This week, Mitsubishi revealed its next-gen midsize truck, the 2024 Triton. It has bold styling, body-on-frame architecture, three engine tune options and three cabin configurations. With the monochromatic midsize trucks currently available in the U.S., we think it would compete well here. But, unfortunately it won’t get the chance.
The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton is slotted to head to Thailand, Japan and the Oceania region, which includes Australia. But it’s not coming anywhere in North America. Insert sad trombone.
What is the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton?
The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton is a midsize truck with a new ladder frame, which has better ride quality as well as improved crashworthiness. It will have double cab, club cab and single cab options as well as a 2.4-liter clean diesel engine with three power output options. Plus, it will offer both a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
Why do we care the U.S. won’t get it?
The midsize truck segment is H-O-T in the U.S. right now. The GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado are all-new for 2023, the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger will be new for 2024. And while it seems Colorado, Canyon and Ranger will offer pared down configurations, the Triton has options.
Not to mention the fact there are only two pickup trucks in the U.S. that currently offer a manual transmission, so fundamentalist truck owners would be clamoring for this.
Both the interior and exterior styling bear some resemblance to the refreshed Mitsubishi Outlander, which means those seats are going to be super comfy.
While we wouldn’t get a diesel powertrain here in the U.S., the gas and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle powertrains in the Outlander would have the potential to do well here.
The bottom line
Mitsubishi dropped the Evo from its lineup several years ago, in favor of a growing SUV market. Now in the U.S., it just sells the Mirage, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport and Outlander. If Mitsubishi really wanted to tap into the American mindset and market, it would bring the 2024 Triton here. But it isn’t.
Unless or until Mitsubishi changes its mind, the 2024 Triton will be forbidden fruit. What do you think, should Mitsubishi bring the truck Stateside? Is it something you’d be interested in? Comment below.
For more information, visit the full Mitsubishi Motors press release.
