubishi has got you covered on that front too. There are various load bay covers that add to its appeal and ability as fully-fledged family transport.

If you can live with the dated switchgear and lack of cabin storage – and let’s be honest, who can’t – then the L200’s versatility makes it a strong contender in this class.