2024 Mitsubishi Triton Revealed, Should It Come to America?

The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton has made its global debut and everyone is already talking about how the midsize pickup might perform in our truck-heavy market. Though it could be argued that the vehicle was never intended to accommodate our needs and therefore has no business coming here.

Assembly of the Triton (also known as the L200) has been focused on Thailand and Brazil for over a decade because those are its most important markets. That was kept in mind when developing the new model, as it comes with a 2.4-liter diesel engine and drum brakes at the rear.

The most powerful version of the motor (which will be exported to Australia) will boast 201 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque. That would undoubtedly make it a little pokey compared to what’s available on our market. But it shouldn’t prohibit it from being a viable working vehicle.

Interior and exterior designs seem to be in line with the Mitsubishi Outlander. However, aspects of the Triton also do seem a little Ford-like. It’s more rugged looking than what came before, utilizes square wheel arches, and has this butch face you don’t normally see on Japanese pickups.

But it’s the little things that are likely to pay off. Mitsubishi said it redesigned the truck to be more work friendly. For example, the bed is a little lower to make loading easier and the door handles have been made larger to ensure they’re easier to grasp. Mitsubishi also elected to design the interior to prioritize buttons and knobs (even though screen controls tend to be cheaper to manufacture). Though the central touch screen is said to be utilized by someone wearing gloves without issue.

Off-road performance is said to be improved with the new pickup offering the “Super Select 4WD-II” system and upgraded drive modes (seven in total) to help improve performance away from the pavement. Meanwhile, the ladder frame has been upgraded to be lighter and more rigid with enhanced durability. Ditto for the body.

If the claims about improved comfort are also to be believed, it sounds like the brand has thrown together a decent product. The Triton appears focused on delivering practicality and enhanced comfort with some advanced tech.

"As a pickup truck that fits for a new era, we have developed the all-new Triton with even more Mitsubishi Motors-ness," said Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Motors. "The key features of the all-new Triton were exclusively developed by Mitsubishi Motors, including a robust ladder frame and body, tough chassis, powerful and driver-friendly engine and 4WD system that achieves excellent road handling and stability. With production ultimately expected to reach 200,000 vehicles in over 100 countries, the all-new Triton is an extremely important model that will provide foundational support for Mitsubishi Motors, as well as the first global strategic vehicle to be rolled out at the start of our growth phase. Please look forward to our challenges that begin from here."

While some of the most advanced driving systems are absent, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward collision prevention system are all available on the new Triton.

When auto enthusiasts talk about Mitsubishi returning to its former glory, they’re talking about 1982-2002. Those were the years when the brand saw explosive growth on the North American market and settled into being a reputable brand with a diverse lineup that included pickups.

Mitsubishi had spent years making inroads by sharing its platforms with Chrysler. While this would continue, the brand also started bringing interesting models of its own that were focused on being affordable and enjoyable to drive. Its performance catalog was truly enviable and its more practical models tended to be cheaper than what was offered by other import brands. But Mitsubishi threw it all away in a bid to chase down mainstream tastes.

Focusing heavily on performance wasn’t a winning business strategy, especially when the cars aren’t perpetually in demand and exorbitantly priced. However, dumping those products to focus on sport utility vehicles also doesn’t help when that’s not what you’re known for. By the early 2000s, Mitsubishi seemed to be losing its focus. Sporty models that aided the brand’s image and helped sales of its practical models were now missing. But it wouldn’t be long until the company started culling its entire lineup to mimic what domestic brands were doing.

Seeing the Triton return to our market would represent a return to normalcy. The model was sold here for decades as the Mitsubishi Mighty Max, Dodge D50, and Dodge Ram 50.

But it would be hard to imagine this particular model being a success on our shores. Its rivals would boast more advanced technologies and larger, non-diesel engines. But that doesn’t mean the Triton would be the inferior work truck.

The Triton would arguably be easier to service due to having fewer high-tech features and could presumably be sold for less than its main rivals. It would also be one of two midsize pickups available in the U.S. with a diesel engine. But seeing it come to America would assuredly require a manufacturing agreement with another brand and it’s not clear who that would be. Ram seems the obvious choice but it’s already supposed to be developing something in-house. Nissan would have been another option and even helped develop some of the tech for Mitsubishi’s pickup. However, the Frontier already exists.

There are plenty of ways to speculate on how the Mitsubishi Triton could be adapted for our market. However, it doesn’t seem like it will actually happen unless the company intends on building them here and that’s a bet few would take.

[Images: Mitsubishi]

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