Carshop First Drive: 2019 Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 D 4x4 Auto

The new Mitsubishi Triton represents 40 years of Japanese engineering and that means it's as robust and capable as anything we've ever driven, on road and off it.

Since it emerged as the L200 in 1978, Mitsubishi have sold 4.7 million of the plucky things. We loved them in South Africa, previously known as the Colt double cab bakkie - a workhorse and lifestyle companion, a member of the family even, just like its rivals such as the Ford ranger, Isuzu D-MAX (nee KB) and Toyota Hilux.

The development of this particular Triton began in 2016 and while the styling isn't for everyone, I'm certainly a fan of its futuristic looks - intimidating and solid to behold, a broad slice of granite hewn from a sci-fi artist's imagination.

That Magneto helmet-like aesthetic is called the 'Dynamic Shield' and we've just seen it in the new Eclipse Cross. The broad curbside stance continues along its mighty, blistered flank and culminates in a similarly squared off rear end. This feels resolved, completed rather than abandoned. I'll say it again, I'm a fan. The Mitsubishi Triton is in my book a top contender for best looking double cab and that's saying a lot in a world featuring the pumped up Nissan Navara and similarly afflicted VW Amarok, Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

Under that imposing skin resides a robust ladder frame chassis, overlaid with sophisticated electronics and hardware in the form of Mitsubishi's Super Select II 4WD system now with rock mode in addition to gravel and snow. Here also lives a new smart Hill Descent mode and a rear diff lock, while swapping cogs can now be performed via a 6-speed manual or the new 6 speed automatic transmission replacing the 5 hooker that came before.

This is mated to a 2.4l MIVEC DOHC turbodiesel heart good for 133kW and 430Nm which we were about to put to the test on some gnarly 4x4 trails. With low range engaged we set about twisting and carving our way through gravel and dirt inclines and steep drops putting to good use the car's tight turning radius of just 5.9m, and without damaging its belly thanks to a copious ground clearance of 220mm plus a 28 degree approach and 23 degree departure angle. The breakover angle has been measured at 25 degrees and look, these are all just numbers but what it boils down to is a go-anywhere bakkie with enough tech and torque onboard to make sure it remains unstuck.

Living with it

The new car has LED headlamps, daytime running lights and an exciting new vertically stacked rear light cluster. A more luxurious interior? You bet, and you can add comfortable too, not to mention feature laden with a multimedia offering that goes big on connectivity such as Bluetooth, Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

Also present; dual zone climate control, 7 airbags and an army of safety acronyms. And at R598,995 the 4x4 Automatic flagship is properly affordable, undercutting rivals by circa R30,000. Opt for 2WD and it can be had as cheaply as R509,995. It's time to take the Triton a lot more seriously.

New Mitsubishi Triton 2.4DI-D Double Cab Spec:

Pricing:

Warranty and service: 3 years/100 000km, 5-year/90 000 km Service Plan plus a 5-year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance. Service intervals are every 10 000 km.