Mitsubishi L200 Leasing & Contract Hire

by: Richard Dredge

Richard has worked for a wide variety of publications since the late 1990s, writing about as well as photographing modern and classic cars.

The Mitsubishi L200 pick-up was initially launched in the 1970s and since then this tough workhorse has evolved to become a sophisticated and stylish family-friendly vehicle. The latest (sixth-generation) edition was launched at the end of 2019 and as with its predecessor, the latest Mitsubishi L200 is one of the most popular choices within its segment.

It's easy to see the L200's appeal. As well as a wide model range and some keen prices, the L200 is well-equipped, roomy and capable of tackling pretty much anything you throw at it. While the range starts with a single-cab model that can seat just two, it's the five-seater Double Cab that everybody wants so that's what we'll focus on here.

As this review was written the L200 Mk6 was still very new so we had no owner reviews, but plenty of Mk5 owners have given their verdict, awarding an average 3.9 stars out of five. Owners love pretty much every aspect of their pick-ups, apart from the high running costs – which is attributable to the fuel consumption that results from running what is a very big and heavy vehicle.

Practicality

There's space for five adults and the load bed is spacious (152cm long, 147cm wide) so you can fit in a huge amount of stuff; the maximum payload is 1045-1080kg depending on variant. But you probably wouldn't want to put luggage or shopping in the bed which means the back seats become the boot, reducing passenger space.

Don't under-estimate the L200's size; at 522cm it's significantly longer than a Range Rover, and almost as tall at 178cm. As a result you'll struggle to garage it and the L200 won't fit into a standard parking space, although the various mirrors and cameras make it easy to park and place in terms of visibility.

Interior

The days of pick-up drivers accepting a stripped-out cabin are long gone. Even the entry-level L200 4Life gets Bluetooth, electric windows, cruise control, air-con and remote central locking. By the time you get to the range-topping Barbarian X there are automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, navigation, rear parking camera and heated leather-trimmed seats with electric adjustment for the driver.

It's all screwed together pretty well, with an impressive standard of fit and finish. There's plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustment so it's easy to find a comfortable seating position, with the seats themselves offering plenty of support.  

What's it like to drive?

All L200s come with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel engine and a six-speed gearbox. While L200 4Life comes only with a manual transmission and the Barbarian X is auto-only, all models in between have a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. You sit high up and the car feels very substantial, which helps to make you feel very safe as you drive.

The engine has plenty of muscle to accelerate it quickly or to tow up to 3500kg, but it's quite noisy as the pick-up gathers speed; most SUVs are more refined. Once up to speed the Mitsubishi is quiet though, so the L200 is a surprisingly accomplished cruiser at motorway speeds where there's plenty of power in reserve.

Verdict

The Mitsubishi L200 isn't a substitute for a similarly priced SUV such as a Citroen C5 Aircross, a Mazda CX-5 or a Toyota Rav4. Those are designed primarily for road use and while the L200 is an excellent all-rounder, it's in its element when tackling terrain that's rather more challenging than broken Tarmac.

Instead, the L200 is pitched against the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara or Toyota Hilux, all of which are also worth considering. But we wouldn't steer you away from the very likeable – and talented – Mitsubishi L200.