2024 Mitsubishi Triton GSR First Review

Let’s be totally honest, the current (soon to be old) generation MR Triton leaves a lot to be desired.

Based on a platform tracing its roots to the early noughties, it provides decent capability at an affordable price.

That’s where the new-generation Triton, the 6th generation 2024 Triton, hopes to give the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux a real run for their money, while still costing significantly less.

Mitsubishi Australia invited us to test the capabilities of the all-new Triton (albeit end-stage Australian spec prototypes) on a closed off-road track in South Australia… and let me tell you, the new Triton is something to be excited about.

So, let’s take the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton on its first review!

How much does the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton cost?

Expect… the expected here. 

The Triton still offers arguably great value for money, but at an increased price due to the all-new platform, heavily revised engine, exterior, interior, etc.

Although we drove both the second from the top GLS trim and GSR, today we’re focusing on the GSR which will cost you $63,840 before on-road costs. 

For perspective, the 2.0L Bi-Turbo Ford Ranger Wildtrak will set you back a few thousand dollars more at $68,490 before on-road costs.

If you want a HiLux Rogue with its 4-cylinder, expect to pay $70,200 before on-road costs.

Still, across the entire range prices are up for the Mitsubishi Triton:

• 4x2 GLX Double Cab: $43,690
• 4x4 GLX+ Club Cab: $50,340
• 4x4 GLX Double Cab: $50,940
• 4x4 GLX+ Double Cab: $53,290
• 4x4 GLS Double Cab: $59,090
• 4x4 GSR Double Cab: $63,840

You should note that Mitsubishi’s permanent 4WD system - named Super Select-II - is available only on the top-two GLS and GSR trims.

What’s the interior and tech like of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton?

The all-new Triton’s interior is NO joke.

To call it a ‘step up’ from the previous generation MR Triton would be doing it a disservice, this is an entirely large generational leap.

It’s clear Mitsubishi have finally shown the Triton the love it deserves with an extremely functional, solid layout and premium layout.

The biggest complaints I had about the interior of the previous Triton was it’s absurdly bad technology.

Now, the 6th generation Triton implements a 9.0-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay, but wired Android Auto.

It also nets a 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen which shows plenty of information. It is noticeably partially blocked by the new driver monitoring camera however, which seems like a bit of an oversight.

The steering wheel is a genuinely beautiful leather unit, with buttons to control everything - except for lane centering (the ability to drive hold you in the centre of the lane while driving), which is a surprising omission for a 2024 vehicle.

Storage and practicality has been updates significantly, with a split-glovebox design, pop-out cup holders in the dashboard (as well as the centre console), USB-A and USB-C ports, a 12v socket and a wireless phone charger.

Even the digi-analogue air-conditioning controls are quite literally perfect, with no menu functions buried in the infotainment display like a Ford Ranger.

The leather seats are really supportive too, with plenty of adjustment and bolstering to feel comfortable even when off-road like our test was today.

Although we’ll reserve final judgement until the Triton’s official launch in Q1 2024, it’s clear to see that the Triton has benchmarked the best in the segment and is going straight for their throats to compete with the big-boys.

What about the back seats of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton?

The Triton is bigger in almost every metric.

It’s now 5320mm long (+15mm), 1865mm wide (+50mm), 1795mm tall (same as before), and has a wheelbase of 3130mm, which is +130mm longer than the old Triton.

A lot of that benefit is felt in the rear, where at 5’11”, I have plenty of leg-room, head-room and toe-room. In fact, it’s better in the rear for space than the Ford Ranger as far as I can tell.

It does still retain the dicky fan blower for the roof, which act as a fan rather than plumbed air-con vents, but to be fair even on a hot day they recirculate air fine from the front seats.

Still, all very impressive for the Triton and it’s certainly a major step up from the last-gen.

How much can fit in the tub of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton?

The previous Triton was equally loved and loathed for being one of the most narrow dual-cab utes on the market due to its older underpinnings.

It’s great for narrow off-road tracks, but bad for interior space, bad for tub space, etc.

When speaking to CarSauce, Mitsubishi representatives stated that in order to meet customer and fleet demands, the ability to fit a euro pallet between the wheel arches and more in the tub was a necessity.

Hence the bigger size.

The tub dimensions are now 1555mm long (+35mm), 1545mm wide (+75mm) and 525mm height (+50mm). Although we don’t have exact dimensions for between the wheel arches, it’s at least 1200mm wide as the Triton can now fit a euro size pallet.

This now makes the Triton middle of the pack in terms of tub size, and finally competitive with the HiLux, Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.

The other big thing for the all-new Triton is that the rear wheels are now further back. In the previous Triton, the wheelbase remained the same while the tub kept getting extended backwards… which could lead to some balance issues if weight was too far back in the tub.

And although we don’t know exact payload figures, Mitsubishi says the new Triton has a “1-tonne payload”.

What’s under the bonnet of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton?

The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton introduces a 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, an update from its predecessor, maintaining the same 2442cc capacity, 86.0x105.1mm bore and stroke dimensions, 16-valve DOHC layout, and aluminum block. The addition of a second turbocharger is a notable change, aimed at enhancing the engine's performance.

This engine modification results in an increase in power output to 150kW at 3500rpm, up from the previous 133kW. In terms of torque, the engine produces 470Nm, available from 1500 to 2750rpm, broadening the torque delivery spread. The twin-turbo setup, consisting of a variable-geometry high-pressure turbo and a larger low-pressure unit, is intended to improve responsiveness under various load conditions.

Mitsubishi has opted to pair this engine with a six-speed automatic transmission rather than an eight-speed, as used in the current Pajero Sport. This decision may be influenced by considerations of transmission durability in response to the engine's increased torque.

In terms of fuel efficiency and emissions, the new Triton claims a consumption rate of 7.7L/100km, with a slight improvement for the GLX 4x2 variant at 7.5L/100km. Emission levels are reported at 203g/km for the GSR variant. 

The inclusion of AdBlue technology is a step towards meeting environmental standards and could be seen as a move to align with future legislative requirements.

From a maintenance perspective, the Triton continues to use hydraulic valve lash adjusters and retains a timing chain, which could suggest a focus on reducing servicing frequency and costs.

For off-road capabilities, the Triton is equipped with the Super Select II 4x4 system, offering various drive modes like Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Rock. Additionally, it features an active yaw control mode, which is designed to improve cornering on different surfaces by braking the inside front wheel.

When compared with competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, the Triton's engine power aligns closely with the HiLux, while its torque output remains slightly lower than the Ranger. The decision to retain a six-speed transmission over an eight-speed one, as seen in the Pajero Sport, could be perceived as a compromise between transmission strength and technological advancement.

How does the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton drive off-road?

Because these are late-stage Australian prototypes, we could only drive the all-new Triton on a closed off-road track in South Australia.

No matter for me, however, because boy did I give the Mitsubishi Triton the SAUCE.

The all-new, not so new engine is an ENORMOUS upgrade from the previous 2.4L engine of the MR Triton. A quick stab of the peddle at lower RPM reveals the biggest upgrade for the 2024 Triton, which is the addition of a second turbo.

Engine responsiveness has been greatly improved, as has torque delivery, and while traveling at some… say, higher speeds on the sand dune course, the engine provided performance everyone has been longing for.

In terms of off-road credentials, the new Triton is unfortunately down on the previous Triton. The approach angle is now 30.4 degrees (-0.6 degrees), ramp break-over angle is 22.8 degrees (-0.2 degrees) and has a departure angle of 22.8 degrees (-0.2 degrees).

It’s not much worse at all, but still something to note.

It does have a marginally better ground clearance at 222mm (+2mm).

However, having driven the previous-generation Triton and all-new Triton back-to-back, there is no doubt that the all-new Triton is a better all-rounder.

Though the 4-wheel drive system is the same, the engine performance meant torque for hill-climbing was available far earlier in the rev range and could more confidently climb steep gradients.

The addition of independent sand and mud modes means that new ECU tuning has been made for the Triton, with a noticeable difference in calibration and activation of the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and ABS (Anti-Lock Braking). These allowed far more slip in the wheels before totally cutting power, unlike the previous generation Triton.

Suspension was also noticeably more comfortable over bumps. The new generation Triton adds new double-wishbone front suspension, and reduces leaf suspension stiffness in the rear (despite an all-new 1 tonne payload) by removing between 2-3 leaves of suspension depending on whether you get the normal duty suspension (GLS and GSR Triton’s only) or the heavy duty suspension (everything else).

All-in-all, although we couldn’t test the Triton on paved Aussie surfaces (that will happen in Feb), it’s clear to see that the all-new Triton is going to blow the previous gen out of the water when it launches next year.

Is the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton Safe?

The all-new Mitsubishi Triton has not yet been tested by ANCAP as it is not yet on sale.

However, the Mitsubishi Triton comes with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Highlights include:

Passive Safety:

• Front airbags
• Centre airbag
• Side airbags
• Driver’s knee airbag
• Curtain airbags

Active Safety Assist Technology:

• Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM)
• Pedestrian, cyclist detection, junction assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Blind Spot Warning (BSW)/Lane Change Assist (LCA)
• Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
• Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
• Parking sensors, rear view camera
• Front/Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Multi Collision Brake, Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
• Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Driver Monitor System (DMS)
• Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL), Automatic High Beam (AHB)

Interestingly absent is the inclusion of Lane Keep Assist (LKA) or Lane Centering, which actively steer the vehicle within lanes.

What are the specs and features of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton range?

Triton GLX

Drivetrain and Chassis:

• Engine Auto Stop & Go system
• Heavy Duty rear suspension
• Easy Select 4WD (4x4 models)

Exterior:

• All-new exterior design
• Front engine metal sheet undercover (4x4)
• Front engine composite sheet undercover (4x2)
• New 17-inch wheels
• Unique MITSUBISHI embossed black grille

Interior:

• All-new design
• Cloth seat trim
• Floor console box with lid
• Cup and bottle holders, sunglasses holder
• Driver sun visor with ticket holder
• Driver seat electric lumbar support
• Vinyl floor
• Seat back pocket with phone/tablet storage (Double Cab)
• Second-row bench seat and movable armrest with cup holder (Double Cab)

Comfort and Convenience:

• Automatic Air Conditioner
• Keyless entry, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Electric Power Steering (EPS)
• 7-inch LCD MID Meter Cluster, Integrated Navigation System
• Front and rear USB ports

Audio:

• 9-inch audio display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Four-speaker audio, Bluetooth connectivity

Triton GLX+

Additional to GLX:

• Rear Differential Lock
• Side Steps, Front Fog Lamp, LED high-mounted Stop lamp
• New 17-inch alloy wheels, Privacy glass
• Rear Automatic Emergency Braking
• Multi Around View Monitor
• Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

Triton GLS

Upgrades over GLX+:

• Super Select 4WD II system
• Standard Duty rear suspension
• New 18-inch alloy wheels, Tray bed liner, Heated door mirrors
• LED lighting, Unique gloss black grille
• Soft padding interior surfaces with silver stitching
• Dual-zone auto air conditioning, Terrain Control, Hill Descent Control
• Electrochromic mirror, Keyless Operating System, One Touch Engine Start Switch
• Smartphone Wireless Charger

Additional Leather PAck (GLS only) $1500:

• Leather seats with silver stitching
• Power Driver’s Seat adjustment
• Heated Front Seats

Triton GSR

Extra features over GLS:

• Black 18-inch Alloy wheels, Body colour grille, Wheel arch moulding
• Styling Bar, Roof Rails
• Exclusive leather seats with orange stitching
• GSR-specific floor mats, Dark Titanium accents
• Additional dash-mounted cup holders, Power Driver’s Seat adjustment

How much can the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton tow?

The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton has a 3.5 tonne braked towing capacity, up from 3.1 tonnes in the previous generation MR Triton.

What’s CarSauce’s take on the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton?

The Mitsubishi Triton has always been the ‘cheap’ choice for Utes in Australia.

It’s the ute you would buy when you wanted enough capability, but didn’t want to break the bank.

Now, competitor brands like GWM with their Cannon or LDV with their T60 have filled that space at a much lower price than the Mitsubishi Triton.

So Mitsubishi have finally transformed the Triton into the Ute that can compete with the big boys - the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux - whilst still providing a more palatable price entry point.

Although we’ll have to reserve final judgement on the new Mitsubishi Triton when the launch happens sometime in February, I wouldn’t blame you for wanting one now.

What do you think of the new Mitsubishi Triton? Let us know in the comment section below!