Mitsubishi L200 is a car that does not pretend to anything. Because they SHOULD NOT!

A pickup truck with three diamonds is exactly what you would expect. Simple, spartan, devoid of modern bells and whistles. It has a conventional large diesel engine mated to an old-fashioned hydraulic automatic transmission. For this, a suspension from a bygone era, the back of which bounces like a ball without load. Because of all this... it's hard not to love him!

In the past, the car had to be multi-purpose. This Volkswagen "Beetle" drove users to school, work, shopping, church and vacation. Over time, specialization followed, and in the 90s we drove station wagons, sedans and liftbacks. Today, the automotive industry is once again impoverished and there is one type of car for everything - an SUV. Against the background of almost identical inflated bodies with huge rims, the hero of this test appears as an alien from another reality.

Elephant in a china shop

Mitsubishi has been offering the L70 model since the 200s. The fifth generation of this car is currently being produced, belonging to the segment of the so-called compact pickups. Class affiliation can be deceiving. At a glance you can see how big this car is! It is 1,8 meters wide, almost the same height, and almost 5,5 meters long with the optional fixed tow bar. With the latter parameter, it is difficult to fit in a standard parking space.

Fashionable white pearlescent lacquer with black details on the Black Edition further emphasizes the size of the L200.

Mitsubishi is available in two body styles, with a short or long cabin, accommodating 4 or 5 passengers. The test specimen, despite the longer passenger compartment, retains the proportions characteristic of pickup trucks, with a clearly defined large cargo compartment. Although it's a work machine, traveling in it comes with decent spatial comfort. In the extended cabin, there is plenty of space even for rear passengers.

Solid simplicity in every detail

At Mitsubishi, look in vain for large touch screens or electronic gadgets to help the driver. There is only an anti-slip system, with a separate stabilization system for the towed trailer. The most important assistant is the plug-in all-wheel drive, with which you can completely disable the ESP system. There are several options for choosing a driving mode. In the basic configuration, power is transferred to the rear axle. You can attach the front axle, engage the gearbox, and in extreme cases, lock the center differential, thanks to which the L4 will enter and (importantly) exit almost any off-road oppression.

The Japanese pickup is devoid of unnecessary luxury. Armchairs, sheathed with thick, but rather rough material, are installed manually. The temperature in the cabin will be provided by an automatic air conditioner - monozone. There is only one touchscreen in Mitsubishi, not very big. It clearly presents information from the audio system. When reversing, it shows the image from the camera - very useful for the already mentioned body sizes. A manifestation of modernity is the keyless control system. A little surprising is the location of the engine start button, which, like in Porsche, is located on the left side of the steering column.

The steering wheel itself is huge and very comfortable. The leather-wrapped “steering wheel” has a wide range of adjustment in two planes. The buttons on it work intuitively. The steering has a very large gear ratio, so the steering, although not the most accurate, but even without the hydraulic booster, there would be no problems with maneuvering.

Listing the advantages, one cannot fail to mention the magnificent headlights. Even during snowfall or rain, on wet roads, on dark nights, standard headlights will illuminate the road, allowing you to drive safely. They are made with xenon technology, not as efficient as the most modern LED lamps, but for this type of car - good enough.

The quality of the materials used matches the character of the pickup truck. Black and gray plastics dominate the entire dashboard. It feels durable and impact resistant. The interior is well assembled, the bolts connecting the interior elements are visible here and there, nothing creaks or creaks inside (the test copy has a mileage of more than 25 km, and was manufactured in six months). Large compartments in front of the passenger and in the armrest will accommodate all the essentials. A pinch of “passenger seat elegance” is added by a few fashionable elements painted in gloss black.

If you're looking for something that can't be explained by Mitsubishi's job purpose and needs to be changed, it's the lack of backlighting for power window switches and the location of the side mirrors. In the dark, it is easy to get confused and open the rear window instead of the front one. However, there are no complaints about the mirrors. They themselves are very large, and despite the lack of a blind spot monitoring system, they are enough to have a good idea of ​​what is happening next to and behind the car.

Perfect for work (almost)

One of the reasons for buying a pickup truck is its cargo space, theoretically unlimited from above. However, in most cases, the owners of this type of car decide to close the body with a superstructure. In the case of the L200, we have as many as 6 different finishes for the luggage compartment. The all-wheel drive body, which, unfortunately, was equipped with the test car, is by far the least practical. Not only does it not open too wide, but not completely - most of it, which is something like a spoiler that expands the edge of the roof, remains motionless. Its quality can also be questioned as it looks more like a handicraft than an original accessory. Thanks to this and no other design, the trunk, in which we can put up to a ton (!) of cargo, has dimensions of only 1520x1470x475 mm, which is only about 1000 liters. A much better choice would have been a slightly more expensive combination body with or without side windows.

Motorized dinosaur - are you sure?

On the Polish market, the L200 is only available with one engine. This is a 2.4-liter diesel engine in two power options. For a more working version - 4WORK - 154 km, and for a passenger - Lifestyle - 181 km. Although the test vehicle's powertrain meets the stringent Euro 6 emission standard, it does not have an Ad-Blue tank - burdensome for users of the latest diesels, as annoying in the case of diesels, the start-stop system. Their absence makes driving more trouble-free and comfortable. Engine vibrations are barely perceptible in the parking lot, but while driving you can clearly hear that a powerful diesel engine is running under the hood. Thanks to its power and very high torque of 430 Nm, the engine is able to move almost two tons with the ease of a compact car. He doesn't smoke like a dragon. On the highway, it's easy to get results under 10 liters per 100 kilometers, but in city driving or with a load, a 75-liter tank will still travel about 600 kilometers.

The engine sends power to the wheels through a classic hydraulic gearbox with just 5 gear ratios. It may seem that this is not enough. However, they are very well matched and quite sufficient for everyday work. The transmission can be put into manual shifting and engine braking to maintain a higher gear on longer descents.

The worse, the better - that is, driving a truck

Just taking up space in the cabin, you need to practice a little and prepare you for the fact that this car is not a passenger car. To get inside, you need to stand on a wide threshold, grab the handle on the A-pillar and pull yourself inside. The typical position for a passenger car is pleasantly surprising. This is due to a flat, high floor. In front of the driver is a panel of classic, simple instruments, with a monochrome on-board computer display and a driving mode indicator in the center. The aforementioned handles on the narrow A-pillars do not interfere with the view through the side windows or through a fairly vertical windshield. Excellent visibility is ensured by the high seating position of the driver, as in a delivery car.

The already mentioned engine noise is not the only reference to commercial vehicles. The suspension is also closer to a small truck. At the rear there is a rigid bridge on leaf springs, and at the front there are rocker arms with coil springs. The empty L200 jumps in potholes and tends to run away from the rear in corners. On quickly overcome transverse irregularities, in turn, it sways like a bus. However, in all this he is very predictable and easy to feel.

Mitsubishi feels best loaded or off the pavement, and if it already rides on black, then the worse the traffic situation, the more confident it will be. The heavy body stays still in the rain, snow, potholes, mud and any other conditions that get in its way. This is due to small wheels shod in huge tires 245/65/17. Thanks to the high sidewall and winter tread, the L200 can ride almost like an all-terrain vehicle. It can also handle motorway driving if needed. It will keep a speed of 140 km / h without problems, although you will then need to raise your voice to talk with rear seat passengers.

Who is the pickup for?

The basic version of the Mitsubishi L200 with a short cab and a weaker engine costs PLN 114. The “civilized” passenger version is found only with a longer passenger compartment and a more powerful diesel engine. Its prices start from 140 zlotys. The test version of the Black Edition with automatic transmission costs additional zlotys. For the corresponding Nissan Navara you will have to pay almost the same, the Ford Ranger will be cheaper, slightly more expensive than the Toyota Hilux or VW Amarok.

The open cargo body was most popular in the southern states of the United States. In Europe, they especially love the Greeks, who use many old Toyotas, Datsuns, Nissans and Mitsubishis to work until their wheels fall off ...

With the current generation of the L200, you can be sure that with a simple design, equipped with several modern solutions, it will last as long and perform as well as its predecessors. It is ideal for the construction manager, forester or farmer. Not afraid to get dirty both outside and inside. It can go further than any ordinary car. He will also find himself in the city and on the expressway, but this is definitely not his favorite environment.