2021 Mitsubishi Triton AT Premium Review

In recent years, the competition in Malaysia's pickup truck market has become increasingly intense. Consumers no longer view pickups solely as utility vehicles but rather value a dual balance between household use and off-road capabilities. The 2021 Mitsubishi Triton AT Premium, positioned as a mid-to-high-end pickup under the brand, emphasizes the core selling point of "balancing practicality and comfort." In this review, we will focus on evaluating its overall performance in daily commuting, family outings, and light off-road scenarios to see if it meets the usage demands of the diverse local road conditions.

From the exterior, the 2021 Triton AT Premium continues Mitsubishi's signature rugged design style, with a boxy and powerful overall outline. The front features a large chrome grille paired with sharply styled LED daytime running lights on both sides, creating a highly recognizable look. The headlight assembly combines halogen and LED lights, providing sufficient illumination for nighttime driving. The side profile features clean and sleek lines, with a 3000mm wheelbase ensuring ample interior space. The 18-inch alloy wheels paired with 265/60 R18 tires enhance its off-road capabilities while giving the side profile a more imposing look. At the rear, the vertically arranged taillights are connected to the body’s waistline, and the black anti-scratch bumper further emphasizes the pickup's off-road nature. Notably, the cargo bed also comes equipped with a convenient handle, making everyday loading and unloading of goods more user-friendly.

Inside the cabin, the interior predominantly features black as the main color tone. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch materials and accented with silver trims, delivering a quality feel above the average in the same class of pickups. The central control area has a clear layout, with a 7-inch touchscreen in the middle that supports Bluetooth connectivity and Sound Plus functionality. Its operation is intuitive and user-friendly. Physical buttons are retained below to facilitate quick adjustments of air conditioning and volume while driving. In terms of features, the new vehicle comes standard with a keyless entry and ignition system. The front row includes a 220V/230V power outlet, while the rear row is equipped with independent air conditioning vents and a foldable armrest. These thoughtful details enhance convenience for daily use. The seats are manually adjustable, with firm padding but good support, ensuring long periods of sitting are not too tiring. The rear seats can be folded down in sections, expanding the trunk's storage space, which is suitable for carrying large items.

In terms of space, the 2021 Triton AT Premium has a body size of 5305×1815×1795mm with a 3000mm wheelbase. The front row provides headroom of approximately a fist and two fingers, with ample legroom, ensuring even passengers as tall as 180cm can find a comfortable seating position. The rear row offers about two fists of legroom and a fist of headroom, ensuring it doesn't feel too cramped when fully seated with five passengers. As for storage capacity, the front and rear door pockets can hold two standard bottles of mineral water, the central armrest box is deep enough to store phones and wallets, and the rear row's central armrest is equipped with cup holders, catering to family travel storage needs.

For the powertrain, the new model is equipped with a 2.4L turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a maximum power of 181PS/3500rpm and a peak torque of 430N·m/2500rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel-drive system. During actual driving, the power response at the start is smooth, but once the turbo kicks in (around 1800rpm), a noticeable torque output can be felt. There is ample power reserve when accelerating or overtaking. When switched to four-wheel-drive mode, the vehicle's off-road capability is significantly enhanced, handling muddy roads or light off-road terrains with ease. The gearbox offers clear shift logic, and gear changes are smooth, without noticeable jerks.

In terms of handling and chassis performance, the front suspension is a MacPherson independent suspension, while the rear suspension is a leaf spring non-independent suspension, with an overall setup that leans towards firmness. While driving in urban conditions, it effectively filters out small bumps, but when passing over speed bumps or uneven roads, rear passengers will feel noticeable vibrations. The steering system offers a moderate feel with precise directionality; the steering wheel maintains good stability during high-speed driving without any sensation of floating. As for fuel consumption, the tested fuel economy under mixed driving conditions is approximately 8.5L/100km, which can drop to 7.2L/100km on highways. For a 2.4L diesel pickup truck, this fuel consumption level is within the normal range for its class.

For off-road performance testing, we selected locally common gravel roads and steep slopes. When the four-wheel-drive system is switched to low-speed 4WD mode, the vehicle exhibits strong climbing ability, stable tire grip performance, and no slippage. The design of the approach and departure angles also ensures that the vehicle does not scrape the chassis when traversing uneven terrains. In terms of noise control, the cabin noise at idle is about 58 dB, while wind noise and tire noise become more noticeable at high speeds (120 km/h). However, these remain within acceptable limits and will not disrupt normal conversations for passengers inside the car.

Overall, the 2021 Mitsubishi Triton AT Premium's core strength lies in its balanced performance: the rugged exterior design appeals to off-road enthusiasts, practical configurations and spacious interior meet family travel needs, while the four-wheel-drive system and diesel engine ensure off-road capability and fuel efficiency. Compared with the same class Toyota Hilux, it offers more price advantages (with a guide price of RM 134,900, lower than the Hilux 2.4L flagship model) and additional features such as rear air vents and a 220V power outlet. However, in terms of brand resale value and interior luxury, the Hilux holds a slight edge.

This vehicle is primarily suitable for two types of consumers: first, families who need to balance everyday use with light off-road adventures, and second, small business owners who need a pickup truck as a utility vehicle but also value comfort. If you prioritize value and practicality, the 2021 Triton AT Premium can be a good choice.

In summary, the 2021 Mitsubishi Triton AT Premium is a pickup truck with "no obvious shortcomings." It strikes a good balance between power, space, configuration, and off-road capability, making it well-suited to Malaysia's diverse usage scenarios. Whether for daily commuting, family outings, or light off-road adventures, it is up to the task and is one of the models worth considering in its class.