Mitsubishi Triton Exceed dual-cab 4WD 2018 off-road review

The Triton has a proven 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which produces 133kW at 3500rpm and 430Nm at 2500rpm. It's a willing, gutsy unit, well matched to the smooth five-speed automatic transmission and Mitsubishi's 'Super Select II' 4x4 system.

The Triton has a proven 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine

The Triton is quite a bit smaller than many of its rivals, therefore its interior room is somewhat confined.

Its build quality is top-notch – everything works smoothly and is neat and tidy – and comfort levels are excellent for something at this price-point.

Triton controls, as always, are easy to locate and operate and, in Exceed trim, are capped with top-spec gloss. The multimedia touchscreen is clear and bright and simple to use.

The Triton is quite a bit smaller than many of its rivals, dimensions-wise, therefore its interior room is somewhat confined compared to those competitors – and at times it feels so. However, storage spaces are still in abundance, showing that designers have really maximised the available space.

There is an overhead sunglass stash-spot, deep glovebox, and centre console (including bits-and-pieces space upfront, two cupholders and a storage box with lid).

The rear seat is okay with three passengers for short trips, but better generally with two in there – even if it's only kids.

For those in the back seat, there are back-of-front-seat pockets, bottleholders in both doors and a fold-down centre arm-rest with two cupholders.

Seats are wrap-around-you comfortable – or maybe I just don't get out much. Taller people – those smug mongrels! – have sometimes complained about the Triton's short seat bases. Being one of the original Seven Dwarfs, I was fine.

The rear seat is okay with three passengers for short trips, but better generally with two in there – even if it's only kids.

The Triton's tray is 1520mm long, 1470mm wide and 475mm deep, but when throwing gear in the back, keep in mind a fair chunk of its load space is behind the rear axle so distribute the weight as far forward as you can.

The five-speed auto is a smooth shifter in auto or manual mode.

The Exceed is 5280mm long (with a 3000mm wheelbase), 1815mm wide, 1780mm high, and has a listed kerb mass of 1950kg. It has an 11.8m turning circle.

Compared to rivals, the Triton is a lightweight in terms of bulk and beefiness, but its dimensions almost always work in its favour on- and off-road. It's light and, with that well-weighted (tilt-and-telescopic-adjustable) steering, is very easy to manoeuvre through clogged city streets, parked-up suburban routes and, more about this later, tight bush tracks.

But because it's on the small side of things and door openings are narrower, getting in and out is a stepping-turning-twisting move; easy for me (I'm agile that way) but its ingress and egress can be on the wrong side of difficult for others.

Compared to rivals, the Triton is a lightweight in terms of bulk and beefiness.

Visibility is generally good all-round, except where it becomes pinched by design in the second-row windows and through the rear. 

The 2.0-litre engine is a real punchy unit, ready and willing off the mark and swiftly responsive when the Triton is called upon to overtake at speed on the move. The five-speed auto – an oddity in a world full of autos heading for 10-speed land – is a smooth shifter in auto or manual mode, in which you can use the steering-wheel-mounted paddles for gear changes.

The Exceed has coil springs at the front and leaf springs at the rear and it rides on 17-inch Bridgestone Dueler H/T tyres. On bitumen, the ride is generally quite settled, only tending towards jittery when the Triton hits a patch of broken blacktop. Obviously, when loaded up with people and gear in the tray, it settles even better.

The Exceed has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.6L/100km (combined). We recorded 8.4L/100km for daily driving (including plenty of stop-start driving through city and suburban streets) and then 10.2L/100km for touring (including a fair portion of slow off-roading through soft coastal-bushland sand as well as driving up and down steep shale hills). It has a 75-litre tank.

It has a five-year/100,000km warranty plus five-year corrosion perforation warranty. Servicing is capped-price over three years and is recommended at 12 months/15,000km, 24 months/30,000km and 36 months/45,000km, costing $430, $530 and $550.