I will admit, driving a bakkie on a daily basis can take its toll. Fortunately, a lot of test cars pass through CAR’s garage, allowing me, from time to time, to enjoy simply slotting in behind the wheel of a light compact car, preferably with an automatic transmission, for the commute home.
That said, the Mitsubishi Triton still impresses with its soft ride and engine that delivers sufficient torque. As is always the case for the custodian of a bakkie, you become the go-to person for anyone needed to move larger items. Most of the time though they hand the key back only impressed by the Triton’s qualities. These include the compact size of the bakkie and willingness of the 3,2-litre turbodiesel engine.
Arguably the biggest challenge thus far for the Triton was the cover story of our May issue. As the oldest bakkie in the comparison shootout, one would expect it to be beaten on every level by the newest entrants in the market. That was not the case though. In terms of axle articulation and off-road ability, the Triton acquitted itself very well. On-road the Triton also knocked a few double cabs off of their perches.
The fact that the Triton, being one of the old-school double-cab bakkies, is slightly narrower means that it is easier to place in the traffic as-well-as parking lots.
Another test the Triton faced was a recent adventure to the Atlantis dunes outside Cape Town. I accompanied a friend driving a 4×4 from another manufacturer (with a 4,0-litre V6 petrol engine).
It quickly became apparent that to master a turbodiesel vehicle in the sand is trickier than a strong petrol engine. I needed a decent run-up to the dunes (see two clips below) and had to use plenty of momentum. Plus, I needed to carefully monitor the amount of throttle input. You need to back off the throttle at the crest of a dune, when the wheels start to spin. Managing the input allows the tyres to gain grip and pull you through.
Mitsubishi South Africa will launch the updated Triton at the end of September. Lets see what upgrades the new Triton will bring to the market.
Mileage on arrival (km): 1 164 Mileage now (km): 12 911 Fuel consumption (litres/100 km): 10,3 Like: slightly smaller bakkie than most new double-cabs
Don’t like: showing its age, but updated model on the way
Two short clips to illustrate that sometimes momentum is all you need.
Keyword: Long term update (1): Mitsubishi Triton 3,2 Di-D 4×4