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2015 MITSUBISHI L200 Double Cab Review

OUR TEST CAR: 2015 MITSUBISHI L200 Double Cab 2.4 Diesel (154 HP) AWD 6-speed manual

 
When it comes to buying a pickup truck anywhere else than in the US of A, most people tend to stick with the classic Toyota Hilux, which is a great choice regarding its past and capabilities. But if you want something a bit better, a tad sportier while also a bit easier on fuel, where do you go? Well, starting this autumn, you could go check out the all-new 2015 Mitsubishi L200.
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After 9 years and 1.3 million units made, the fourth generation L200 (also known as Triton, Strada, Sportero or Hunter, depending where you live) is put out of production, leaving a strong legacy behind and the next model to carry on adventuring where asphalt is not an option. But why is the fifth generation Mitsubishi L200 such a great deal? Well, let’s dig in and find out, shall we?

Mitsubishi calls its new pickup a “Sports Utility Truck,” a statement you can also identify in its overall design. Based on the outgoing model, the new L200 Double Cab carries over the J-Line architecture that flawlessly integrates the bed into the cab’s design while also getting sharper lines and smoother arches. The front end is completely new, with the headlights now being merged even more with the slotted grille, a wide gaping lower air intake and LED daytime running lights.
The J-Line architecture still defines the L200's sporty looks

The hood has been reshaped along with the A-pillars to offer better visibility while the smooth wheel-arch humps on the sides are cut through by two sharp lines giving a more muscular and stronger stance to the utility vehicle. And these are not just aesthetic features, because all this chiseling managed to drop down the drag coefficient from 0.46 to 0.4.

Dimensions wise, the new L200 Double Cab grew a bit here and there, especially when it comes to the size of the bed which is now 1,520 mm (59.84'') by 1,470 mm (57.87'') by 475 mm (18.7''), compared to the old 1,505 mm (59.25'') x 1,470 mm (57.87'') x 460 mm (18.11''). And despite all the growth, the pickup is even lighter than the outgoing model; by 90 kg (198 lb) to be more precise, which is the weight of an additional fully grown adult if you will.

Speaking of passengers, creature comfort has been upgraded as well by extending the rear legroom, reshaping all the seats, using more sound insulating materials and adding a lot more technological amenities. Aesthetically, you get some silver accents on the dashboard as well as some gloss black panels on the central console and door armrests to indulge your eyes a bit. The rest of the cabin is shelled by gray/black hard plastics designed to be easily cleaned and durable.

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Mitsubishi wanted so much to make the L200 feel like a normal passenger car, that it made sure you can have almost every gadget you can get in one of them. Standard equipment includes cruise control, a speed limiter, auto engine stop/start, all-round electric windows, Hill Start Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, multi-connectivity audio system and air conditioning.


Go for the top model and you get things like automatic climate control, a touchscreen infotainment system, rearview camera, tinted windows, leatherette wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, Lane Departure Warning, depth adjustable steering wheel with shortcut buttons, auto headlights and windscreen wipers, leather upholstery, electric mirrors and even paddle shifters with Sport mode if you opt for the automatic gearbox.

And the list of options goes on with other stuff like bull bars, two types of side steps, hard plastic bed liner, roll bars and even a shell for the whole bed which basically transforms the truck into an SUV.

Grunt is provided via a 2.4-liter DI-D turbocharged diesel engine which can be had in two power outputs: the basic 154 HP with 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque mated to a six-speed manual cog swapper, or the beefed up 180 HP and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) that can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic AISIN box.

My tester was the fully loaded Intense version with the lower output engine and the manual shifter. However, it came without the leather upholstery that really does take away the cheap feeling of the textile version combined with hard brittle plastics everywhere. Anyway, I thought to myself this is still a workhorse after all, and not a vehicle to pose in; the fact it looks awesome on the exterior only comes as a bonus.
Mitsubishi wanted the L200 passengers feel like traveling in a sedan

With that in mind, I hit the road towards what was to become one of my best off-roading sessions so far. Around town, the new L200 feels comfortable while the tall seating position, large mirrors and carefully designed A-pillars give plenty of visibility. Same goes for checking over your shoulders, and even the rear window offers a pretty wide look of what’s behind the vehicle.

Storage space inside the cabin is not a problem, with the dampened glovebox door exposing enough room for a big 2-liter (66.7 oz) water bottle while the central armrest can hide even an automatic handgun. The door bins as well are able to gulp in a large bottle and two packs of biscuits. There’s also a tray for your smartphone right under the central console, and the rear seats recline forward to reveal additional space for your spanners and whatnot.

Parking is easy thanks to the rearview camera and the truck’s agility; the steering wheel takes less than 4 turns from lock to lock now and the vehicle’s turning radius shrunk to 5.9 meters (19.35 feet), significantly less than the competition.

The L200 also came with the Super Select 4WD-II system, which takes the form of a knob near the gear shifter and allows you to go into 2-wheel drive for less fuel consumption, all-wheel drive for when it’s wet or icy, lock the differential for rough terrain, and even switch to low range for when the going gets really tough: like when going up/down a steep hill, in mud, sand or deep snow.

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Despite the high riding position and squishy truck-like controls that aren’t going to make you drive fast around the corners, the new L200 holds the line pretty well out on the country lanes. There is a bit of roll, but nothing to worry about given the size of the vehicle. The old-school solid rear axle with leaf springs at the back won’t give the passengers in the back the smoothest ride, but it does absorb most bumps with ease.

Driving on unpaved roads feels like a walk in the park even in 2WD mode, and same goes for bumpy forest roads. Just stay in first gear and feather the clutch from time to time to go over bigger bumps. If road conditions worsen even further, switching to four-wheel drive or locking the differential is only a couple of notches away on the radial dial, and you don’t even have to stop for that. The only time you’ll need to do it is when engaging the low range for extreme conditions.

And when I say extreme conditions, I really mean steep, sliding, rocky, chassis-twisting trails most of the times you’d turn around and look for a detour. With a 45 degree of lateral tilting, a 30-degree approach and 22-degree departure angles as well as a 24-degree break-over one, the L200 was made for tackling some of the roughest terrains.

The Active Stability Traction Control system will keep you on the road even if rolling on the wettest surface while the Hill Start Assist will be there to catch you when you’ve gone up the slope in the wrong gear. And if we’re still talking about safety, the Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Brake Override System, 7 airbags and ABS are also part of the deal along with reinforced key areas of the chassis and body.

Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed detailed fuel consumption ratings (at the moment of writing this article) so far, but they did say it will do 6.4 l/100 km (36.7 mpgUS / 44 mpgUK) on average. Well, I can only guess they didn’t count in the off-roading part, because after a day on the trails, revving the engine in the low range gears for maximum traction power, the display showed up a high score of 9.4 l/100 km (25 mpgUS / 30 mpgUK). Forgot to mention there were about a million degrees outside and the air conditioning was blasting on full power the whole trip.

I’m sure that using the Mitsubishi L200 in a more humane way will return a number closer to what the automaker said, so don’t panic yet. Moreover, at 1,875 kg (4,134 lb), the pickup is the lightest among the competition, which is another strong point in deciding its fuel consumption.
The Mitsubishi L200 was made for tackling some of the roughest terrains

This gives the L200 another advantage over its competition in the form of lower ownership costs. You’ll spend less on fuel and because of the engine/transmission improvements, you’ll also spend less cash on oil changes. The service interval has also been extended from 15,000 to 20,000 km (9,300 to 12,400 miles).

On the same note, engine coolant can now be changed at 180,000 km (from 60,000 km), the timing needs no service since it uses a chain construction and, as a bonus, most of the body panels are made of no-rust steel.

Still believe Toyota is a choice when coming to reliability? Well, let me tell you a little story I heard after meeting some people at the L200 off-roading event. There was this guy that had some sort of ranch and needed people to patrol the perimeter 24/7. He hired some men to do the job and gave them five last generation L200 pickups.

The cars had to drive almost continuously on unpaved, dusty (and sometimes muddy) roads, stopping only to get fuel and maybe switch the driver. Years went by and the odometers reached over 300,000 km, but with regular maintenance done correctly, the only parts that gave in after this whole off-road ordeal were the wheel bearings, which were trapping dirt a bit too often, since nobody really had time to wash the cars.

Last but not least, the 2015 Mitsubishi L200 has been priced very competitively. The double cab version with the basic engine starts at €28.500 in Germany, but if you add in all the stuff we got on our tester it goes up to around €30,500. This makes it €8,300 cheaper than an equivalent Toyota Hilux (and we’re talking about the old one, since the 2016 model isn’t out for grabs at the moment of writing), €1,000 cheaper than the Ford Ranger, €640 less than the Nissan Navara and €1,000 more expensive than the new bulky Volkswagen Amarok.

In conclusion, if you or your company need a tough, good-looking, reliable, reasonably priced, well equipped pickup truck that can also handle off-road conditions better than average, spending your money on the new Mitsubishi L200 is the reasonable thing to do.
74user rating 27 votes
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autoevolution Oct 2015
62
Value for money: 7/10
History
7
Exterior
6
Interior
5
In the city
5
Open road
6
Comfort
6
Tech facts
7
Gadgets
6
Safety
7
Conclusion
8
74user rating 27 votes
Rate this car!
 
Key Specs
USEU
Engine
2442 cm3 L4
Fuel
Diesel
Power kw
113
Power hp
152
Power rpm
3500
Torque val
280
Torque rpm
1500-2500
Transmission
6-Speed Manual
Traction
All-Wheel Drive
Acceleration
13.8
Top speed
108 mph
Length
204.9 in
Width
71.5 in
Height
70.1 in
Wheelbase
118.1 in
Ground clearance
8.1 in
Cargo volume
0 CuFT
Weight
lbs
Seating
5
Power
113 KW/152 BHP @ 3500 RPM
Torque
280 Lb-Ft @ 1500-2500 RPM
Engine
2442 cm3 L4
Fuel
Diese
Power kw
113
Power hp
154
Power rpm
3500
Torque val
380
Torque rpm
1500-2500
Transmission
6-Speed Manual
Traction
All-Wheel Drive
Acceleration
14
Top speed
174 km/h
Length
5204 mm
Width
1816 mm
Height
1781 mm
Wheelbase
3000 mm
Ground clearance
206 mm
Cargo volume
L
Weight
1875 Kg
Seating
5
Power
113 KW/154 HP @ 3500 RPM
Torque
380 Nm @ 1500-2500 RPM
fuel efficiency
mpgOfficialOurs
City30.9
Highway40.6
Combined36.825
fuel efficiency
l/100kmOfficialOurs
City7.6
Highway5.8
Combined6.49.4
base price
$
-
base price
28,500
Photo gallery (112)
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