Mitsubishi L200 review

Back at the turn of the century, the Mitsubishi L200 turned the UK into a pickup nation. It was the first vehicle that was sold and used – as pickups have been for generations in the US – both as a work tool and a family/leisure car.

This is the seventh generation. It's a chunky 4x4 four-door diesel with an auto transmission. None of your electrification here. By the way, in much of the world outside Europe, it's called the Triton.

Beneath new bodywork it has a greatly strengthened chassis frame, revised suspension and a new twin-turbo 2.4-litre diesel. It's bigger, which means the rear seats aren't just kids' perches but proper accommodation for adults.

Or there's a commercial version that deletes the seats and blanks the door windows, giving a secure home for your work kit. It also gives the tax advantages that have been removed from five-sea pickups.

Mitsubishi's new-car sales petered out in 2021, but now they're back thanks to International Motors, the well-organised importer of Subaru, XPeng, GWM and the L200's competitor the Isuzu D-Max.

The L200 was so successful here in years prior that it's still a common sight, and many of the dealers who supported it with service and repair during its hiatus have rejoined the new sales network.

What are the numbers?

Up front, it's diesel puffed by two progressively acting turbos, for 347lb ft of torque and 204bhp. The 0-62mph time is a relatively leisurely 12.6 seconds. That's when it's doing the lifestyle thing and carrying no cargo. But essentially this engine is built to haul.

Payload is just over a tonne, but remember you can't have all that in the Europallet-sized bed, because it includes the driver and passengers, and the hardtop if you have one.

Towing capacity is 3,500kg max, so it'll comfortably pull another L200 on a heavy three-axle trailer – we know because we tried it. But again, weights have to be distributed – the gross train weight is 6,250kg. And, as with any such vehicle, do all the maths. GTW is the total figure for the pickup itself (2.1 tonnes), the people and cabin baggage, the load in the pickup bed, the trailer and finally the trailer's load. Still, six and a quarter tonnes is quite a rig.

The two models, Titan and Barbarian, have different 4x4 systems. Both have a regular RWD setup for normal road driving. For severe off-roading on slippery surfaces both can be switched into 4WD with front and rear propshafts turning in unison and a locked rear diff, in high or low range.

But only the Barbarian has an actual diff in the centre, so only it can be used in 4WD on the road. If you tow a lot and want the reassurance of extra stability through slippery patches and puddles, that will be the one for you.

OK so it’s a truck. How is it as a car?

The cabin of the standard trim, Titan, isn't too much of a prison cell, but it has a utility vibe exemplified by a hose-out floor instead of carpet. By stepping up to Barbarian spec you do get an extra sense of plushness. Front seats and driving position are similar to a big SUV's, and the back seats are fine for three – they don't suffer the uncomfortable upright backrest of some pickups. But a big SUV would give a lot more stretchy legroom.

The centre screen's graphics aren't that pretty, but you won't be relying on it much. That's because there's no navigation so you'll just use the screen for phone mirroring. Another reason you won't use the screen: the climate, seat, 4WD and driver-assists are all controlled by actual physical switches. Hoo-blimmin-ray, we say.

But it doesn't drive like a car. OK, the steering, brakes and accelerator are all pretty accurate, and it cruises fairly quietly. But the rear suspension bounces, shudders and wobbles incessantly.

Mitsubishi isn't a newcomer but a returner. It knows the four-door pickup crowd well, and has a truck well-tailored for them. Its reputation for reliability precedes it.

The Mk7 L200's external design is neatly modernised and carries the message it won't put up with any of your nonsense. The truck's character lives up to that. It's got the power, load capacity and off-road smarts to get the job done.

As a passenger vehicle, it's easy to drive and the cabin is a pleasant place to be. But try it first and make sure you won't soon get fed up by its habit of making even a reasonably smooth road feel like a bumpy dirt track.