The Drive Section team has captured exclusive images of the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton undergoing Australian testing.

The latest version of the Mitsubishi Triton has been spotted undergoing late-stage testing in Adelaide, South Australia ahead of the model’s planned reveal by the end of the Japanese financial year in March 2023.

The exclusive pictures captured by Drive Section contributor Tom Stuart show a camouflaged test mule for the sixth-generation Triton hitting the road not far from the company’s Australian head office near Adelaide Airport. He notes that it was being driven along the same route as a host of other utes including the all-new Ford Ranger, indicating it was being benchmarked against its competition as part of this testing.

Beyond the camouflaged body – which looks like a familiar but modernised take on the current model’s styling – the new Triton is set to boast a larger and more modern interior, along with a ‘next-generation diesel’ engine. There’s also a chance it may feature plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology further down the line.

At the front of the new design, a streamlined take on the brand’s ‘Dynamic Force’ grille still notably features. It also maintains the Triton’s high belt-line and signature upswept C-pillar design.

However, there’s a new clamshell bonnet at the front and more chiseled lines around the top of the tray and the base of the doors. It also looks wider than the current Triton as can be most clearly seen from the rear window. The cab also looks a bit more streamlined than before.

Not only will the new Triton be one of Mitsubishi’s flagship products in Australia and other key markets such as South East Asia, but it will also form the basis for the next Nissan Navara, with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance wanting to utilise more platform sharing across its lineups. 

Local testing and development input for the new Triton will be crucial given the model’s popularity here. This year so far, it’s the company’s best-selling model with 26,382 sold as of November; last year, it was the 10th best-selling vehicle in Australia and the fourth best-selling light commercial vehicle. 

The current fifth-generation Triton has been around since 2015, with the current facelift being introduced in 2019. It was recently updated for the 2023 model year with a new Sport model. 2023 also sees the axing of the petrol engine for the first time in the model’s history, which means no variant comes in at under $30k. 

Above: The current Mitsubishi Triton (left) and upcoming sixth-generation model (right).

It’s unclear whether the new model will see a substantial price increase or not. Until now, the Triton has sold well due to its impressive value for money, although cheaper utes from GWM, LDV, and SsangYong have given it some competition at the cheaper end of the market over the past few years.

You can expect the sixth-generation Triton to arrive in Australia in time for the 2024 model year. With an expected reveal by this coming March, it’s likely it will hit the market shortly after. 

Photography by Tom Stuart.

Patrick Jackson
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