THE Triton has quietly served Mitsubishi very well for almost 40 years. The first-generation ute was not sold locally, but the next three have sold more than 295,000 between them, and 150,000 in the current MN guise alone.

It has held its own in the top three of the 4x4 dual-cab market for the past few years, fighting the good fight against the long-reigning Toyota HiLux and the impertinent newcomer, Ford’s Ranger.

There is movement on the horizon, though. Toyota is spending big developing its new 4x4, Ford will soon update the Ranger, and Nissan’s new Navara is imminent.

As well, the light truck has had to reinvent itself as a civilian hauler with all the accompanying bells and whistles consumers have come to expect from a modern day car – and offer it at the right price.

Developed with Australian tastes in mind, both the local and overseas arms of Mitsubishi Motors are quietly confident that they’ve done the job on the fifth-generation Triton. Only one way to find out...

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