Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R 2020: off-road review

The GLX-R dual-cab has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, a six-speed automatic transmission (with sports mode) and a dual-range transfer case (high- and low-range). It’s also available with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Standard features include leather trimmed shifter and steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, 7.0-inch touchscreen media unit (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), plenty of chrome (door mirror and handles), as well as side steps, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, and rear step bumper step.

The GLX-R wears 18-inch alloy wheels.

In terms of driver-assist/safety tech it gets 'Forward Collision Mitigation' with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, stability and traction controls, 'Trailer Stability Assist', hill start assist, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

As tested, this Triton costs $45,230 ($44,490 MSRP plus $740 for the 'Lightning Blue' paint), but there are drive-away deals – $43,230 (incl cost of paint) – so take your time and do your research.

As mentioned, the Triton has a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine – producing 133kW at 3500rpm and 430Nm at 2500rpm – and it has a six-speed automatic transmission.

It’s a solid combination and well-proven in the Triton. There’s a dial to the rear of the shifter which enables the driver to switch from 2H (two-wheel drive), 4H (4WD high-range) and 4L (4WD low-range).

The 2.4-litre turbo-diesel makes 133kW/430Nm.

The GLX-R does, however, miss out on Mitsubishi’s impressive 'Super Select II' 4WD system and it does not have a rear diff lock.

The GLX-R does not have Mitsubishi's Super Select II 4X4 system or selectable off-road modes. Both of those are in the higher-spec GLS and GSR variants. But this ute is still quite capable off-road.

Its easy-select 4WD system works via a dial to the rear of the auto shifter, offering 2WD and 4WD high- and low-range modes. You are able to switch between 2WD and 4WD while on the move at speeds under 100km/h.

The 4WD system, as is, worked well during dirt-track driving in high-range and a sustained bout of low-range soft-sand driving on this test,  with tyre pressures dropped to 20psi, of course.

Ground clearance is listed as 220mm; wading depth is 500mm. We were never in danger of bellying out on the sand, but we never had the opportunity to fully test its wading depth.

All round, the Triton is pretty effective off-road.

While its departure angle remains shallow at 23 degrees, its approach (31) and ramp break-over (25) are decent. It does have some heavy-duty underbody protection to cop any nudges if you do happen to ‘touch earth’ with your Triton’s undercarriage.

All round, it's pretty effective off-road, torquey and nimble, but it never feels as controlled as something like the Ford Ranger, or as capable as a Toyota HiLux. I like this Triton but I’d like it even more if it had the Super Select II 4X4 system.

Note: the GLX-R has hill start assist but not hill descent control.

In terms of tray dimensions, it is 1470mm wide (1085mm between the wheel arches), 1520mm long and 475mm deep from the top edge of the load space to the floor. Load height is 865mm from the dirt. The tray has reinforced rear corners and six tie-down points.

The Triton's tray measures in at 1470mm wide, 1520mm long and 475mm deep.

Payload capacity is 934kg. Maximum towing capacity is 3100kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked). The GLX-R has a GVM of 2900kg and a GCM of 5885kg.

As always, a set of all-terrains and some aftermarket suspension would help make this effective off-roader even more capable.

The Triton has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from testing in April 2015.

Safety gear includes seven airbags (driver knee airbag, driver & front passenger, driver and front passenger side, curtain SRS), forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, traction control, trailer stability assist, hill start assist, dusk sensing headlamp and rain-sensing wipers.

The rear seat has two ISOFIX child-seat anchor points and two child-restraint top-tether points.