Mitsubishi Philippines launched the all-new Triton pick up earlier this year. To give us more seat time, behind the wheel, we were invited to drive to Bataan with the Triton Athlete 4x4 AT in Yamabuki Orange.
The all-new Triton has a completely new look, and is bigger in all dimensions over the last generation Strada. It comes with multi-projector LED headlights and LED daytime running lights. Behind are matching LED tail lights. There’s quite a bit of piano black trim around the grille and headlights all the way down to the brushed aluminum garnish, which hides a thick steel bash plate used to protect the underside of the radiator and engine. The piano black wraps around the bottom of the front bumper to the wheel arches. These go perfectly with the 18-inch glossy black alloy wheels wrapped in 265/80’s.
Getting in is easy with the keyless system. Starting and turning off the engine is just a press of the Engine Start/Stop button. The driver’s seat is 10-way power adjustable, while the front passenger seat has four-way manual adjustment. The seat material is orange synthetic leather with black suede inserts.
Our start point was in the coastal area. We would be a comfortable three to a vehicle to make sure there was enough space for our gear and sizeable snack stash in the back seat.
For countries like the Philippines, pickups are not just work trucks but also daily drivers. To meet this need, the Triton now offers more creature comforts and has a more civilized ride than the past. That said, they make good daily drivers, especially since they now offer comfortable seats, more leg room for the rear occupants, and have amenities that make an unwieldy vehicle like a pickup manageable in the city.
These include features like the six-speaker infotainment system with it’s nine-inch touchscreen display with AM/FM radio, Bluetooth telephony and audio, USB connectivity, Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto and wireless charging. There are Type A and Type C USB outlets for the front and rear occupants. The infotainment screen also serves as the display of the 360 camera and reverse camera. Air-conditioning is dual zone with a rear re-circulator for the backseat occupants.
A distinct advantage a vehicle this tall — with 222-mm of ground clearance — is the ability to see above sedans and other vehicles, allowing you to see more of the road ahead and choose a better lane to take. This was evident in the rush hour jam on NAIAX and the Skyway 3.
Once we got to NLEX, it was easy, with enough power on tap to overtake slow vehicles. Just to make things interesting, we got off the expressway at Mexico and took the more populated inner provincial highway to San Fernando for lunch. This was roughly two hours in mixed rush hour traffic to highway speeds in which the Triton breezed though.
Powering it is Euro-5 compliant 2.4-liter direct injection diesel with a two-stage turbo putting out power of 204-Ps at 3,500 rpm and 470-Nm of torque between 1,500-2,750 rpm. This is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
After lunch, we headed through more winding country roads to the Cabog Cabog View Deck to get some scenic photos if the Triton. There was a surprise waiting for us: a short off-road course which on an ordinary day would have been easy even for the 4x2 Triton. But with the recent rains, some areas were slippery. This allowed us to fully take advantage of the high ground clearance and the off-road capabilities of the Triton 4x4 Athlete. It’s also equipped with Active Yaw Control derived from Mitsubishi’s rally experience.
The Triton is equipped with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II. This has Drive Modes paired with four terrain controls: 2H is for regular city / highway driving, with two Drive Modes: Normal and Eco.
4H is for when additional traction is needed and torque is split 40% front and 60% rear, with three Drive Modes: Normal, Gravel and Snow.
4HLc is 4WD High Range with a locked center differential allowing for even torque distribution to all four wheels. This has three Drive Modes: Normal, Mud and Sand. 4LLc is 4WD Low Range with a locked center differential for real off-roading on challenging terrain. This has two Drive Modes: Normal and Rock.
These are all conveniently shift-on-the-fly, except for 4LLc. For grip on the slippery surface, we only needed to use the 4H and the Normal Drive Mode setting.
The Triton Athlete 4x4 has a comprehensive safety suite, composed of front (with front passenger cut-off switch), driver’s knee, side and curtain. Three point seatbelt and seatbelt reminder for five occupants. There’s the 360 camera, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Active Stability and Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, Hill Descent Control, Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication (EAPM), Forward Collision Mitigation System (FCM) with Pedestrian Detection, Blindspot Warning System (BSW) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Auto High Beam, Parking Sensors and ISOFIX tether anchor points.
After everyone had their fill of muddying up the Tritons, we still had about a 30-minute drive to our accommodations for the evening. At the same time, the rain came down and we cut through a dirt road though some fields just because we could. Driving on a muddy dirt road is always easier and more fun in this type of vehicle. We finally made it to Rancho Bernardo to end the official drive.
Impressions
The all-new Triton 4x4 Athlete definitely looks big on the outside but is quiet easy to manage behind the wheel. It feels stable in almost all situations and has all the amenities you need. Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II coupled with Drive Modes will make short work of loose, slippery surfaces and inclines, but on a side note, we do suggest you at least get some basic off-road training to be able to fully take advantage of this system and read the terrain. The 360 camera is handy when off-roading and in tight situations like parking or the back streets of Manila.
Priced at P1,909,000 the Triton 4x4 Athlete is at the lower end of the price range for top-of-the-line 4x4 pickups and has just about everything the competition offers, and then some. It's a decent looking truck for a daily driver in the city, and is very capable off the beaten path on weekends. If you’re thinking of getting a pickup, you might want to add this to your list of options.