2022 Mitsubishi Triton GLS review: Dad’s weekend drive – Dubai Car News

To be honest, I feel more led by Wheels Media’s technology team than sharing my impressions of the dual-cab Mitsubishi Triton, but I jump at the chance when the keys come my way.

My own daily drive is a 2022 Kia Sportage GT-Line, which comfortably juggles the occasional school run and the myriad weekend activities that come with being a father to a twelve-year-old daughter.

However, I’d be lying if I said the idea of ​​buying a ute hadn’t crossed my mind before the Sportage rolled into our driveway.

Other than fortnightly trips to Bunnings and a fondness for fishing trips, I can’t say we’ve really needed a ute, but when it seems like every other family around you has one, you start to wonder. What are they? Like a family car. So with that in mind, I was keen to get behind the wheel and find out.

Jump ahead.

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Car

2022 Mitsubishi Triton GLS: From $51,940 before on-road costs

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First impression

The Mitsubishi Triton GLS impressed me enough to see it peeking through the office kitchen window.

Sitting just a notch down the range from the top-spec GSR, it has some nice styling that the cheaper variants miss.

Once in, the one-touch start system kicks things into gear and as the diesel engine rumbles into life, I get the sense that this is going to be a fun little experience. It’s called small, but there’s a masculine feeling associated with jumping into a dual-cab and hearing the diesel engine whine away.

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Inside the cabin, despite some slightly dated tech, the ute came across as a nice modern package and I was looking forward to getting to know it.

Once I had arranged myself and adjusted the mirrors, their size immediately caught my attention. They weren’t huge, but they were big enough to instantly give the impression that I had peripheral vision of Michael Jordan.

After realizing that the Triton would feel too big to drive for the SUV I’m used to, the ease with which I could see my surroundings meant that size concerns were quickly put to rest.

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rest

The Triton’s interior is a nice one – a solid finish that’s easy on the eyes without trying too hard to impress.

It’s polished enough to look good but seems tough enough for everyday wear and tear and if I were on tools every day, I’d feel comfortable jumping in and out and about damaging surfaces. Doesn’t stress too much.

I found the front seats took some getting used to which felt like a fairly snug fit. With each passing day, I really grew to like them and what seemed like a slightly uncomfortable hug at first soon felt really helpful.

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The seat warmers also provided a small touch of comfort, and with high and low settings, did exactly what you wanted them to do.

Plus, the Triton’s comfortable rear seats offer plenty of space if you have kids in the back. Even for me, not exactly short at 188cm, sitting in the rear seats provides a bit of headroom and plenty of legroom unless the front seats are too far back.

I’d feel fine about loading up the Triton with a few mates on the way to the footy without feeling like we’re packed into a can of sardines.

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Technology

The large infotainment display in my Sportage has spoiled me a bit when it comes to in-car tech, so I tried to temper my expectations before reviewing the Triton’s setup.

Although the infotainment display in the Triton seemed relatively small at first, it works. The native interface is easy to use and connecting to a smartphone via Bluetooth is easy. Like the Sportage, Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) requires a connection via USB because, unfortunately, there’s no wireless support.

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It’s probably not a huge issue but it does get tiring if you’re in and out of the car all day and the USB cable is a bit of an eyesore to lug around what’s otherwise a neat console. .

Overall, the center console provided two USB-A ports and an HDMI port, while another two USB-A ports were available at the rear to keep any passengers fully charged and happy.

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On the road

More used to SUVs and sedans, jumping into the Triton’s cab felt completely different, though that feeling quickly faded when I first drove home from Wheels Media HQ.

The Triton worked significantly harder than the SUV to get around a 90-degree turn, but it soon felt normal. It was actually quite fun while I was still getting used to the handling and turning circle but before I knew it, it felt like I had been driving this ute for weeks.

While slotting the Triton into everyday life, things were kept relatively normal around family routines so we didn’t head off-road or bump it up, but for the daily urban driving that I do. It felt more than enough.

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Whenever acceleration was required in traffic, to cross that gap in the next lane or to power up a bend, the Triton responded confidently and soon, I found myself using it as my daily driver. Could see enjoying it.

It’s definitely not a performance car with one. 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo diesel The engine has to move a 1991kg vehicle, along with whatever else it’s carrying, but it has enough grunt to get through the day and work comfortably.

Braking performance was impressive and the Triton didn’t hesitate to accelerate for the occasional red light – much better than I thought it would. I can’t comment on how it will perform with a full load in the back but would expect it to be just as stable.

Driving on smooth roads was a nimble experience but put in some small bumps or potholes and you can feel the unevenness kicking in the Triton. As a driver, I saw these collisions approaching so I knew what was coming, but for my wife and daughter. For commuters, the slightly bumpy ride on relatively normal roads was a significant inconvenience at times.

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I imagine you’ll soon get used to the ride, but it’s a noticeable trade-off compared to the smoother ride of an SUV.

Having said that, the Triton had no problem handling rough roads and, from what I found, was as capable a performer as you might rightly expect.

On the subject of dirt roads, I’ve often wondered where Jack is placed in a dual cab. In the Triton, I found it tucked behind the rear seats, which easily tilt forward with the pull of a lever.

Finally on the drive, one of the most impressive aspects of the Triton was how much visibility you have while driving. As I mentioned earlier, the large side mirrors ensured I had a comprehensive view of what was going on around me – not something I expected before picking up the keys.

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Safety

In terms of safety, audible alerts aren’t fancy but definitely get your attention when needed.

To begin with, if you haven’t put your seat belt on before starting the engine, you get a symphony of dinging until you do.

The amber blind spot monitoring lights on the mirrors work well and provide awareness of vehicles you may not know are there. Combined with the wide field of view provided by the mirror, you rarely notice what’s around you.

Annoyingly, the forward collision warning is sometimes triggered when navigating narrow roads with cars parked on either side of the road. Maybe it’s a little picky, given they’re only doing what they’re supposed to, but combined with the audible alarm, they just seem a little more excited.

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Parking

The first noticeable difference was the length of the Triton when I first had to park it.

Compared to my SUV, the Triton’s length required a bit more caution to maneuver into tight spaces and, admittedly, took a while to get started.

Having said that, reversing the Triton into a parking space was surprisingly easier than going forward. The size of the bonnet made life more difficult than it needed to be when nose-parking, while conversely, the ute’s high rear end made reverse parking easier when overhanging the curb.

Overall, the mirrors provided a great view, the sensors were accurate and the reverse camera worked well enough to provide a confident parking experience even when unfamiliar with the vehicle.

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Mitsubishi Triton – Old vs New

Final impressions

Having very lightly toyed with the idea of ​​buying a dual-cab ute over an SUV in the past, I can now absolutely see the appeal.

Our little family was a little sad to see it, so we would be looking at it fondly when we saw one passing by on the street.

Aside from the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay, there wasn’t much that bothered me during a week behind the wheel of the Triton and I was really surprised at how quickly I felt at home behind the wheel.

The Mitsubishi Triton GLS is a good package at an attractive price compared to the competition. If I need space to carry a tray regularly and want something that I can get dirty in and out of without stressing it, I’d seriously consider it.

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2022 Mitsubishi Triton GLS Specifications