Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
“When I was a younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any wayBut now these days are gone and I’m not so self-assured
Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors”
From The Beatles’ 1965 hit song “Help!”
I have been driving since I turned 18 in 1983. To be completely honest, I’ve been driving even before I got my driver’s license. After driving for the better part of four decades, I could consider myself as a good and experienced driver. When automobile manufacturers started introducing electronic driving aids such as Self-Parking Assist, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control and other similar systems, I personally found these features intrusive and overkill.
It was with this trepidation towards “intrusive” electronic driving aids that I got into the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton Athlete 4WD AT. I still had the old mentality where I view pickup trucks simply as workhorses that can do without electronic wizardry. You see, I long for the days when pickup trucks were composed of a single cabin that fits three people, a bed that can fit sheets of plywood, a chassis that can withstand the load, and a powertrain that can take the truck, its occupants and its load from Point A to Point B.
Mitsubishi L200 Lineage
Mitsubishi’s pickup line started in 1978 with the introduction of the first generation L200 powered by the venerable 4G32 1.6-liter Saturn engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. The first L200 proved to be a simple yet reliable truck and customer demand soon necessitated the introduction of bigger engines, 5-speed stick shift, and four-wheel drive (4WD) variants.
After a successful 8-year production run, the second generation L200, known internally as the K00/K10/K20/K30-series, was launched in 1986. It retained its boxy styling but added a 4-door double cab body with a shorter bed that proved to be very popular here in the Philippines. To date, second generation L200s with 2.5-liter 4D56 diesel engines and 5-speed manual gearboxes still roam the roads around the country.
Updating the L200 for the Strada
The third generation K50/K60/K70 pickup truck debuted in 1996 as the Strada, which is Italian for “street”. Mitsubishi must have observed that most of the L200 owners regularly drive their pickup trucks on city streets and seldom venture off-road. Thus, the top Strada variants wore fancier two-tone paint schemes and fancy wheels. A turbodiesel was added to the lineup to provide more power while a 2WD variant can be had with an automatic transmission.
In 2005, Mitsubishi consolidated the assembly of its the fourth generation L200/Strada in its factory in Thailand for export to 140 countries including the Philippines. The KA/KB-series pickup trucks were powered by a larger 2.8-liter engine, a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox, and were equipped with active and passive safety features such as anti-lock braking (ABS), airbags, and the like.
Sophistication Turns the Strada into the Triton
Loyal Mitsubishi owners got their fifth generation KJ/KK/KL Strada pickup trucks in 2015. A 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine provide a balance of power and fuel economy while a 2.4-liter MIVEC gasoline 4-cylinder engine with a variable geometry turbo (VGT) added a sporty vibe. Because of the increasingly heavy traffic, more buyers chose the automatic transmission variant. A styling update launched the facelifted Strada in 2020 before the pandemic.
Known internally as the LC/MV-series, the sixth and current generation was unveiled at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show as the “Beast Mode” design/XRT Concept exterior with the “Horizontal Axis” interior concept. It was launched here in January 2024 as the Mitsubishi Triton with six variants – GL 2WD, GL 4WD, GLX 2WD, GLX 4WD, GLS 2WD and Athlete 4WD, which is the subject of our review.
Exceeding the Bar
The bar for pickup trucks has long been raised by Mitsubishi’s competitors and it was imperative that the Triton should not only make the bar but even exceed it. Thus, Mitsubishi over-engineered the Triton by installing a 4N16 2.4-liter turbocharged (T/C) direct injection (D/I) diesel engine that meets Euro 4 emission standards. For the Athlete 4WD, Mitsubishi engineered added a two-stage turbocharger that helped the 4N16 2.4L I/C 2T/C D/I engine meet Euro 5 standards while churning out 201 horses and 470 Newton-meters of torque.
To make the Triton Athlete more athletic, its 6-speed automatic transmission is connected to Mitsubishi’s proprietary Super Select 4WD-II with a console selector offering 2H (2WD high range) for normal road conditions; 4H (4WD full time) for rough roads and hazardous conditions, 4HLc (4WD high range with locked center differential) for rugged terrain with low-grip or slippery surfaces; and 4LLc (4WD low range with locked center differential) for steep hills, mud, sand and deep muck; in seven Drive Modes.
Surprisingly Smooth Ride
The Triton’s high-tensile box frame with increased cross-sections, independent front suspension composed of double wishbones with coil springs, rear rigid axle with leaf springs, and meaty 265/60R18 tires mounted on black 18×7.5J alloy wheels all conspire to provide the Athlete with a smoother ride of any pickup truck I have tested. It delivers an almost carlike ride inside but it feels much smoother when there are four or five occupants inside or there’s a load at the back.
Two ergonomic front seats and a rear bench seat (with folding center armrest) are covered in a two-tone orange synthetic leather with black suede inserts that adds a sporty vide to the black/dark gray interior. A thickly-padded leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel with control buttons for the infotainment system with 9-inch touchscreen adds to the carlike driving experience. While the interior is comfortable and ergonomic, I find the cockpit a bit too busy with all the buttons and switches around the driver. Perhaps it’s just me – I like turning simple round knobs to control the A/C, radio, and 4WD systems instead of pushing recessed square plastic buttons and navigating the touchscreen controls.
Safety First is the Number One Priority
And this is where I referenced the classic pop song “Help!” by The Beatles. “When I was a younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any way.” I guess I didn’t really need electronic driving aids when I was a young driver. “But now these days are gone, I’m not so self-assured.” But times have changed and I have aged. My reflexes are not as fast nor as sharp as they were before. Also, the streets are much more crowded, there are a lot more motorcycles and bicycles on the roads, and parking is quite tight, especially in the commercial districts.
After driving the Triton Athlete for the better part of a week, I began to appreciate all those electronic driving aids that helped me avoid getting into trouble. Aside from the now-common active stability and traction control, the Athlete is equipped with Active Yaw Control, Hill Descent Control, Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication (EAPM), Auto High Beam, and stalk-mounted Adjustable Automatic Wiper Control, which proved itself indispensable during this rainy season.
It Just Takes Some Getting Used To
The Forward Collision Mitigation System (FCM) with Pedestrian Detection helped me avoid hitting an errant motorcyclist that darted in front of the Triton Athlete while I was merging into a highway. I got a bit jarred when the brakes were applied automatically while my foot was on the gas pedal but it’s a better feeling than getting jarred because I accidentally hit something in front. I can get used to this.
The Blindspot Warning System (BSW) with Lane Change Assist (LCA) helped avoid hitting another errant motorcyclist that was lane-sharing along the highway. The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) emitted a buzz when I inadvertently begin to dart to another lane without using the signal lights.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) helped avoid a rear fender bender when a lowered modified car sped behind the Triton Athlete while I was backing out of a parking space and minding all the parking sensors and the 360º Camera. If not for the RCTA, I would have backed into the front of that low car and drove onto its hood.
Good Help Is Hard To Find These Days
“Now I find I’ve changed my mind, and opened up the doors.” As a father to children who are now of driving ages, I began to see that all these electronic driving aids are designed to help new drivers navigate the roads with more confidence because the Triton Athlete will mitigate most, if not all, unforeseen vehicular accidents. If my son or daughter would drive by himself or herself, I’d be more at peace if they were in a Triton Athlete.
And speaking of navigation, I love it when the instrument panel of this Mitsubishi pickup truck shows the name of the street that I’m driving on and the compass direction. It made going for the first time to an unfamiliar location a whole lot easier, like when my wife and I went to our friend’s place in Cainta, Rizal to pick up her vintage Japanese rod-brake bicycle. It’s a great way to ignore the voice of the Waze lady.
If I have P1,909,000 burning a hole in my pocket, I would rush over to a Mitsubishi dealer and get a 2024 Triton Athlete 4WD AT, preferably in the same finish of Yamabuki Orange Metallic as this media test drive unit. And by the time my kids get their driver’s license, I won’t be nervous to hand them the keys to this safe, smart and helpful pickup truck.
SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle Type: Front-engine, 4WD, 4-door pickup truck
Price: P1,909,000
Engine: 4N16 inline 4-cylinder two-stage turbo direct injection diesel
Displacement: 2,440 cc
Maximum power: 204 PS (201 hp) @ 3,500 rpm
Maximum torque: 470 Nm @ 1,500 – 2,750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
4WD system: Super Select 4WD-II
Wheelbase: 3,130 mm
Length: 5,360 mm
Width: 1,930 mm
Height: 1,815 mm
Minimum ground clearance: 222 mm
Bed length: 1,555 mm
Bed width: 1,545 mm
Bed height: 525 mm
Cargo floor height: 820 mm
Front suspension: Independent, wishbones with coil springs
Rear suspension: Rigid with leaf springs
Front brakes: Ventilated discs
Rear Brakes: Drums, Leading and trailing
Steering system: Rack and pinion with electric assistance (EPAS)
Wheels: 18-inch alloys
Tires: 265/60R18
