2019 Mitsubishi Triton

By Alex Forrest

Among Australian buyers, the Mitsubishi Triton is a podium finisher in the popularity contest for four-wheel drive utes, finishing behind the Ford Ranger and the top-selling Toyota Hilux.

That puts the Triton ahead of other well-known players such as the Nissan Navara, Holden Colorado and Isuzu Ute D-Max.

A major reason for the Triton’s popularity is its value for money. It’s significantly cheaper than its two bigger-selling rivals and brings plenty of gear with it.

That said, this new Triton is between $1500 and $3000 more expensive (depending on the variant) than the old model, but it’s not for nothing.

Higher spec versions of the new one now come with autonomous emergency braking which also detects pedestrians, rear cross traffic alert and a system to minimise the effects of accidentally pressing the accelerator.

Technologies addressing unintended acceleration are still unusual in new cars, and even rarer in commercial vehicles like this.

Mitsubishi calls it an ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation system – try saying that fast five times – and it uses sensors in the front and rear bumpers to detect obstacles in the immediate path of the vehicle. Whether in forward or reverse gears, if it detects the driver has pressed the accelerator too hard, it’ll beep and reduce engine power.

The 2019 Triton also gets a brand new six-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous five-speeder. There’s a wider spread of ratios, with lower gearing for first, second, third and fourth gears and higher gearing for fifth and sixth gears for more relaxed highway cruising. Manual versions get the same six-speed transmission as in the previous model.

This lower gearing on the first to fourth cogs makes the Triton slightly less fuel efficient, although the trade-off is much improved ability in low-speed off-road situations and when towing.

There are now four drive modes (up from three) and selecting the right one using the rotary toggle on the console was essential to the Triton showing off its true abilities when the going got rough.

Creature comforts in the Triton now include a new overhead air circulator for rear passengers in the dual cab utes, and improved USB charging and phone holders.