South Africa has already welcomed several exciting new bakkies this year, but another one is about to make its debut.
The model in question is none other than the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton, which is expected to make landfall in the next few months.
A long-awaited entry
The next-gen Triton was first revealed all the way back in July 2023, showing off a range of enhancements over the current models.
The bakkie has been gradually rolled out to different markets over the last year as part of a staggered release schedule, as it made its international debut in Thailand before being introduced to other countries in the Asean and Oceania regions such as Australia.
The carmaker’s local subsidiary previously confirmed to TopAuto that the Mitsubishi would arrive in South Africa in the second quarter of 2024, but this date was later pushed back to the third quarter of this year.
Given that we are now halfway through August, the Triton should appear within the next six weeks if it hopes to meet its current deadline of end-September.
The first thing to note is that the new bakkie will be sold as both a single and double cab when it reaches our market.
Unfortunately, the automaker has opted not to launch the extended or “club cab” variants, as these units are no longer eligible for a VAT rebate like a single cab in South Africa, hurting the body style’s appeal.
The brand’s 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine is making a return for the new generation and is in fact the only drivetrain on offer.
The powerplant is calibrated to produce three different outputs depending on the derivative:
- 110kW/330Nm
- 135kW/430Nm
- 150kW/470Nm
Regardless of how much power you want, the bakkie can be had with either a rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive system, and a six-speed gearbox in manual or automatic spec.
However, it remains to be seen whether Mitsubishi will be offering all these options in the domestic market or selling a more limited selection of drivetrains.
Appearance-wise, the bakkie has seen a major overhaul as it features new LED headlights, daytime running lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels, all wrapped up in a much more square body design similar to many American pickups.
This is evidently a style trend in the 4×4 world at the moment, as the current-gen Ford Ranger and upcoming Kia Tasman are good examples of this blocky aesthetic in new models.
The new body isn’t just for show, as Mitsubishi has strengthened the ladder-frame chassis by up to 60% to both improve ride comfort and safety in a crash.
The load box is now 1,555mm in length and 1,544mm in width, and the floor height has been lowered by 45mm to achieve easier access.
Off-roading fans are well taken care of through the addition of hill-start and descent control, a limited-slip differential, and Active Yaw Control which improves the turning circle by applying the brakes to the inside front wheel.
There are also seven driving modes for Normal, Eco, Gravel, Mud, Sand, Snow, and Rock; as well as 2H, 4H, and 4L gear ratios.
As for the interior, the square design language can be seen with the large air vents and 9-inch infotainment system on the dashboard.
A few of the equipment highlights include dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charging pad, keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel, and an extensive driver assistance suite with items like adaptive cruise control, 360-degree cameras, front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, tyre-pressure monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert.
More information on the new Mitsubishi Triton such as its pricing and model line-up will be announced closer to its launch date.
2024 Mitsubishi Triton
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