06/07/2025

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

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SUNDAY | JULY 6, 2025

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Probably the best We always knew the Mitsubishi Triton was good, but not this good

But during its launch last year, it was overshadowed by the removal of the die sel subsidies. It was caught in a political war – between those that supported the subsidy and those that wanted it removed. The industry was in shock, and this also resulted in lower sales across the board for pick-up truck brands. So unfortunately for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), it was just a matter of timing. No one could have pre dicted the subsidy removal, and this caught out the new Triton, as good as it may be. Moving forward MMM is not a company that sits on its laurels, or misfortunate in this instance.

The company headed back to the drawing board, put its ears to the ground and came back with a new Triton. It is still the same sixth-generation model, but with a few enhancements that makes it easier on the eye and to live with. It features new body decals to give it a sportier presence. It also comes with a sports bar at the rear, a new front bumper with aggressive styling and more impor tantly an easy lift system for the tailgate. The importance of the latter is never to be underestimated as it makes it easier to lift the excruciatingly heavy tailgate. And then came the final update, the price. MMM reduced the price from the initial RM166k to RM160k, in response to market conditions obviously. This made the Triton the most afford

able among the three heavenly trucks – the Toyota Hilux Rogue, Ford Ranger Wildtrak and the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain. So, what makes the Triton so special? A few things. For one, the Triton has built a reputation of toughness and dependability. According to data sourced from MMA, over 120,000 Tritons have found a home in Malaysia since 2005. And over the years, the Triton has also evolved to meet any requirements. Together with the launch of the sixth generation model, MMM also offered the single-cab (two-door) variant for the first time in Malaysia. This was in response to market demands from people who wanted a work truck without all the “show and go”. The Mitsubishi Triton is also known for its advanced four-wheel drive system called the Super Select 2. Though only available in the flagship variant, the sys tem is highly regarded as one of the most advanced in the industry. The system gives the Triton Athlete seven drive modes and uses a unique vis cous-coupling centre differential. This allows the Triton to distribute power between the front and rear axles in 4H mode. Unlike regular four-wheel-drive sys tems that limit the speed at which the 4H mode can operate at, you can drive the Triton at any speed in 4H mode, even well past the speed limit if needed. That is something that is only available in the Triton and can be regarded as a safety feature when the road gets slip pery. And if you come across even more

BY KESHY DHILLON

WHAT does a pick-up truck have to do with your regular car? The modern ones can be just as comfortable as sedan, and sometimes better. There was a time when pick-up trucks were utilitarian. Those that drove one, used it for a purpose, for work. And there was also a time where you could only register a pick-up truck for commercial purposes. That has all changed. The vehicle itself is almost unrecognisable in terms of size, design and comfort when compared to their “workhorse” like predecessors. But even now, there are pick-up trucks that are more utilitarian than others. You don’t buy a Hilux for comfort and neither do you buy a Ranger to go hardcore off roading. Some pick-up trucks are built to excel at one thing. That’s just some though, there are oth ers that are built to excel at just about everything. And in that context, the Mitsubishi Triton, particularly the flagship Athlete variant is arguably the one truck that sits in the midst of a complicated equilibrium and is the best value for money pick-up The Triton that you see on these pages is the sixth-generation variant. It was first introduced to the world towards the sec ond half of 2023 and made its Malaysian debut in October of 2024. The new Triton had it all. It was much improved over the previous-generation model and was a fine balance of comfort and utility. there is in the market now. But first, some context

The Mitsubishi Triton is the only pick-up truck that has an aluminium engine.