Mitsubishi Triton 2005-2015 used car review

The Mitsubishi Triton has a high load and tow rating. The way its engine delivers power and its reliability might turn off some buyers.

The Mitsubishi Triton has been on sale in New Zealand since the late 1970s, although for most of its life it has been known as the L200. The fourth generation arrived in 2005 and surprised the market with its curvaceous style and a tray design that wrapped under the cab. It is available in two or four-door versions but, unlike with most utes, there is no extra-cab models.

The tray’s 1,155kg load capacity is excellent, and a convenient wide step at the back makes it easy to drop things into it. Our review vehicle was fitted with a tray liner, which we recommend installing for protection, and a hard top canopy which provides security and cover from the weather. If the ute you consider does not have either of these, they can be purchased from around $500 and $2,000 respectively.

Inside the cab, the dashboard also has an attractive, curvy shape. The steering wheel has a sporty look and features the cruise control buttons. The three main gauges overlap each other and have a digital trip computer set in the middle. A CD player stereo with Bluetooth connectivity is easy to reach high on the dash, and chunky knobs for the manual air conditioning sit below it. The centre console features a storage cubby and has a metallic finish.

We were very impressed by the two-tone fabric seats in the Triton. Mitsubishi says they are a sports design – we aren’t sure that’s the right thing to call them, but they are definitely comfortable and supportive with good bolsters at both the back and base of the seat. The same can be said for the back seat, which has good legroom and enough width to take three adults in reasonable comfort. The rear seat flips up to create more storage space if required.

The Triton’s steering is reasonably responsive but does not offer much feedback from the road. There is a reasonable level of grip, even in our review vehicle which is fitted with off-road oriented tyres. The ride is a little firm and bouncy, though not uncomfortable. That and the Triton’s tendency to pitch forward slightly under brakes are likely to be reduced significantly when there is a load in the tray.

Road noise was also high, which we put down to the off-road tyres. Our review vehicle is two-wheel drive and is not designed for serious off-road use, despite having reasonable ground clearance. It will make it across a rough worksite in dry conditions, but add some water and you will need a friend with four-wheel drive to pull you out. 

If you do opt for the four-wheel drive, the Triton has a good approach angle for climbing hills but poor ground clearance and departure angles for getting over them.

To the rear, it is tough to see where the back of the vehicle is, and parking sensors or reversing cameras were only an option on the GLX-R. We recommend fitting a camera. You can buy kits to do this yourself from $50 or have a professional do it from $200.

At the time of its launch, the Triton had a class-leading tow rating – it can haul trailers without brakes up to 750kg (a medium-size garden trailer) and 3,000kg braked (a large trailer boat).

That can lead to excessive black smoke under load. Turbocharger and intercooler hose failures have also been reported.

While the automatic transmission has a reputation for reliability, the manual transmission is known to fail, with a bill for $2,000 or more to rebuild it. Check both the shifter and clutch operate smoothly when buying.

Engine check-lights and SRS air-bag warning lights are a not-uncommon sight on the Triton’s dashboard. They're related to a range of causes which include sensor failure, carbon build-up and seatbelt sensors. None of these is likely to cost much to repair, though all require a visit to a dealer for diagnosis and will cost at least $200.

Squeaks appear to be a part of life with the Triton. Although they’re not faulty, the rear springs are known to make a noise as they move after some use. The interior plastics are also known to rattle and squeak as the vehicle ages.

There have been complaints about poor paint quality and application from the factory, ranging from orange peel finish to thin coatings. We understand a partial or full repaint has been done for owners in some cases.

Rust can develop around the back of the double cab unit, especially at the rear window, the tops of the door frames and the assorted screws and bolts forming part of the door latch and hinges. And like some other utes assembled in Thailand around this era, chassis rust and scale also appears to be an issue. Get under the ute and look for bubbling, scale or areas coated in silicon that could hide a repair.

A vehicle licence for the Triton costs $183.31 a year, with the car in the cheapest ACC levy group for diesel.

Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a Triton valued at $20,950 will cost $58.39* per month. That’s the same as a Ford Ranger although, unlike that model, the Triton is not considered a high-risk vehicle.

Mitsubishi regularly added special value models, usually around the annual Fieldays event. The most common was the GLX-R, which often includes extras such as a leather steering wheel, upgraded side steps, chrome nudge bar and chrome trim over the usual GLX model.

This review covers the Mitsubishi Triton 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.

*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.