New Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab Pick-Ups

The UK’s pick-up sector last year accounted for 34,314 sales, the eighth year in succession of growth. In 1998, when double and club cab pick-ups started to enter the market, total sales were just 7,553 units.

The 347% growth has been driven by private buyers wanting more versatile SUV vehicles, company car users attracted by the low taxation levels, fashion conscious must-have recreational users, owner-operators, small business customers and to a lesser extent by commercial and farming users opting for a pick-up rather than a utilitarian 4x4.

The L200 range has consistently been the market leader and at its peak in 2003 the range accounted for 45% of all UK pick-up sales. Since then even with the emergence of lifestyle and workhorse models from other manufacturers such as Ford, Nissan, Toyota and Isuzu, the L200 has still remained the top selling range overall with a 35% market share.

Last year 12,026 Mitsubishi L200s were sold in the UK, 9,242 of which were what Mitsubishi call ‘high series’ models such as the accessory loaded Animal and Warrior derivatives. Reflecting the demand by today’s UK customers for up-market pick-ups the L200 accounted for 44% of all sales in the private retail sector. In the fleet sector L200 models accounted for 23% of sales with Ford leading the way with a 37.4% market share.

Now comes the crunch, will the UK pick-up market continue to grow or will it follow the car market into a period of decline? Are people getting bored with this type of vehicle? There are now lots of used ones for sale throughout the UK as customers have bought and sold and moved on to other types of SUVs. For Mitsubishi it is imperative that the radical new L200 still drives their sales as they account for one third of all their car and light commercial vehicles sales in the UK.

But the new L200’s styling is quite radical and will not appeal to all buyers. The interior space may be more but the load bed length is shorter so people who buy this vehicle as a workhorse might not find it so appealing. Last year the L200’s strongest competitor the new Nissan Navara was launched, this is bigger and far more powerful than the models it replaced. Toyota has launched their new Hilux pick-up range, again with more power and more load space and even the double cab versions have more interior space and more load bed length. Later this year Ford will introduce their new Ranger pick-ups, again with more power and more interior space with increased loading and towing capacity.

Seemingly out of step with the competition as far as interior space versus improved exterior load carrying capabilities, Mitsubishi has chosen to ride on the back of their Dakar Rally successes and gone for sporty new looks for all the versions. In fairness Mitsubishi know their market. The 4Work and 4Life models are in the range to meet he needs of customers who want a practical business tool. The ‘high value’ models such as Warrior, Animal and Elegance, which will take an estimated 80% of all L200 sales, will appeal to buyers attracted by the lifestyle looks and the SUV comparable driveability and performance offered by the new range.

The new L200’s radical styling for the exterior is derived from Mitsubishi’s Dakar Rally winning Pajero Evolution model. This sporty look will appeal to younger buyers and perhaps to the business owner operator and even company car users. The high level of specification and the driveability is excellent for these buyers as well. But I’ve already had feedback from owners of the previous L200 double cabs who are not impressed with the new styling and the slightly shorter load bed length. As many of these people use the 4x4 function of the vehicle they are also not too pleased that the rear differential lock is no longer fitted. Towing a trailer or caravan off road or even a boat or jet ski on a beach or on a slippery slipway needs the facility of a differential lock. Many L200 pick ups have been sold or leased to utility companies and other services such as the Airports Authority, Fire and Rescue Services and they need a double cab pick-up with all the load space possible. I’m not too sure they will be convinced by the new sports styling either. It has become a bit of a compromise vehicle in double cab form.

A new Euro IV 2.5-litre, 134bhp, DI-D common rail diesel engine gives 17.5% more bhp, 30% more torque and a 26% improvement in fuel economy over the previous models. A 160bhp power upgrade is available for all models and Mitsubishi say it will be fitted as standard on the Animal versions. An automatic transmission option is also available for ‘high series’ versions as well.

Mitsubishi says a best in class turning circle for all versions and improved legroom for double cabs is part of the new specification. The workhorse attributes of the L200 remain with a towing capacity of 2.7 tonnes and a payload for all derivatives of over one tonne.

My test model was the L200 2.5 DI-D Warrior Double Cab with a 5-speed manual transmission and full leather trim. The 136bhp produced by this new engine is less than the Navara and the soon to be launched Ford Ranger but much more than the new Toyota Hilux. The Animal is clearly aimed at the lifestyle and business sector and is equipped accordingly with air conditioning, alarm, front airbags, central door locking, electrically operated windows and door mirrors, stereo radio and CD player, alloy wheels, rear bumper style chrome bar with a built in step.

The test vehicle had an optional sliding shutter top fitted to the load area. This restricted the load bed loading capacity still further but it did provide a secure area for valuable items of luggage or cargo. However if the rear tailgate is fully lowered it rests heavily on the rear bumper bar so I can see a few tailgate dents occurring. The cheap rear fog guard light is also fixed below the bumper bar and so positioned to be knocked off whilst driving off-road or to be filled with water when off-roading or using a slipway. Not good attention to detail and I think silly niggling faults.

The leathered interior is exceptionally smart and better than most medium priced 4x4s or SUVs. The instrumentation and controls are comprehensive although the use of a light blue as the background colour for the instruments makes the white lettering and numbers difficult to read. The extra legroom for rear seat passengers is a big improvement but not worth loosing the load bed length for.

Driveability and performance has also improved over the previous L200s. The suspension is compliant and although the rear system still uses leaf springs ride comfort is good. Handling is reasonable but the rear end still needs to be watched in wet weather conditions. Anti-lock braking is standard across the range and the lifestyle models like the Animal have a Super Select four wheel drive system with M-ASTIC, no not mastic sealer, but Mitsubishi’s Active Stability and Traction Control system.

One of the most noticeable improvements over the old L200s is the turning circle. Previously the L200 was hopeless at making tight turns, now it is up to the standard of most modern SUVs and better than all other pick-ups.

The new 134bhp direct injection turbocharged diesel engine is another big step forward. It is responsive, feels strong off and on road and provides for a top speed of 103mph and a 0-62mph acceleration time of 14.6 seconds. The fuel economy, never the previous L200’s strongest point, is improved as well. My test car averaged 29.5mpg over all types of driving, just less than the 32.8mpg quoted by Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi said ownership costs for the L200 have also been improved. Service intervals have risen from 9,000 to 12,500 miles per year and a comprehensive 3-year/100,000 mile mechanical and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty plus 3-year pan-European breakdown cover is provided.

Having driven lots of pick ups of all types for many years both on road, using them for serious off-roading and as a tax saving company car, there are real advantages for saying yes to using a double cab. I’m really not sure the new L200 ticks all the boxes this time around. I think customers will either love or hate the styling - it is radical. The extra interior space is welcome, the quality overall very good, but where it matters for a pick-up is the rear load area and that is not up to the space offered by the new Hilux, Navara and the soon to be launched Ford Ranger. All these models have improved rear seating space but not at the expense of load area length. Size might just matter for Mitsubishi in this instance.