2015 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab 2.4L MI-D 5AT AWD (180 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Mitsubishi introduced the fifth generation of the L200 in Europe in 2015 and had to comply with the strict Euro 6 emission standards, forcing the automaker to improve the engine and safety systems.

The Japanese automaker was known worldwide for its rugged off-road utility vehicle. While this pickup was not available in the U.S., the rest of the world knew it as the L200, the Triton, or the Strada. At first sight, it looked more like a heavily facelifted version of its predecessor. On the other hand, Mitsubishi said it was completely new despite sharing the same wheelbase as the 2005 L200 pickup. Like that model, it was available with a single or a double cab. While the former was mostly a workhorse, the latter was more of a family vehicle good for everything.

Mitsubishi’s design department struggled to get a new front fascia for the car and added a sharp nose to the L200. Its swept-back headlights flanked a broad chromed upper grille. At the same time, in the bumper, the automaker offered customers the option to equip the car with round fog lamps, while underneath the apron, the pickup sported a skid-plate-like trim. As an option, depending on the market, the car could be fitted with a steel plate instead of plastic decoration.

From its profile, the car had a horizontal line that crossed the bodywork from headlights to taillights, crossing over the doors and the bed. The arched lines of the rear side windows and the sculptured door panels made the L200 look more like a family SUV than a rugged off-road utility vehicle. At the back, the automaker installed corner-mounted taillights surrounded by chromed trims and flanking the tailgate. The spare wheel was placed under the bed, behind the rear axle.

Inside, Mitsubishi tried to create an SUV-like cabin fit for daily use. Still, the materials on the dashboard, door cards, and center console resembled those from an LCV. On the other hand, depending on the market and options, customers could have the car fitted with buttons on the steering wheel and a color touchscreen for the infotainment system mounted atop the center stack featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Fronting the driver was a clean-looking instrument cluster filled with two wide dials for the tachometer and speedometer that flanked a black and white LCD that showed data from the car’s onboard computer. In the back, the bench seat had an almost straight-up backseat, which made long travels uncomfortable for tall people. Behind, in the bed, the L200 provided enough load space for most farmers’ needs in Europe. With a one-ton payload, the L200 proved efficient for most jobs of a light pickup truck.

Under the skin, the 2015 L200 featured a new 2.4-liter turbo diesel powerplant that came in two power levels paired with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. But the car’s most essential asset was its 4×4 system known as the Super Select. It featured three differentials with a read diff-lock from a button on the center console and a transfer box with high and low range gears.