Truck around town

Mitsubishi Triton GLS auto. Photo / Supplied

There's nothing like having a ute for a week to test how well it'll double as your daily driver. I already know Mitsubishi's Triton is a load-hauler and pretty handy off road. But can it hack shopping, commuting, carting friends and family?

The latter first, and my 75-year-old passenger was glad of the side-steps - standard spec for this GLS. She liked the high-riding view too, and the plentiful places to stash cell phone, wallet and water bottle.

But the chatter quietened once we hit the open road, for this remains a truck, and the front wishbone and rear leaf suspension equation is designed to get a job done over rugged terrain, not deliver a plush ride. The "sport" suspension used by the GLS doesn't supply the finesse the basic equation lacks, though the ride remained reasonable and would only improve with a load on.

As for handling, there's little worry the ute's rear will go awol without a load in the tray, because Triton's fitted with active stability control. Brakes and engine power automatically adjust to correct over- or under-steer, or wheelspin for that matter.

The stability control is a vital part of the off-road equation, linked to the "Super Select" all-wheel drive system. You can go from two- to four-wheel-drive on the fly. Instead of locking power into a 50-50 front to rear split, the system detects wheel slip and deals with it. You can then opt to lock the front and rear wheels, or choose super-low range.

Making the most of it feels counter-intuitive off-road. Instead of holding the wheels at the point of traction using the sensitivity of your right foot alone, you'll actually make better progress in slick going by prompting wheelslip, at which point the car will send power to whichever wheels have grip, without you having to lose momentum. Clever stuff.

But the biggest benefit in real-world terms is that because you don't have the traditional hard-core locking diff that can bind while cornering, you're able to select four-wheel drive even on-road, just like an all-wheel-drive car, for extra safety when the tarmac's greasy.

Meanwhile, a five-speed auto in place of the GLX's four-speed is ably mated to a 2.5-litre diesel powerplant. There's more power and torque on tap than this car's 3.2-litre predecessor. And again, it's clear this engine is designed to work, though it is refined enough for comfy cruising.

This is the GLS spec so, just like that car, there are a fair few features you don't expect in a pick-up truck, such as front, side and curtain airbags. Like cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, an auxiliary audio jack and auto air con.

There are even two pre-drilled mounts for child-seat tether strap bolts, in all but the single cab; yep, you really can carry all the family.

Its longer tray carries more than before, the only downside being that the greater overhang can touch ground in extreme off-road conditions.

Triton remains a work truck, but one with predictable handling and a reasonable ride-comfort equation. It delivers impressive off-road performance while adequately dispatching everyday tasks.

Mitsubishi Triton GLS auto

We like
True off-road performance, reasonable on-road with plenty of family-friendly features; five-year warranty, 10 years for the engine

We don't like
Not the biggest load tray still

Performance
0-100km/h not available; 9.3l/100km

Powertrain
2.5-litre common rail intercooled turbo diesel, 133kW at 4000rpm, 356Nm at 2000rpm, five-speed auto drives rear or all four wheels

Safety
Six airbags, ABS, traction and stability control

What it's got
Climate control air, 17-inch alloys, side steps, single CD with MP3/aux, multi-function trip includes barometer and height above sea level, rear power window

Vital stats
5354mm long, carries 1010kg, tows 2700kg, 75-litre tank