The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux have traditionally been the top dogs when it comes to sales in the 4×4 ute segment, but the Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max are worthy challengers.
That's especially true when you look at higher specification examples, such as the Triton GSR and D-Max X-Rider.
Both are priced around the $60,000 mark, and get a healthy serving of the goodies offered by the respective manufacturers.
But which of these segment stalwarts offers the most value on paper?
Pricing
The GSR sits at the top of the Mitsubishi Triton range, commanding a price tag of $63,840 plus on-road costs.
On the other hand, the X-Rider is the middle Isuzu D-Max variant.
At $59,500 before on-road costs it's more than $4000 cheaper than the Triton, although the flagship X-Terrain tops $70,000.
Drivetrains and efficiency
Both the Mitsubishi Triton GSR and Isuzu D-Max X-Rider are powered by turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engines.
The Triton boasts an extra turbo, but the D-Max has displacement on its side. Resulting outputs fall in the favour of the Mitsubishi, which has an extra 10kW and 20Nm.
Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission in both cars.
Mitsubishi claims a superior fuel economy figure of 7.7L/100km.
Dimensions
The Mitsubishi Triton is the larger of these two utes, topping the D-Max for every dimension aside from ground clearance.
However, there's very little separating the pair on paper.
Servicing and warranty
The Mitsubishi range is backed by Australia's longest new car warranty, provided you service within the dealer network.
The 2024 Isuzu D-Max is covered by a six-year, 150,000km warranty. When you service on schedule at an Isuzu dealer, up to seven years of roadside assistance is offered.
Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, apart from a complimentary three-month service.
Safety
The Mitsubishi Triton has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2024.
It scored 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 74 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 70 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 8 airbags incl. front-side
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)Pedestrian, Cyclist detectionJunction assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Emergency lane keeping
- Front, rear cross-traffic alert
- Intelligent speed limiter
- Lane keep assist
- Multi-collision brake
- Parking sensors front, rear
- Trailer stability assist
- Reversing camera
- Tyre pressure monitoring
GLX+ and up get a surround-view camera and rear AEB.
The Isuzu D-Max was tested by ANCAP in 2020 and earned a five-star rating. It received a design change to the driver's knee airbag and instrument panel in July 2022 and was re-tested, maintaining its five-star rating.
That rating was based on an adult occupant protection score of 86 per cent, a child occupant protection score of 89 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection score of 69 per cent and a safety assist score of 81 per cent.
Every model comes standard with the following safety features:
- Eight airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Forward collision warning
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Turn assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver attention assist
- Reversing camera
Automatic models also add wrong-pedal acceleration warning.
LS-M Ute variants add rear parking sensors, LS-U and up add tyre pressure monitoring, and front parking sensors are reserved for the flagship X-Terrain.
Standard features
The Mitsubishi Triton GSR comes standard with the following features:
- Automatic high-beam
- Heavy Duty rear suspension
- Keyless entry
- 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- 4-speaker sound system
- 7.0-inch TFT supervision display
- Vinyl flooring
- Air-conditioning
- Floor console box with lid
- 2 x cupholders
- 2 x bottle holders
- Sunglasses holder
- Second-row bench with centre armrest
- Seatback pocket
- 1 x front USB-A outlet
- 1 x rear USB-A outlet
- 1 x front USB-C outlet
- 1 x rear USB-C outlet
- Locking rear differential
- Side steps
- Front fog lights
- Rear privacy glass
- Reversing AEB
- Surround-view cameras
- DAB digital radio
- Standard Duty rear suspension
- Super Select 4WD II
- Tub liner
- Heated, power-adjustable exterior mirrors
- LED headlights
- LED front fog lights
- LED indicator, tail lights
- Interior soft padding surfaces, silver accent stitching
- Dual-zone climate control
- Terrain Control
- Hill descent control
- Electrochromic interior rear-view mirror
- Keyless start
- Wireless phone charger
- Black 18-inch alloy wheels
- Body-colour grille
- Sports bar
- Roof rails
- Black leather upholstery, orange stitching
- Dark Titanium interior accents
- 2 x dash-mounted cupholders
- Power driver's seat
The Isuzu D-Max X-Rider comes standard with the following features:
- Dunlop AT25 tyres
- Welcome headlight function
- Automatic high-beam
- Tailgate assist (Ute models)
- 4.2-inch multi-information display
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
- Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Four-speaker sound system
- Two USB-C ports (one in Single Cab and Space Cab)
- USB-A port for aftermarket dash cam
- Air-conditioning with HEPA filter
- Rear air vents (Crew Cab models)
- Urethane steering wheel
- Urethane transmission selector
- Urethane handbrake
- Vinyl floor
- Three-leaf standard rear suspension
- Bi-LED headlights
- LED fog lights
- Rear parking sensors (Ute models)
- Body-coloured mirrors, door handles and tailgate handle
- Gloss Black and Grey Metallic grille
- High-grade cloth upholstery
- Gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels
- Black grille
- Black front underbody spoiler
- Dark grey grille surround
- Black rear step bar
- Black mirrors, door handles and tailgate handle
- Black B-pillars
- Dark grey sidesteps
- Black interior door handles
- Dark grey and black interior door trims
- Piano black steering wheel spoke trims
- Black headlining
- Satin black sports bar
- Black loopless soft tonneau cover
- 'X' badging on tailgate
MORE: Everything Isuzu D-Max
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
