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BabyDrive Verdict

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I am a HUGE fan of the Mitsubishi Triton after testing the previous model last year and found it the easiest Ute to install child seats into. So I was very excited to be given two of the new 2019 Mitsubishi Tritons at the same time! The GLS Premium model and the GLX base model. Normally I might feel quite stressed at the thought of having to install child seats into two utes in the same week but this time I was looking forward to the handy zip access to the top tether anchorages, so knew I didn't need to worry with the Triton.

The main point of difference is the exterior of the Triton looked quite different, the previous model's side profile reminded me of the shape of a Genie's lamp and I know lots of parents told me they either loved it or hated it. Well, that is gone, and instead, the nose is wider, flatter and more conventional looking, which may make the Triton more popular?! The GLX and GLS Premium models both have quite distinct differences in styling at the front too.

I still think the Triton is one of the best utes I have tested for making the crossover into being a family friendly vehicle! It feels fantastic to drive, nice and smooth and like driving a car rather than a Ute. The GLS Premium has more safety features than the GLX base model including Lane Keep Assist, Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) and being one of the first Utes to come with blind spot monitoring.

The media system in the GLS Premium model is a touch screen, it is still quite basic but it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto whereas the GLX does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the screen is smaller and the system even more dated and basic with a list like system and it is controlled with the buttons surrounding the screen..

The storage inside the cabin is very similar in both spec models and hasn't really changed from the previous model Triton. The glove boxes are of generous size and fit an iPad and wallet in with the manuals. There are two cup holders in the front and two in the back that all hold a re-usable or disposable coffee cup well. There are glasses cases in both ceilings and well-sized door bins in the front and back for large refillable water bottles.

The phone wells in front of the gear lever differed between the two models, the GLX had a hard plastic tray that is removable and has a hidden compartment underneath. Whereas the GLS Premium has a smooth rubber lined well.

The central console storage boxes differ too. The GLX's is slightly smaller and has a tray at the top, whereas the GLS Premium has no tray and is slightly larger.

The GLS Premium has very large rear air-con vents situated in the ceiling. The size of the vents are misleading, and the air flow power does not reflect the size of the vents thankfully! It is quite a subtle gentle flow that does not over-chill your little passengers! The vents are easily reached by the driver to shut them off and there are controls in the back, as well as in the panel in the front ceiling with the sunglasses case.

There are some aesthetic differences between the two models like the seat upholstery. Leather in the GLS Premium and woven fabric in the GLX. I found the seats are exceptionally comfy, with really supportive back and side hugging and shaping. In the back, they are also very comfortable for rear seats.

There are ISOFix points and top tether anchorages for the two outer rear seats in the Triton. I find attaching the top tether to the anchorages easier in the Triton than in most other utes for two reasons; one is the single pull tab on the seat back to bring the entire seat back forward as opposed to lots of other utes that have a tab at either end of the seat back and you have to pull both tabs at the same time. The second is the two zips behind the fold-down armrest that allows you to put your hand through and access to the top tether anchorages.

You can not put a child seat in the central seat of the Triton, I did sit between a forward facing and rear facing child seat but it was a squeeze and I'm only 162cm. The front seats fold really far forward giving you great access through to the middle rear seat! Legroom is quite good in the Triton and we could sit a 182cm passenger in front of a rear-facing child seat.

I like the honesty in only fitting two child seats and not pretending to have room for a third child seat when it really doesn't, although it doesn't give you the flexibility of putting one child set in the central seat and an adult passenger either side.

The Triton's tray is big, holding 30 shopping bags in comparison to the Nissan Navara's 24 bags and the Toyota Hilux which held 29. It was quite easy to access the first two rows of shopping from standing on the floor and to slide strollers in and out, however, I really struggled to reach over the sides!

Another favourite feature of mine on the GLS Premium model is the keyless entry and exit, I LOVE IT!! I could just press the button on the car door to lock and unlock it without having to fumble around with keys while trying to carry a toddler and all the gubbins that goes with them and just leave the key in my handbag all week without touching it!!

Underneath the floor mats in the GLX base model, is a simple plastic floor that you could easily clean or mop out. The GLS Premium has a carpeted floor which is harder to clean kid spills out of!

The Triton is a great BabyDrive, however, my one biggest gripe is the shrill, loud beeping when you first get in, to alert you to the fact you haven't put your seat belt on yet. I found it really made the start of each journey more fractious than it needed to be, setting a hassled tone to the start of every journey and disturbing little passengers. You just have to learn to put your seatbelt on, then turn on the engine but that's not always practical, especially if you just want to cool the cabin quickly as is often the case in our Australian summer!

There is also no digital speedo. it's an old school dial, which I don't find accurate enough with cruise control and speed cameras.

Like all utes, the back window is flat, so sunlight comes straight in rear-facing passengers, which can be a consideration if it is your main family car.

The interior of the cab still has Mitsubishi's shiny black plastic, which I am not a fan of, but it shrinks and wraps around you more like a car interior than a ute.

Overall, I found not too much had changed inside the Triton, it had just had a nose job! It is still a great BabyDrive and both models drive really well, though there are a couple of features on the GLS like the safety features, rear air vents, Apple CarPlay and keyless entry that I found more preferable than the base GLX model.

The Mitsubishi Triton scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2015 and has seven airbags as standard.

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Tace Clifford
About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.

1 Comment

  1. All you need to say is that the cheapest stock standard white ones look awful, but the Black Top of the range ones look great.
    The stock level ones with the low dragging front are so horrible looking that they have already turned many people off Mitsubishi Triton’s.
    Please, Mitsubishi please, could you release all your Tritons in future with “Decent Wheels & Tyres”. As they are now they look weak & easily breakable.

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