“Superior all-round performance, improved safety technology and a more robust design with greater cabin and cargo space combine to make the Next Generation Triton a beast to be reckoned with,” says Tony Johnston, Chief Operating Officer at Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand.

Early 2024 is a good deal closer than many might think and Mitsubishi Motors – and its dealer network – are champing at the bit for the day the new Triton lands in New Zealand – and that day is not far off now.

As with all Mitsubishi Motors’ most desirable product range, the Next Gen Triton will be launching with introductory pricing which will have its rivals grinding their gears, but this is the way Mitsubishi does business and it has propelled its product range into serious sales territory, with occasional bursts into the top three registrations in various market segments.

“In recent years, Triton has emerged as a serious challenger at the front of the pack – and this latest evolution reinforces its claim as one of the best-equipped utes on the market,” said Johnston.

“This year, we surpassed a total of 50,000 Tritons sold in New Zealand. We are incredibly proud of that achievement and genuinely excited about what this Next Generation range has to offer, with special launch prices on offer for almost every model, headlined by the 4WD VRX at $10,000 below RRP.”

Here’s what we know so far: the Next Gen Triton is longer and wider than the current model but has a reduced rear overhang as the result of a longer wheelbase. This change alone improves the Triton’s stability as well as its cargo capacity and towing performance.

In well-side form, the Triton’s improvements are even more obvious with a longer and wider cargo bed and a payload exceeding one tonne. The well-side is reportedly able to swallow a Euro-style (1200mm x 800mm) pallet.

The chassis has been rebuilt from the ground up, while the new suspension front and rear contribute to greater comfort and handling.  

Under the bonnet, Mitsubishi’s tried and true 2.4-litre diesel benefits from bi-turbo forced induction, with a selective catalytic reduction system and AdBlue to comply with Euro 6B emissions requirements.

Meantime, the 150kW/470Nm engine has been breathed on to maximise low-down torque and improved fuel economy, delivered through an optimised six-speed automatic.

Early fuel figures see an 8.8 litres per 100km and 257gm/km CO2 output from the top-of-the-line VRX – one litre and 20gms less respectively than the 2023 model.

Safety has played a big role in the Next Gen Triton’s redesign, with ‘safety firsts’ put in place for Mitsubishi’s workhorse. As such, the Triton now boasts Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) and a Driver Monitoring System (DMS). As well, Adaptive Cruise Control has been added to all Triton models.

These features are in addition to the eight airbags including a new centre airbag and Lane Departure Prevention and Emergency Lane Assist found across the range.

Rear Automatic Emergency Braking is available on all well-side models as is a Multi Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection (MOD).

For off-road, the new Triton has a rear diff lock as standard across the range while the Super Select 4WD II system offers four different drive modes. A new active yaw control system assists drivers to keep the Triton on a true path, even if that’s on slippery surfaces.  

Creature comforts more in keeping with an SUV have made their way inside a revamped cabin which has a nine-inch Smartlink Display Audio system as its centrepiece, improving access to a native satellite navigation system and audio suite incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  

Driver critical information is now displayed on a seven-inch supervision cluster.

“All said and done, every model in this exceptional Next Generation Triton range offers a significant upgrade on what has come before,” said Johnston. “It is a truly impressive beast – our best yet by some distance – and we can’t wait to see it roaming in our backyard!”