Everything you need to know about the Mitsubishi L200
With its excellent raft of features and ability to be spec’d to meet all kinds of commercial needs, it’s no surprise the Mitsubishi L200 has consistently ranked among the UK’s top three selling pickup models over the last few years.
With the model having received a refresh as recently as 2019, now’s as good a time as any to pick out a Mitsubishi L200 pickup for your business. If it’s something you’re considering, read on for everything you need to know about this popular truck.
History of the Mitsubishi L200
The Mitsubishi L200 can follow its history back to the Japanese manufacturer’s first compact pickup truck, then known as the Mitsubishi Forte, which came to market in its home country in 1978.
Since then, there have been five generations of the Mitsubishi pickup with each building on the business-friendly features of the last and rising to the challenge of modern commercial demands. The previous series 5 of the L200 arrived on the market in 2015 and was updated with series 6 in 2019 with a redesigned front, new taillight design and fresh touches on the interior.
These changes were clearly well received, as the model saw record sales in the UK that year and it remains among the top pickups of choice for businesses of all sectors and sizes.
What awards has the Mitsubishi L200 won?
This popular model is no stranger to picking up rewards. Recent prizes include the title of ‘Best Pickup for Value’ at the WhatCar? Car of the Year Awards 2021, not to mention ‘Best Pickup’ at the Business Vans of the Year Awards 2020.
What versions of the Mitsubishi L200 are available?
The L200 vehicle range is divided between specifications known as 4Life, Trojan, Warrior, Barbarian and Barbarian X, in that order from least to most high-spec. It’s these that will determine the features you get in your Mitsubishi pickup truck, with the 4Life being the more functional option while the Barbarian X boasts some top of the range extras.
In addition to these specs, there are two body styles when it comes to the Mitsubishi L200:
- Club Cab – the Club Cab edition of the L200 features a cabin with a single row of seating to accommodate a driver and one passenger, as well as compact fold-down rear seats that are better suited to storing equipment than carrying passengers. As a result, load space on the bed to the rear is maximised. There are two doors and a tailgate at the back.
- Double Cab – if you regularly carry more than one passenger, the Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab may be a better fit. It reduces the size of the load bay slightly to offer four doors and full size rear seats, comfortably carrying up to five people.
The Club Cab is available in only the 4Life specification, while the Double Cab edition is available in all.
Mitsubishi L200’s best features
With lots of adaptable features, there’s a spec of the L200 to suit almost any business. Key inclusions as standard or optional extras to look out for include:
Load Space
The popular Double Cab version of the L200 provides a load bay that’s 1,470mm2 in size, at a depth of 475mm, while the truck itself measures in at 5,225mm long and 1,815mm wide.
As standard, you’ll notice the load bay offers grooves and six lashing points which can be used to stabilise and separate cargo. Meanwhile, higher spec variants build on the design of the tailgate door including a soft-open option and a mechanism that prevents falling. Depending on the nature of your cargo, you might want to pick from a variety of load bed covers including roll tops and hinged hard covers, as well as vast truck tops that hugely increase the volume of the loading space.
Mitsubishi L200 interior
The L200’s cabin makes use of hard plastics to ensure it holds up against the wear and tear that vehicles used commercially often see. For a vehicle of its size, the cabin is spacious in both Club Cab and Double Cab editions and offers plenty of headroom, along with easy-to-read instrument clusters and comfortable, ergonomic seating. In the top range specs you can expect more luxurious touches including heated leather seat, mood lighting and extra USB ports.
Safety
The L200 last underwent crash testing in 2015, when it received four out of five stars from Euro NCAP. But you’ll be glad to hear that the raft of safety features offered on board has only grown since then. These include automatic emergency braking as standard across the range, including a stability and traction control system, trailer stability assist and an adjustable speed limiter.
Higher trims such as the Warrior and Barbarian options also offer things like lane-departure warning, a 360-degree camera and blind spot warning.
Performance
Across the range, this Mitsubishi pick-up makes use of a 2.3 litre four-cylinder diesel engine. This also features AdBlue to reduce tailpipe emissions. Together, this is able to deliver 148bhp and acceleration of 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds.
All specifications of the L200 are equipped with part-time four-wheel drive, but the system used varies between base and higher spec models.
Mitsubishi L200 running costs
Under WLTP testing, the L200 delivered fuel economy of between 29.1 and 32.8 miles per gallon depending on the spec, which is in line with the model’s rivals, but the 75-litre fuel tank should mean you don’t need to head to the pumps often.
One thing that’s key to Mitsubishi L200 running costs is that the model’s payload capabilities mean it is classified as a light commercial vehicle rather than a car. This returns preferable L200 tax rates, and the vehicle won’t be classified based on its CO2 emissions as cars are.
What’s more, Mitsubishi’s five year/62,000 mile warranty and 12 years’ corrosion cover help provide peace of mind when it comes to maintenance costs. Servicing is needed every 12,500 miles or 12 months.
Mitsubishi L200 towing capacity
The Mitsubishi L200 can tow up to 3,000kg if using a one or two-axle trailer, but this increases to 3,500kg with a three-axle option.
Where can I find a Mitsubishi L200 for commercial use?
Whether you’re set on a Mitsubishi pickup truck or are happy to hear some alternatives, you’ll get the full package with your commercial vehicle rental at Northgate Vehicle Hire. Our flexible terms and hire arrangement up to 48 months are designed to give your business the tools it needs without having to face any large upfront costs. Use our branch finder to find your nearest branch or call us today on 03300 195 100.
