Mitsubishi’s Triton has long played a role as a more budget friendly ute option, enjoying success and admiration along the way. It proves that perhaps affordable doesn’t mean bad too, particularly in the hotly contested dual cab market.
That’s why we were excited to get our hands on the recently revamped and range-topping GSR. And while that moniker used to often denote something extra in the mumbo department, it hasn’t for some time.
What it does give you is blackouts across the wheels, door handles and roof rails, which when set against the commensurately dark Graphite Grey paintwork, garners a sinister aesthetic.
While there’s no denying it looks new and different, in this writer’s eyes, it has lost the edginess that we appreciated about the last model. There is familiarity in the stacked LED lights up front though, but it feels more round in overall design.
That long rear overhang makes a repeat appearance, in a package that is bigger in almost every aspect over the older model. “Transformer” style flares unfortunately accentuate what is an 18-inch wheel and tyre combination that has too positive an offset.
Climbing into the interior reveals a far more modern layout. The overall theme is dark, seemingly in continuation of the exterior blackouts. Leather appointed seating is standard in the GSR and complemented by orange stitching.
A black headliner makes for a pleasingly moody space. The front row seats are heated, comfortable and offer electric adjustability, including lumbar. Connectivity duties are handled by both USB-A and C ports up front, along with a wireless charging pad.
Storage is well sorted, with a centre bin, glove box and door pockets. Vehicle interfacing is handled predominantly through a 7.0-inch central screen as expected, but thankfully there’s a range of buttons for HVAC and the Super Select 4WD II system.
There are various drive modes, but it’s hard to distinguish when they’re on as the notification is in a tiny font on the bottom right of the in-binnacle screen. The issue is exacerbated by the size of the driver monitoring camera that sits atop the steering column.
It’s not only an impediment to the screen, but the system itself is overzealous, triggering in an almost continuous fashion. It can be turned off, but that’s not the point. Rear seating is spacious and comfortable with, an assortment of charging and air conditioning vents.
Interestingly, the rear vents were on the roof, something this writer hasn’t seen since getting around in a GU patrol. Tub space in the tray is good, as is accessibility, the latter owing to a lower 812mm height.
There’s no resistance to opening nor closing of what is a heavy tailgate, which is a frustrating inconvenience. We’re glad that since our time in the Triton, Mitsubishi has noted they will make changes to the design to assist with this.
There’s a couple of tie-down points and a plastic liner in there, but nothing much else. We would have liked to see a power outlet for a top-spec model. Under the hood is a new 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine. Firing it up results in the friendly clatter we know well.
Outputs from the now sequential-turbo setup are 150kW power and 470Nm of torque, which is a near 10 per cent improvement on the version it replaces. It remains backed by a newly developed 6-speed automatic, which has a wider ratio spread.
It does a good job of picking the right gear, resulting in an impressive 8.4-litres/100km in real world testing – against a claimed 7.4-litres. Driving it is simple and it never feels lacking, other than a titanic turning circle and factory rubber that’s challenging in the wet.
Even the lightest throttle applicable on any gradient results in wheelspin, fun when you’re 19, not when the family is on board. Where it thrives though is on the open road. On a 200km round trip to the Central Coast, we uncover a quiet cabin.
A softer suspension tune means all you need to do is select the right track through the 6-speaker stereo and set the adaptive cruise control. Off road testing started with some rutty trail work, where we were largely impressed, aside from some clearance issues.
As careful as we were with the rear overhang, there were instances where we couldn’t help but kiss mother Earth with it or a sidestep. The problematic tyres on road became an asset in these conditions, and we were able to get through what we class as a basic loop.
A day on Stockton Beach was next up, with tray back snags for lunch and some waterplay for the kids. While we did try sand mode here, even without it, getting on and off what can be a very deep and soft surface was a non-issue. A good day was had by all.
It’s worth noting that the new Triton gets 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, finally bringing it in line with the competition. Backed by a 5-star ANCAP rating, the Mitsubishi ute comes with a host of safety tech, including airbags and lane departure prevention.
That setup includes emergency lane assist, while rear cross traffic alert and forward collision mitigation also feature. Part of us would like a couple of things ironed out, given the $63,840 plus on-roads price tag too.
While it still trails the mainstays, the gap is much smaller than it has been before. With a 10-year warranty and capped pricing servicing, the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton is a worthwhile addition to the adventurous but budget conscious family’s shopping list.
You can find out more on the Mitsubishi Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Mitsubishi Australia for independent review purposes.
