Is Triton A Better Ute Than We Thought? (Mitsubishi Triton 2023 Review)

The Mitsubishi Triton GSR got the wooden spoon in our ute megatest, so were we wrong? We take it deep off-road to find out.

Time codes:

0:00 - Intro
1:03 - Best and Worst Features
3:31 - Triton Off-Road
8:50 - Interior and Tech
11:11 - Back Seats
12:02 - Tray
12:49 - Running Costs
13:43 - On-Road Driving
17:14 - Should You Buy A Triton?

The Mitsubishi Triton is a good-value ute availabe with a 2.4-litre turbo Diesel engine. This orange Triton is the GSR model, which sits at the top of the range. Were we wrong about this Hilux rival? John Law takes the 2023 Triton GSR ute off-road to find out.

The Triton competes with the Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, GWM Ute, Volkswagen Amarok, Ford Ranger and many other utes.

As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct - so this is an independent, honest review of the Mitsubishi Triton.

Chasing Cars is Australia's most independent source of new car reviews, car industry news, comparisons and car guides. We give you a critical look at every new car you should consider!

[chasingcars]

We read the comments, and we care what you think.

[fanielategan]

I've taken my Triton through the Simpson and do beach driving pretty much every weekend, as an older driver I'm so happy with my Triton. Someone called it "the poor man's ute" I say, hell yeah. Don't want to spend 100k on a car while still paying off my properties. I'm a happy Triton owner. Getting stuck on these reviews is not a good idea.

[billdrennan]

We have had a new GSR for 6 months, its the only 4WD you can change to 4WD on the move when conditions go bad, its also the only 4WD you can drive on pavement in 4WD. I dont need a digital speedo because I'm not 12 years old. Was 20 k cheaper as well.

[majestictwelve]

The interior is exactly as it should be. Everything you need, nothing that you don't. Touch screens don't belong in offroad vehicles. Heat, dust and corrugations kill them in the end.

It's a workhorse, not a fashion accessory

[EvanDrinkwater]

I don’t think faulting Mitsubishi for using a 16 year old vehicle engineering design is bad, that actually makes the case that the design was great and has gone on to prove itself.

That’s like calling a still standing 100 year old house bad, some things just prevail. It means the fundamentals of the design are iron clad, overall that’s the best outcome.

[matthewlay]

I just bought one of these. Had a 2020 hilux before that and the triton rides a lot better. He's right on a lack of storage in car but it's far more comfortable than the hilux I had. It drives great, is responsive when I put my foot down and is very easy when both driving around town and cruising on the highway. Can't recommend it enough.

[bugsy]

Having driven the Hilux and the Triton, I bought the GLS Triton. It was an easy choice. Cheaper and better in every way. I find the GLS seats to be exceptionally comfortable for long 10 hour drives. The Hilux seats are hard and a weird shape for humans. For the most competent 4WD straight out of the showroom, you can't go past the Triton. Combined 4WD and highway I average 9.5 L/Kilometre. Nothing else comes close. It's just my wife and I so no kids. The looks of the interior instruments etc play no part in my decision making. Oh, by the way, the Ranger? You're not serious! I don't need, or want, to be stranded out in the backblocks.

[DarkDaze]

Your mega test is the only one putting it last. Every 4wd reviewer, and 4wd channel worth their salt, puts it top 3. So either everyone else is wrong, or you don't know enough about what makes a good 4wd ute

[stephenbeyer]

Bought myself one of those GSRs and I love it. 90% of it's driving is on the highway, or off road, and while the suspension is a bit firm, it leaves me feeling like it's secure and solid on the road. The 4WD with the unlocked center diff is great for driving in tropical rain (I live in the Top End). I love the look and feel of the interior, but I will admit, with my old eyes, I can't read the clock on the touch screen, and the writing on the steering wheel buttons, since it's too small and dim. I don't have that problem in my work van.

I'm not sure how you keep comparing it to the other utes since, when I ordered mine at the end of last year, the BT50s and Dmaxs were about 10 grand more expensive, while the Hilux and Rangers were about 15 grand. Pretty sure I can do a hell of a lot aftermarket upgrades for that kind of money. We also took the BT50 for a test drive (the only other vehicle available at the time to test drive) before testing the Triton, and the Triton was a MUCH nicer ride. The Mazda felt like a work ute, whereas the Triton felt like a fun ute. It's not the perfect car, but for it's price, and my use case (camping/ rockclimbing with my mates) I reckon it's unbeatable.

[MountainGoat]

Facts first, tritons are the most reliable in the dual cab ute and that is the most important aspect, you dont want to your work vehicle in the workshop all the time.
In addition to that it is the easiest vehicle by far for a mechanic to service and repair.
I think the current generation of buyers are looking for bells and whistles that explains everything else.

[mahuru]

Rather have the option of 4wd on hard surfaces (especially in icey or wet conditions) than some half arsed safety tech features - adaptive cruise, lane assist or a digital speedo ffs.

[pacman]

I love my Triton - pre covid picked up a GLS premium for $46k. The equivalent Hilux at the time was $65k! Agree the interior is a bit dated but it does everything well without being ostentatious. I’ve driven a lot of newer cars & utes and honestly, much of that newer tech you’ll not use at best or at worst, interferes with your driving experience. Having a car / Ute try and steer itself is unnerving & downright dangerous in some situations!

Final point is that the Superselect II transfer case is way ahead of its time & its rivals! Do none of these reviewers ever wonder why the next generation ford ranger has copied it?!?

[brendan_]

I don’t even own a Triton and I know this Ute is much better than you guys say it is. However good to see you finally mentioned the super select 2 system.

[towarzyszbeagle]

Yes, you were 100% wrong. The Triton is a very good ute at an exceptionally good price.

Calling it the worst ute on the market when Chinese pieces of shit like the LDV are rolling around out there was ridiculous.

[Jez]

Test drove all models of dual cab. None of them really wowed me over the other. Hilux and Ranger just felt as ordinary as any other ute even though they always score high. Ended up with the Triton in the end for work duties and camping. Set of Bilsteins, springs and muddys and it goes anywhere. 12ht 60 series for the tough stuff. You buy Hilux for the dealer network, other than that just deal with the recalls like the rest of the other manufacturers.

[warrencramer]

Suggestion for part of your criteria:
Proven reliability.
Customer satisfaction.
Issues per capita.

[davidacton]

You can't say the seats a very uncomfortable. You could say that they feel uncomfortable for YOU. I purchased a new GSR about 12 months ago and one of the reasons I chose it was that for ME, the seats in the Triton were vastly more comfortable than the other dual cabs on offer. You need to qualify your statements. Who needs a digital speedo? I have driven vehicles 20 years ago with digital speedos, I hated them then and still hate them. The old 'needle' is much more intuitive to glance at and read quickly. My Triton is much more comfortable to drive on or off-road than a current model Hilux. As far as a Ranger goes - do you really want to pay such a huge price premium over a Triton for a vehicle that has such a poor reliability reputation? Here is some homework for you - research how many Rangers have had their engines replaced over the last three - four years, compared with the Triton... The Triton has the best reliability reputation of most of the other dual cabs, with the possible exception of the D-Max. This is backed up by a Ten-Year warranty... I have owned 2 Hiluxes, one Nissan and three Tritons. The Tritons have given me the best run of any of them. The ability to engage four-wheel-drive, on the go, on bitumen, makes it a very sensible, safe and practical vehicle.

[andrewford]

This guy gets off on heated seats and digital speedos. ok

And as for the dmax being comparable, sure, if you go base spec and want to wait a year. Dmax were going for 75K plus on roads when I was looking a month ago, and that wasn't even top spec!

I respect you guys for having another look at the triton and to be honest, I don't really give a shit if you like it or not. But the thing with any car, is it's a matter of opinion. What suits you, might not suit me, and vice versa. Overall, I think the Triton is pretty damn good, which is why I bought one. It's not the best ute out there, but it's almost perfect for what I want in a vehicle. And it's not gonna sting me 20k extra like the new ranger would.

[marcjcapetown]

I bought a 2020 Fiat Fullback, a rebadged MQ Triton. It's even older and more basic than this MR. The plastics are hard and scratchy, and the infotainment is laughably bad. But it has everything you need, and nothing you don't. It's rugged, reliable, great off-road, good value, comfortable (the seats are great, nothing wrong with them). It's light for a dual-cab, compact and manoeuvrable, doesn't have any of the annoying active safety measures, but has 7 airbags and excellent crash performance. The Super-Select system and the ability to switch to all-wheel drive with a viscous centre diff on slippery tar is a huge boon. I'm very happy, and I saved over a third of the price over an equivalent Hi-Lux.

[mikelou]

I work on utes for a living, the Triton is up there with the best of them, very reliable...