What is it?

Now in its 5th generation, Mitsubishi say that they went back to the drawing board and created an entirely new vehicle from the ground up with significant improvements pretty much everywhere.

New for 2016 are Single Cab 4Life and Club Cab 4Life variants with the promise of improved specs and better fuel economy.  Without giving too much away, with Auto Express and What Van? pick-up of the year awards under its belt, the Mitsubishi’s L200 just keeps on getting better.

On the road

I really, really liked driving the new L200, whether it was around town, on the motorway or on winding country lanes, it was an absolute pleasure and easy to forget that I really, really liked driving the new L200, whether it was around town, on the motorway or on winding country lanes, it was an absolute pleasure and quite easy to forget that you’re driving a pick-up.  Was it the suspension, the interior, the perky engine or the 6-speed manual gearbox that made it so joyful, or all combined?  Who knows, who cares!  Give me an L200 and I would happily take it on any long distance haul.

Off the road

What can I really say, from rocky terrain to mud, the L200 drove everywhere I pointed it without hesitation.  There’s a dial just behind the gear-lever that allows you to switch from 2-wheel drive to 4-wheel drive high or low, locked or unlocked - it’s very easy to use.

As you can read here - Monday Mooch - whilst we were up in Kendal, Muddy Madam and I decided to strap Winona to the roof and go on a mini adventure around Windermere, and the L200 proved to be a perfect travelling companion.  The green-lanes weren’t demanding in anyway, I don’t think I even bothered with 4wd, but it handled them with ease. 

Interior

Of course there’s no getting away from the fact that the L200 is a working vehicle, and although there’s a nice curvy dash layout, it’s still hard plastic.  Having said that, even working vehicles need comfort and the L200 certainly has that.  The heated seats are wonderfully supportive in every respect, I never felt the need to adjust my bum whislt sat at lights or in interminable traffic jams.

The dash layout, if I’m being picky, isn’t as nice as the 4th gen I drove last year, but it’s functional and easy to read.  The reversing camera is a wonderful addition and in a good position to protect itself from muck and road spray.

The rear seats are comfy too, with enough room for my lanky legs, I wouldn't be upset if I had to be a back-seat passenger.

Engines ’n’ transmissions

 You get one option with the 2016 L200, no matter what spec you decide go for, and that’s the intercooled and turbocharged 2.4ltr diesel which is connected to the 6-speed manual gearbox. Figures are:

151bhp - 41mpg combined - 105mph - 0-60mph in 12.2 seconds and C02 @ 180 g/km

Conclusion

So, no faults then?  Umm, I wouldn’t say that, whilst I had the drivers side heater set to 16.5 degrees, the passenger side, that was set to 28 degrees, was still pumping out cool air, but at 29 degrees it was lovely and warm.  I’m sure that Mitsubishi would sort that out under warranty.  Not the cars fault, but the roller cover was a bit of a faff to use, but very useful to keep all the BBQ gear we had in the back when we went paddling in Windermere out of sight.

The 5th Series L200 is a great 4x4 and a wonderful vehicle to live with, and it’s therefore added to the ‘sad to see it returned’ list of cars.  In fact, if Mitsubishi offered me it on a 12 month loan I wouldn’t be disappointed in the slightest!