3.9 stars
Tested: Double Cab, 2.4-litre Di-D turbodiesel, automatic in ‘Barbarian’ trim
The Mitsubishi L200 has been a mainstay of the pick-up sector in the UK for years and the latest model is the best yet. Dubbed the ‘Series 5’ – its fifth generation – steady improvements have seen it remain as one of the most popular pick-ups on the market.
We’ve recently had the fifth-generation Mitsubishi L200 on test, but not any old L200, the top spec Barbarian. The refreshed Series 5 builds on the popularity of the previous models’ comfort and refinement, with the Series 5 seeing chassis strengthening and suspension stiffened.
Style and Design
It’s stand-out feature has got to be the way it looks. Definitely not shy of a curve or two, the new L200 is littered with them. Unmistakably Mitsubishi, the front end is tamed with rounded edges for grille and headlamps, while oval recesses are reserved for the fog lights.
The rear edge of the cabin arcs down and around the vehicle's lower edge – the ‘J’-Line, according to Mitsubishi – while the fluid lines of the tailgate and windows are a world away from those on boxier rivals. The Barbarian confirms its status as the flagship model in the range with a special body kit including a sports grille and almost everything else that’s screwed or bolted on swathed in chrome.
Performance
The L200 Barbarian is fitted with Mitsubishi’s own intercooled 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine offering 178bhp. It works and pulls exceptionally well but is characteristically chatty, especially when cold. Once warmed up, its full 430Nm of sweet, exploitable torque is available from just 2,500rpm, which quickly arrives from the revvy oil-burner.
Venture off-road and four-wheel drive can be engaged with a twist of the Super Select 4x4 control, allowing the L200 to explore where many other pick-ups simply can’t reach. Stick to the tarmac and you’ll discover direct, albeit numb, steering and a composed ride.
Ride and Handling
No matter what the marketing garb will tell you, it does NOT drive like a car. Sure, the Barbarian feels as though it will withstand any amount of abuse off-road – but at the expense of the handling on the open road. The L200 has a pliant ride and handles cracked urban streets with ease. However, it struggles to cope with undulations in the road surface even at moderate speeds, with excessive bounce and yaw.
Slow steering coupled with more body roll than you would normally feel comfortable with, undermines the Mitsubishi on-road credentials.
A saving grace is the L200’s impressive turn of speed thanks to the new and powerful diesel engine. On the motorway, it’s easy to unintentionally break the law once the turbocharger wakes up.
Around town, the Barbarian is not at its best. You are constantly reminded of the size of the L200 and parking is made more challenging by poor front and rear visibility. The absence of parking sensors is odd, considering the Barbarian sits atop the trim grade line-up.
Space & Practicality
Double cabs can be fairly touch and go when it comes to practical space for occupants. However, the L200 has good room for four grow-ups and a nipper in the middle of the rear row. For times when it isn’t doing business duties lugging chunky stuff around, this pick-up can readily become a useful and practical family vehicle.
You climb up and into the impressive looking cabin and first impressions are good. The driving seat is comfortable and the upper and lower cabin both wear low-rent, utilitarian plastics, which is expected in a vehicle of this nature and is not at all out of place. Overall, it is spacious and practical with cubby holes, a gigantic glove compartment and lots of oddment storage.
The real practicality can be found in the load bay, which can be plastic, or metal lined and have additional strap-eyes, or any number of utility options added, depending on daily usage. The load bay has over a tonne of payload capacity in the ample rear load area, which accommodates a full-size Euro-pallet. The four-wheel drive transmission makes it a versatile vehicle with lots of towing and off-road potential.
Equipment
Standard kit on the Barbarian spec as tested includes Select 4WD,
M-ASTC, 17-inch alloy wheels and a host of interior and exterior chrome detailing on the rear lamps, door mirrors and handles, with discrete Barbarian graphics on the lower doors.
A Kenwood integrated satellite navigation system and multi-display radio / CD player with touch-screen operation, which also doubles up as the reverse camera screen, luxury leather seats, Bluetooth hands-free kit and even illuminated door entry guards.
Green Cred
The L200 has a large 75-litre (19.8 gallon) fuel tank. In automatic guise as tested, it has a claimed mpg of 39.2 (official combined, unladen), which should realise a range of around 750 miles. I wasn’t far off that with a sub-par 35.4mpg during 411 miles of mixed on- and off-road driving in our week together. While economy can best be described as adequate, it’s in the more critical area of carbon-dumping that keeps the flag flying at 189g/km CO2, much improved from the 210g/km CO2 emitted from the previous model.
Summary
Far from perfect, but bursting with everyday practicality, there is an underlying feel of naïve, youthful honesty attached to the L200. Built to contemptuously dismiss a week full of Mondays, you just know it’ll scoff at any work-a-day abuse thrown at it and keep on doing so time after time.
The pick-up market has seen phenomenal growth in the last decade. Despite tough market conditions, pick-ups have been selling in impressive numbers. The Mitsubishi L200 continues to be a top choice amongst pick-up customers and the Barbarian derivative is no exception.
Take a look at our Mitsubishi L200 offers here
