Mitsubishi Triton addicted to hard labour
There are some bakkies I can vouch for when it comes to being tough. Mind you, all bakkies claim to be tough, even the not so tough. Mitsubishi’s toughness is not claimed but I witnessed it personally. Remember the old L200 from the 2000s. Harare City Council had light blue ones that roamed the city for years. They battered them at every turn. You could see them transport manpower and equipment without any fuss. You actually felt sorry for the poor bakkie. One thing that surprises me even up to today is that it never puffed out that annoying smoke.
The current model of the Mitsubishi single cab bakkie has the DNA of the old L200. It however now has been modernised giving it swanky looks, more power and more performance adrenalin and a contemporary comfortable feel. The Triton single cab bakkie is Mitsubishi's answer to Ford and Toyota bakkies respectively. It has similar specifications and configurations to these two and at times even better.
The all new Triton bakkie employs a chassis outline with predominant strength and durability, that has more fortification in its class.
With more than 2 400 changes and improvements from the previous version surely a lot of work and thought was put into the research and development all for your comfort, convenience and saving on every cent.
It’s a whole new vehicle with an overabundance of new technological innovations, it's a whole lot of an automobile. The Mitsubishi Triton is hard-wearing, authoritative and calm on the road for those long days at the office.
When you jump inside, it is as practical as you could expect a two-seat single cab bakkie to be. There is a covered centre bin (with a hard-plastic cover) and there’s a pair of cup holders between the front seats. There are bottle holders in the doors, and you’ll be able to store booklets or magazines there too. It does not have dashboard storage like some of the other bakkies namely, Hilux and Isuzu.
It’s important to differentiate the entertainment screen of a luxury car from that of a workhorse. A work horse one needs to be simple, effective and solid. After all it is a car that will be battered and abused when duty calls. You cannot expect a miner to have the most expensive iPhone underground. He will probably have an S999 Triple Proofing Elder Phone which will be waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, has a 3800 amp battery to last for days, and will have a very efficient LED flashlight. The ability to pick up signals will be exceptionally good. That is what works underground. These are phones for miners and only they would understand and appreciate them. It’s the same with single-cab bakkie lovers and users, they know that it's not a luxury car. It is meant to be comfortable whilst you get the job done. It is a tool for work. It’s addicted to working hard.
It has Bluetooth. So, it’s simple to play your top pick tracks on your smartphone music through the car stereo.
The seats are pretty comfortable and offer decent adjustment, so much so that long-legged drivers won’t feel cramped, and because there’s tilt and reach adjustment to the steering wheel, you’ll be able to find a good seating position easily enough.
The Triton bakkies load size bin means that the vehicle can carry large loads of varying configurations. I was easily able to load and transport a consignment of bricks.
In addition to having stylish yet assertive lines, the Triton Single Cab has a distinctive high-rider appearance thanks to its strong suspension system designed to carry big loads across rough terrain.
The engine is decent in the way it builds pace; with good torque for a diesel engine, particularly at lower speeds, and it’s quiet enough too.
Five speed manual transmission gives you total control of power delivery to match whatever driving conditions you may face. The smooth stick action, shorter stroke and lighter clutch all make for an easier operation, making it more of a normal car than a pickup truck.
Any single cab bakkie that can carry almost its own weight in the tray will have a firm ride, and that’s certainly the case with this bakkie.
The leaf spring rear suspension is designed to deal with huge loads, and as a result it is punishingly firm around town with nothing in the tray. That reminds you it’s a single cab bakkie and not a luxury SUV.
It’s as practical as you could expect a two-seat-single cab bakkie to be. If you want more cabin space and can afford the extra expenditure, consider a double cab, but we are talking of workhorses and a double cab is not a workhorse
The 4x2 is priced from US$28 000 whilst the 4x4 starts at US35 000 at Zimoco. The 4x4 Triton single cab is available exstock. “The sweetener to these prices is that about 40% of the price is payable in RTGS equivalent at bank rate,” said Walter Cheneka, the Product Executive for bakkies at Zimoco.
It's a good-looking bakkie, and of all the bakkies I have driven recently, it certainly proved to have the best fuel consumption with a claimed 7,5 litres/100km reading from the manufacturer.
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Specifications
Engine Type: MIVEC DOHC intercooled turbo diesel
Fuel system: Common rail direct injection
Max. output: 133kW@3500rpm
Max. torque: 430Nm@2500rpm Transmission: 5-speed M/T
Turning radius: 5.9m
Ground clearance: 220mm
Fuel tank capacity: 75 litres
Fuel consumption: 7.5L/100km (combined cycle