Locally-engineered Mitsubishi Triton tough truck arrives in limited numbers, with a hefty price tag
- How much does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme cost?
- What equipment comes with the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
- How safe is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
- What technology does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme feature?
- What powers the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
- How fuel efficient is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
- What is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme like to drive?
- How good is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme off-road?
- What is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme like inside?
- Should I buy a Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
Tough bush-bashing flagship dual-cabs are all the rage, but one popular ute that’s been sorely missing a halo model is the Mitsubishi Triton – until now. The 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme has been 18 months in the making, engineered and developed by Walkinshaw Automotive – the same team behind the successful previous-generation Volkswagen Amarok W-Series. Fitted with new suspension, extra body armour, all-terrain tyres and more, just 500 Xtreme versions will be built – with a $71,990 plus ORCs price point. That makes it more expensive than its closest rivals, and with a new-generation Triton just around the corner, this rugged hay hauler has its work cut out for it.
How much does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme cost?
Priced at $71,990 plus on-road costs, the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme is not the most affordable tough truck in Australia.
Rolling into Mitsubishi dealerships from late August 2023, the changes wrought on the ageing Triton ute – first launched here in 2015, and set to be replaced inside 12 months – make significant improvements to its on- and off-road capabilities, as we discovered during the national media launch at Holden’s former proving grounds at Lang Lang, south-east of Melbourne.
But when you look at its closest rival, the Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior, which starts from $67,515 plus ORCs and gets loads more upgrades and accessories, it doesn’t look like the best-value machine out there.
Even the pumped-up Toyota HiLux Rogue is cheaper, starting at $70,200 plus ORCs.
Much of the Mitsubishi Triton’s popularity in Australia comes back to affordability, and the top-spec Triton GSR that forms the basis of the Triton Xtreme is a case in point, undercutting most of its competitors at $56,940 plus ORCs.
For the Xtreme, however, the $15,050 premium for the modifications executed by the well-regarded team at Walkinshaw Automotive, are on the high side. The work Premcar does on Navara PRO-4X Warrior, for example, adds $9360.
Similar to the deal Nissan Australia has in place with Premcar, Mitsubishi Australia will offer the Walkinshaw-developed ute through its franchised dealer network and it will carry the full factory warranty of five years/100,000km.
This extends to 10 years/200,000km if the owner (a private buyer or a business with less than five vehicles) continues to service the ute at an authorised dealer.
That said, this is not an officially sanctioned program in the eyes of Mitsubishi Motors in Japan.
As a result, Walkinshaw Automotive will be responsible for any warranty issues relating to the Xtreme modifications, not Mitsubishi.
What equipment comes with the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
Along with the usual kit you get with a Mitsubishi Triton GSR – dual-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch central touch-screen, power-operated leather front seats, auto headlights/wipers and more – the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme receives a variety of Walkinshaw modifications to bring it up to flagship tough truck spec.
Chief among these are Supashock dampers and BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres (265/60R18) shod to new gloss grey 18-inch forged alloy wheels.
Walkinshaw Automotive chassis engineer David Slater said the front springs received minor tweaks, but the new 46mm monotube dampers, running gas-charged remote cannisters up front and a piggyback system at the rear, underwent significant tuning after rough-road testing across the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.
The upgraded tyres extend the vehicle’s track, making it 34mm wider, and are covered by wheel-arch extensions and new mudguards, adding form and function.
Up front, the tuned Triton gets a steel bash plate and sump guard protection that was wind-tunnel-tested to ensure engine cooling wasn’t affected.
It also gets an integrated LED light bar, while a 4.0-inch dual-tube sports bar is added to the rear and an ‘Xtreme’ sticker kit covers the ute’s bonnet and flanks.
Other than a small Xtreme sticker with the vehicle’s build number below the gear shifter, there are no interior changes.
More surprisingly, however, there’s no lift kit. The ground clearance is unchanged at 220mm, leaving the Xtreme a lot lower and less imposing than the Nissan Navara Warrior with its 40mm boost providing a 260mm clearance.
How safe is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
The 2023 Mitsubishi Triton gets a reasonably good safety suite, equipped with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure and blind spot warning systems, rear cross traffic alert and auto-dipping high-beam assistance.
It was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating way back in 2015, under a less-stringent assessment regime than the one used today.
And that’s too long ago as far as ANCAP’s concerned, so from January 2023 the Triton has been unrated and will remain so until the new generation arrives next year.
Walkinshaw says all the ute’s sensors, assist and safety systems work as intended, despite the modifications.
What technology does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme feature?
The Triton’s age really shows here, but the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme covers all the basics reasonably well.
While the 7.0-inch central touch-screen is undersized compared to newer rivals, and there’s no USB-C ports (only a pair of USB-A ports), it works well when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
The small screen also displays a very useful 360-degree overhead view that helps with parking the 5.3-metre-long dual-cab, while front and rear parking sensors are also provided.
There’s no head-up display, no wireless phone charging system and the driver’s display is fairly basic, with a small digital trip computer bisecting twin analogue dials.
What powers the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that’s been the mainstay of the Triton fleet for years has been left unchanged in the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme, pumping out the same 133kW of power at 3500rpm and 430Nm of torque at 2500rpm as its less-exotic siblings.
Although far from class-leading in terms of power output, the engine is tried-and-tested and should be reliable.
The Triton Xtreme also retains its donor car’s 3100kg towing capacity, although that figure is below the benchmark 3500kg of most one-tonne ute rivals.
The diesel engine drives through a six-speed automatic transmission and a switchable 4×4 driveline using Mitsubishi’s SuperSelect II system.
This adds low-range gearing designed for navigating rough terrain, along with locking centre and rear differentials.
The new-look bash plate, all-terrain tyres and rear sports bar add 13kg to the ute’s kerb mass, now 2011kg, in turn reducing payload slightly from 901kg to 888kg. That said, it can still haul more than the Ford Ranger Raptor (753kg) and Toyota HiLux Rogue (854kg).
Apart from the suspension there are no mechanical changes to the vehicle, so the 320mm front disc brakes and rear drum brakes remain.
How fuel efficient is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
It’s hard to say whether the modifications to the Triton dual-cab ute make any difference to fuel consumption because we only drove the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme within the confines of the Lang Lang proving ground.
The official combined (city/highway) fuel consumption claim from Walkinshaw is 8.6L/100km, the same as its donor vehicle.
And, for the record, our consumption figures after on- and off-road sorties were much, much higher – in the 12s and 14s respectively.
What is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme like to drive?
On the ride and handling course at the Lang Lang proving ground – currently owned by Vietnamese car-maker VinFast), but where countless Holden Commodores and utes were blooded – the enhanced Triton makes a positive first impression.
Ride quality has improved, rolling over simulated train tracks and regular bumps with far more composure than vanilla-flavoured Triton utes and smoothing out road imperfections with surprising fluidity.
The standard Triton’s suspension quirks (firm at low speeds, doughy at higher speeds) has been dialled out and it’s more settled and controlled through corners.
Indeed, it exhibits less body roll and more confidence now – something that may have been harder to achieve if a lift kit was added.
The new Supashock dampers are significantly more advanced lumps of hardware than the Triton’s stock shock absorbers, and the transformation – in particular the more refined ride quality – is impressive.
Walkinshaw’s chassis engineers have done a solid job tuning the Supashock dampers up front, with less head toss when changing directions, but even the rear suspension feels more sophisticated now, delivering a smoother ride and better roadholding without a load in the back.
There’s improved stability across the board and the front- and rear-ends don’t feel mismatched anymore.
And the all-terrain tyres? Top notch. The BFGoodrich KO2s offer good grip and, despite their chunky tread pattern, tyre noise is more than acceptable and not that much louder than the stock rubber.
How good is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme off-road?
On gravel roads at higher speeds, the tricked-up 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme flows easily and predictably through corners and is easy to rein in when intended and actual trajectory don’t align.
Given its composure on sealed and gravel roads, there was some apprehension approaching a reasonably challenging off-road course, but in hindsight such feelings were unwarranted.
The tyres make a big difference to the Triton’s off-road capability, churning through boggy, muddy tracks with plenty of purchase.
The suspension plays a role in its off-road competence too, the Supashock dampers delivering a surprising suppleness at lower speeds and more progressive wheel motion into and out of ruts, gullies and abrupt undulations.
Flicking the Triton’s 4×4 ‘SuperSelect II’ system to its 4L low-range gearing and locking the rear diff reveals confident mud-slinging capabilities and, as we discovered in our most recent Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute comparison, the engine provides ample low-end torque for climbing steep hills.
Dipping in and out of staggered furrows in the off-road track reveal improved diagonal stability, and while the Triton’s rear-end feels a tad more compliant now, its inherent lack of rear wheel articulation remains a major off-road weakness, with Walkinshaw Automotive unable to fix it given time and budgetary constraints.
Would a lift-kit have helped in this respect? Maybe.
What is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme like inside?
Evaluated in isolation, the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme puts on a good show.
We’ve already mentioned headline features from the donor Triton GSR such as the digital touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, power-adjustable and heated leather front seats, and the auto headlights and wipers.
The seats are comfortable, and while there’s no getting away from the fact the Triton is one of the oldest 4×4 dual-cab utes in its class, with cheap-feeling climate controls and lots of low-grade plastics, it’ll be hard-wearing.
Premcar has shown with the Nissan Navara Warrior’s cabin what can be done with more time and perhaps a bigger budget, but it’s still disappointing that the only thing owners have to show for their extra $15,000 is a small plaque near the gear shifter.
We were hoping for Xtreme floor mats, perhaps colour-matched, at the very least.
Should I buy a Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme?
We’re stoked to see the Mitsubishi Triton get a tough truck swansong to send off the current ute before the new generation arrives early next year.
Had the 2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme been released about two years ago and slid under the $70,000 price point, it would have been an absolute humdinger – and easier to recommend.
The upgraded chassis delivers tangible improvements to the Triton, both on- and off-road, and it’s arguably the best-handling Triton thus far.
That’s partly because Walkinshaw Automotive knows a thing or two about fettling utes, with several ex-HSV engineers on staff, and also unsurprising given the Triton’s underpinnings are dated.
But this is one of the most expensive Tritons ever sold in Australia and, on paper at least, there are better-value mud-plugging hero utes out there.
It’s a solid effort, but not Walkinshaw’s or Mitsubishi’s best work.
2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme at a glance:
Price: $71,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: August 2023
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 133kW/430Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 225g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: No longer rated
Keyword: Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme 2023 Review