06/07/2025

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY JULY 6, 2025

challenging terrain and need more trac tion, you can simply switch to 4HLc or even low range 4LLC to lock the centre differential. This makes the Triton unbeatable when the road gets tough. There’s also the powertrain of the Triton Athlete. Powering the truck is a 2.4-litre, turbocharged, Mivec engine putting out 204PS and 470Nm of torque. This is more power than an Isuzu D Max X-Terrain, and though it may not be as powerful as a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, it surely offers smoother power delivery. The Ranger uses a bi-turbo system that is prone to lag during power delivery. The Triton on the other hand offers instant power by utilising a twin-stage turbo charger which responds immediately to the accelerator pedal. Mivec on the other hand is a legendary system that works by adjusting the timing and positioning of the engine valves based on the engine speed. This in turn enhances performance by improving combustion, thus leading to reduced con sumption as well. And on the topic of reduce consump tion, the Trion is the only pick-up truck in the market that runs on an aluminium engine. This lighter weight means the Triton does not have to work as hard to turn its wheels, which in turn reduces consump tion. What’s more, our research showed that the Triton Athlete is one of the cheapest to maintain in its segment. Based on a 20,000km service interval, we calculated the price of each service package all the way until 100,000km. The Triton Athlete will set you back just RM7,303.18, which is lower than the Toyota Hilux Rogue as well as the Ford Ranger Wildtrak. That can’t be all? Definitely not. While design is always subjective, the design of the new Triton is not just easy on the eye, it is also an award winner. It won the 2024 IF Design Award under the Product Design Category. It also won the 2024 Japan Car of The Year under the Design Car of The Year Category, Asean NCAP Grand Prix Awards 2024 which recognised the Triton as the best Pick Up Truck, and finally it also won the Vehicle of The Year Award Malaysia as the Best Pick Up Truck of The Year. So, the Triton is not something that looks and sounds good on paper, it has substance too. Great, but what about safety? The Triton has you covered as well. It did not only score the maximum of five stars in the Asean NCAP crash test safety rating, but also comes with an armada of active, passive, and driver aid systems. Some of the things worth mentioning include seven airbags for the Athlete ver sion, forward collision mitigation system with warning and braking function. It also comes with adaptive cruise con trol as well as the all-important blind spot monitoring system. Besides that, it has rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, and lane departure warning, among many others. How does it drive? Step inside the Triton and the first thing that gets you is the comfort of the suede and leatherette clad seats. The

In built camera is standard on the Triton Athlete.

The interior feels spacious and well built.

The seats, made of suede and leatherette, are plush and broad.

The front bumper of the Triton has been redesigned and is now bolder.

The easy lift system is a welcome addition to the Triton.

Turn this dial to access the Super Select 2 Four-Wheel Drive system.

seats are not only plush, but broad as well, which is important for long jour neys. The near vertical dash is another thing that gets you. It looks tough, macho even. And the design makes it seem wider than any other dash on the market. But the real magic of the Triton though is when you start driving it. The electronic steering rack feels light in your hands, and this shrinks the Triton’s command ing size since it is so easy to manoeuvre. This also makes steering in and out of parking lots a breeze, assisted of course by about half a dozen proximity sensors. Tickle the throttle a little and the engine responds immediately. The lag is barely noticeable here. Once you really start chatting with the accelerator paddle, the Triton responds by piling on speed faster than it takes you to read this sen tence. It is no a performance car, and it is not

trying to be either, but performance just comes naturally to this Triton. It must be the many years it has spent racing in the legendary Dakar Rally. Some know-how from that race has trickled down to the everyday Triton. But what we really like is how refined it can be and how easy it is to live with on a day-to-day basis. For the rear passengers, the Triton is the only pick-up truck that comes with roof-mounted air-conditioning vents. And if you’re working in the field or out on a hot day, nothing feels better than having cool air blown to your face. Should you get one? If you want a do-everything, go-any where pick-up truck, the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete is the truck to have. It’s not only the most affordable in its class, but being the cheapest also means it offers the best value for money in its class.

And just to sweeten the deal, MMM also included the best warranty package among all its competitors as well. The Triton comes secured with a five year unlimited mileage warranty while most others only make do with a five year or 150,000km package. Not bad for a model that was launched in right in the midst of tur moil, and now has rebuilt itself to become one of, if not the best pick-up truck in its segment. Specifications Engine: 2.4-litre, MIVEC, Two-Stage Turbo Diesel Transmission: 6-speed automatic Steering: Electric power steering We like: Design, interior quality, refine ment. We don’t like: Hard to fault. Power: 204PS @ 3500rpm Torque: 470Nm @ 1500rpm