There's only so much you can do to make a pick-up enjoyable to drive but Mitsubishi has made more effort in this regard this time round, conscious that any L200 is likely to spend the majority of its time on tarmac. This Series 5 version's chassis is complemented by re-developed suspension, plus there are new shock absorbing body mounts, which absorb vibrations better than before and provide a quieter, more comfortable cabin.
Thanks to the stiff chassis (shared with Fiat), handling is better than you might expect from a pick-up and body roll, usually something of a problem in vehicles with higher centres of gravity, should be kept to a minimum. The suspension set-up, which includes a large stabiliser bar and stiff front springs, should allow the L200 to handle and ride with reasonable comfort and agility.
The engine should impress too. With 178bhp and 430Nm of torque on-tap, the 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel unit provides this L200 with strong performance, the 0-62mph time rated at 10.4s. As before, the L200 can be driven in either 2WD or 4WD on tarmac or off road. In addition, the L200 is the only pickup that can tow 3.5-tonnes on tarmac in four-wheel drive.
