THE 2020 Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R 4WD Double Cab Pickup is eye catching to say the least. Tough and assertive, sporting the latest version of the Japanese car maker’s Diamond Shield front end, it’s got a look you’ll either love or hate.
From the elongated headlights down to the grille, the 2020 Triton GLX-R means business, and builds on almost 40 years of reputation as a hard working ute that’s reliable and capable.
Engineered to deliver power, performance, 5-star safety, towing and the latest technology, this is one tough ute. With sporty styling, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lamps and an array of MiTEC safety and connectivity features, it has loads to offer.
Inside, we’re happy too see that the design standard hasn’t been missed either, with a 7.0-inch infotainment screen that is lined with piano gloss black surround. Featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the infotainment system is good, but not great.
The Triton does have a Bluetooth audio setup, but be prepared as it does take some messing about to get it sorted. Once you do, you will be fairly disappointed with the sound system. It has four speakers, and does the job, but that’s all.
If you want navigation, you will need to connect your smartphone, because it’s not standard either. You do score a compass, which is great when you’re lost in the bush, but it’s not so great when you’re trying to find the jobsite.
The GLX-R is fitted with fabric seats, which are manually adjusted. If you want something a little more fancy you’ll have to splash out some cash for the range topping GSR. There you will find leather and electric seat adjustment, among other goodies.
The steering wheel has all of the controls you need though, including volume, phone functions and cruise control. The instrument cluster is analog, but does feature a sleek and modern look, with carbon fibre design behind.
The car will send you a sweet note when you turn off the engine that reads ‘see you’. Definitely extra points for being so polite. It’s a keyed start (like most Mitsubishi offerings), and the centre console feels a little small.
It does have two cup holders, a manual handbrake, gear selector and 4×4 selector. There’s a fair-sized single glove box and sunglass holder in the roof lining too, but storage isn’t really a strong point.
Safety is high on the agenda though, with the Mitsubishi’s intuitive technology safety suite providing blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, reverse camera, forward collision control, automatic dusk sensing lights, auto high beam, ABS and trailer sway control.
All extremely important features to keep everyone safe and make the driving experience more effortless. The Triton GLX-R Pickup has a braked towing capacity of 3.1-tonne, and is powered by a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine.
It produces 133kW and 430Nm, and is available with a manual or automatic transmission (the latter in our case). Fuel consumption comes in at 7.9-litres/100km, which isn’t bad.
Overall, we found ourselves fairly pleased with the driving experience of the 2020 Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R, once it’s going. There’s some lag to contend with off the line, or under heavy acceleration too. A fact that doesn’t necessarily instil confidence in traffic.
Once moving though, it is comfortable and poised on the road. Freeway driving is a dream and there are no rattles or uneasiness at high speeds. As one might expect, it’s a little noisy across the bottom of the rev range, but it is a diesel ute.
We also noticed it likes to hold at higher rpm’s with the new 6-speed auto, which does add to the engine noise a little. That transmission does well though, with improved ratios. It still feels like it’s sleepy sometimes though, and you have to pester it like a teenager.
The suspension is very comfortable, and absorbs most of the road’s bumps and blemishes well. Steering is rather average, but we have learned to expect that from vehicles in this class, and it does feel like it struggles a little in heavy off-road situations.
All-in-all though, we were impressed with what Mitsubishi has done with the 2020 Triton GLX-R 4WD Double Cab Pickup. It’s a ute that’s built for adventure and work, and definitely won’t let you down.
Impressively, under its Diamond Advantage program, a warranty that stretches as long as 10-years is available. It does have a 200,000km limit on it though. 10-years capped price servicing is also offered.
The 2020 Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R Double Cab Pickup is available in Red, Sterling Silver, White, Impulse Blue, Graphite Grey, Black Mica and White Diamond. It’s priced at around $44,000 (drive away), dependant on colour choice.
Our test vehicle was provided by Mitsubishi Australia. To find out more about the 2020 Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R 4WD Double Cab Pickup, contact your local Mitsubishi dealer.
