2027 Mitsubishi Triton GLS: Unlocking new potential
Besides writing for Inquirer Mobility, I coach driving enthusiasts, primarily through our grassroots series Gymkhana Pilipinas.
It’s a job that I find immensely rewarding because it allows me to discover new talent and collaborate with drivers to improve their technique. Eventually, they become so good that they become motorsports successes in their own right.
But as in all endeavors, racing or otherwise, not everyone is prodigiously excellent overnight – many start out rather subpar and require continuous feedback and development until they are fully formed. Such is the story of the Mitsubishi Triton, which was launched in the Philippines in January 2024 with quite a few rough edges.
But for the 2027 model year, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) has introduced noticeable changes to its pick-up truck that have improved the driving experience immensely.
Back in black
Having tested the original Triton GLS shortly after it came to the Philippines (which was also in the Solid Red paintjob of our current test unit), this latest iteration sports pleasant aesthetic upgrades.
The “Dynamic Shield” front grill is now painted gloss-black – when combined with the thin LED daytime-running lights and the powerful LED headlights mounted high up the bumper, the Triton GLS now has a more imposing face. The gloss-black undergarnish also looks cool and should handle rough terrain better than before.
These all complement the new gloss-black overfenders, door handles and side mirrors that spruce up the formerly dull side profile. Happily, the black 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/60-series tires fill those wider arches quite well.
Other nice touches include the sturdy side steps and the metal sports bar over the bed, which measures 1,555 millimeters long, 1,545 millimeters wide and 525 millimeters tall. Particular praise goes to MMPC for not only equipping that capacious bed with a standard bedliner, but also for adding a clever spring to make opening and closing the heavy tailgate much easier.
The only feature that the Triton GLS really lacks are LED bed lights to truly make it usable, especially at night.
Functional comfort
Inside, the Triton GLS still gets black leather upholstery that is tastefully applied all the way to the upper glove compartment.
However, the hard and scratchy plastics make the interior feel a bit too utilitarian, while the carried-over piano-black trim looks boring (especially compared to the bright quality of the two-tone interior of the top-of-the-line Triton Athlete). Happily, all controls are logically placed, especially those for the powerful, dual-zone climate-control system with rear fans.
The 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also a breeze to use, while the standard 360-degree camera is immensely useful when maneuvering this big brute through tight spaces. In addition, the front seats offer good support, even in long journeys.
Much improved feel
When the original Triton GLS came out, we found that it wobbled terribly over bumps, feeling as if the body were not fully bolted down to the chassis.
I’m delighted to report that this 2027 model has completely eliminated this nausea-inducing tendency. This means owners can fully appreciate the excellent work that Mitsubishi put into the composed ride and handling, which is set between the super comfortable (if rather floaty) Nissan Navara and the unreasonably hard Toyota Hilux.
Another strong point with the Triton GLS is its 2.4-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, inline-4 turbodiesel engine pumping out 180 horsepower and 430 Newton-meters of torque – it is among the most refined powerplants in its class and provides strong punch throughout the rev range. This is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox that could be smoother and tuned to shift at a lower RPM.
Meanwhile, the heavy hydraulic power steering and the rather high steering ratio mean you need strong arms to manhandle this big Mitsubishi – the electric power steering system from the Triton Athlete would have been immensely welcome. In addition, the powerful brakes are operated by a spongy pedal that make modulation quite tricky.
Nonetheless, fuel consumption is quite good for the class. We got 8 to 11 kilometers in the city and a fantastic 17 to 20 kilometers per liter on the expressway, which are both numbers that can be trounced by plug-in-hybrid pick-up trucks like the BYD Shark 6 DMO.
I also wish the full Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing (MMSS) suite from the Triton Athlete were included in this top-spec 4×2 variant. Given that Forward Collision Mitigation is already standard, I am quite perplexed as to why MMPC didn’t include Adaptive Cruise Control that would make journeys safer and more convenient.
A new leader?
At P1,959,000, the 2027 Mitsubishi Triton GLS is now one of the top 4×2 pick-up trucks in the market.
Although it offers better value than the P1,849,000 Toyota Hilux G 4×2 A/T and the P1,965,000 Nissan Navara Calibre-X, the big Mitsubishi faces stiff competition from the newly revamped Ford Ranger Sport 4×2 at P1,820,000 that is more pleasant to drive and has a more modern interior design and infotainment system.
But kudos to MMPC for further refining and developing the Triton – it is finally the highly capable and competitive pick-up truck that it was meant to be. I look forward to what more is in store.
