Mitsubishi Triton GLS | 8 best-selling 4WD utes 2018

Mitsubishi Triton – 8 top selling utes

Fraser StronachSeptember 6, 2018, 2:18 pmSeptember 6, 2018

Unbeatable on value, the Triton delivers more than it promises

The Mitsubishi Triton has seen a large bump in sales

Mitsubishi’s Triton is the big mover at the pointy end of the 4WD ute sales chart despite remaining in third place overall and still a long way behind the two runaway leaders in Hilux and Ranger.

Still, Triton sales are up nearly 20 per cent without Mitsubishi doing much more than a mild tweak of the model line up, which along other changes has seen the introduction of the Blackline dual cab.

The Triton sales success has much to do with its sharp pricing and Mitsubishi’s on-going factory discounting with driveaway prices on the popular dual-cab variants sitting well below the other mainstream utes and bettered only by the Indian and Chinese offerings. Dual cabs make up 11,570 of the 12,127 Triton 4WDs sold (so over 95 per cent) while automatics make up 73 per cent of all 4WD sales.

The Triton stands out amongst the current crop of 4WD utes in a number of ways. One is the full-time 4WD system of GLS and Exceed models thanks to Mitsubishi’s ‘Super Select’ system. Most utes have less sophisticated part-time 4WD.

Full-time 4WD adds greatly to the Triton’s functionality, driveability and safety under most driving conditions and stands the Triton apart from all its competitors bar the Amarok. Super Select also has a 2WD mode, so it’s different again from a conventional full-time system.

Unfortunately, Super Select doesn’t make the Triton a gun off-road ute but that’s all to do with its modest suspension travel and ground clearance and nothing to do with the Super Select system.

The Triton is also small ute by class standards in cabin size, payloads and towing capacity. The fact that most of the tray of the dual-cab models overhangs the rear axle is also a negative when it comes to carrying or towing heavy loads, although the 2.4-litre diesel holds up its end even if the chassis layout isn’t ideal.

One positive here is that the Triton is more manoeuvrable than the others in its class thanks to its relatively short wheelbase, and also has sporty feel to the way it steers and handles thanks in part to also being lighter than most competitors.