2025 Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R review
The 4x4 Triton ute has long been a reliable seller for Mitsubishi, usually slotting in below the ‘big two’ of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux on the sales charts. A welter of Chinese options entering the market has stirred things up in recent times (not least the BYD Shark 6, which has outsold the Triton in early 2025), and the Triton’s ‘cheaper alternative’ market position has come under increased pressure. Late last year, Mitsubishi revived the GLX-R nameplate for a sporty 4x4 dual-cab model, which wedges in between the GLX+ ($53,290) and GLS ($59,090) on price. But does it deliver on value?
How much does the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R cost?
The GLX-R model starts at $56,740 before on-road costs. This puts it a fraction below the 4x4 dual-cab Ford Ranger XLS ($57,630) and a touch above the Toyota HiLux SR 4x4 dual cab ($55,190). It’s also in a similar price bracket to the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 ($57,900). Among the standard inclusions are satellite navigation, digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, rain-sensing wipers and a surround-view camera. No keyless entry and no push-button start are a bit of a surprise this far up the trim list and don’t aid the GLX-R's value proposition. Tritons are covered by Mitsubishi’s 10-year/200,000-kilometre warranty with 10-year capped price servicing ($6690 total).
What is the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R like inside?
While dual-cab utes need to be somewhat utilitarian and hard wearing inside, the amount of hard (and unattractive) plastic in the GLX-R is a little confronting. Interior door handles, centre armrest, dashboard, door cards – it’s everywhere. The manual handbrake doesn’t do much to lift interior presentation, either. The only respite from petrochemical products comes with the leather-wrapped steering wheel and fabric seats.
The instruments are more what you’d expect from a $50k-plus vehicle in 2025. Mitsubishi’s quality nine-inch infotainment screen sits proud on the dash for easy access and presents its various features in clear, high-resolution imagery. Between the traditional speedo and tacho is a seven-inch multi-function driver display with compass, digital speedo, current audio track, outside temperature and vehicle information. While Triton’s six-speaker audio system doesn’t boast a fancy brand name, its high-fidelity sound is a pleasant experience. Also on offer up front are climate control and a USB-A and USB-C port. A row of switches dedicated to air con temperature, fan speed and air recirculation are a welcome touch.
Rear passengers are also treated to one USB-A and one USB-C port, plus a 12-volt socket and fan-speed controls for the air conditioning vents (located in the roof). While the back seats are fixed in every sense, the Triton is wide enough to permit three adults and the seat backs aren’t too upright, while ample padding ensures reasonable comfort. Two of the three seats have ISOFIX points but there is only a one central anchor point for tether strap restraints – which could be a pain if you’re putting child seats in and out all the time.
What equipment does the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R come with?
The whole point of adding the GLX-R to the Triton range is to provide a sportier look without pushing the price too high, and Mitsubishi has done this by adding black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black sports bar (with ‘Mitsubishi’ punched out of the inset metal trim), the aforementioned leather steering wheel, a carpeted floor (suggesting the GLX-R isn’t aimed at concreters or landscape gardeners), a new strut system to make the tailgate easier to open, and exterior door body mouldings instead of side steps.
As mentioned above, the GLX-R comes with plenty of tech, including satellite navigation, digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and a surround-view camera.
The lightweight snap-on tonneau cover is fairly quick to take on and off, but its longevity has to be questioned – on our press vehicle, the adhesive attaching the clip’s base to the top of the tailgate was already beginning to stretch and come away.
How safe is the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R?
ANCAP awarded the Triton a five-star rating in 2024. It ticks all the autonomous emergency braking boxes and scored 89 per cent for child occupant protection – peace of mind if your ute will moonlight as a family vehicle after school or on weekends. Dual frontal, side, and driver knee airbags are all standard, as is a centre airbag (which provides additional protection to front seat passengers during a side impact). While it has lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and speed sign recognition, the Triton only scored 70 per cent for its safety assistance features.
Happily, however, the Triton achieves its five-star ANCAP rating without binging and bonging and tugging endlessly at the steering wheel. Unlike some other examples from rivals, its driver distraction technology (which monitors the driver’s face via a camera mounted on the steering column) is right on the money and only snaps at you to pay attention if your eyes linger too long on the infotainment screen or that intriguing individual on the footpath.
— Kris Ashton
What powers the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R?
Mitsubishi’s 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine has been a mainstay under the Triton’s bonnet for many years and the GLX-R runs the latest twin-turbo variant, which produces an impressive 150kW and 470Nm (up 17kW and 20Nm over the single-turbo engine). This boosts braked towing capacity to from 3100kg to 3500kg, putting the Triton on equal footing with the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. The engine is mated to Mitsubishi’s quick-witted six-speed automatic.
What is the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R like to drive?
Adding a second turbocharger to the powerplant has improved an already tried-and-true recipe. With that chunky 470Nm available from just 1500rpm, the Triton offers excellent acceleration off the mark and, in that regard, outperforms many passenger vehicles as a daily suburban driver.
The current generation’s fuel consumption is a claimed 7.6L/100km, a full litre less than its predecessor, but if it means putting up with the engine stop/start system, it’s probably not worth the saving. Between taking your foot off the brake and the engine rumbling into life, the Triton’s system leaves the car dead for a full second – the last thing you need if you’re trying to dart into a gap in traffic.
The GLX-R gets Mitsubishi’s ‘standard duty’ suspension common to higher-spec Tritons, comprising wishbones paired with 36mm shock absorbers at the front, and leaf springs at the rear. Like most modern utes, the Triton is closer to a car than a truck when it comes to handling, and aside from the sway and bounciness that are unavoidable in a high-riding 4x4, it remains composed and manageable. The steering is light at low speeds and the split-screen, top-down and reversing cameras with guidelines make precision parking a cinch. In saying that, the once narrow-waisted Triton is a bit of a beast these days and requires a full-sized parking spot.
The Triton has proven its off-road mettle over the years and, even though the GLX-R is likely to see more bitumen than dirt in the real world, it has all the bells and whistles including a selector dial with 2WD, 4WD, low and high range, plus a separate button for the rear diff lock. It runs Maxxis 790 Bravo all terrain tyres (designed to be quiet on road but still capable off road), and a full-size spare wheel lurks under the body.
Open Road’s take on the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R
While the Mitsubishi Triton GLX-R has plenty of kerb appeal, drives well, and offers some agreeable creature comforts, the manual handbrake, abundant scratchy plastics, and tonneau cover of dubious quality are less than one might expect at this price point. Depending on your priorities, the GLX-R could be a good deal or less than ideal. Cross-shop it carefully with near competitors before committing to purchase.
PROS
- Rugged and sporty exterior
- Quality infotainment and sound
- Muscular and responsive drivetrain
CONS
- Interior is a riot of hard plastic
- Tonneau cover likely won’t wear well
- Outdated stop/start fuel saving system
