ATN #418

MITSUBISHI TRITON GLS
The Triton’s utilitarian character is underlined by its basic cabin. Cloth
on the front and rear seats feels cheap to the touch and looks drab, but
they are well cushioned and surprisingly supportive.
With GLS trim comes keyless entry and start, an automatic
driver’s side window, parking sensors front and rear with a rear-view
camera, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and
rain-sensing wipers.
Visibility out of the Triton is better than most of its rivals, especially
over the right shoulder. However, the upswept glasshouse can pinch
vision on the left side.
ANCAP rated the Mitsubishi Triton five stars for safety back in
2015 and the GLS carries seven airbags. Its active safety list includes
everything from AEB to rear-cross traffic alert, but it cannot be
equipped with adaptive cruise control.
Rear occupant comfort suffers from the short thigh supports
and firm back cushioning. There is good lumbar support, though.
Floor mats feature in the rear along with two sets of ISOFIX and top
tether anchors.
From a practical point of view, the rear doors feature cup holders
that hold a large bottle, while the centre armrest has two smaller cup
holders, two USB ports and ceiling-mounted air vents.
Mitsubishi’s seven-inch (17.8cm) infotainment screen is servicable
in the Triton GLS and features both wired Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto capability. Interestingly, it doesn’t have its own satellite navigation
system but will serve up GPS coordinates if you do ever get stuck in the
middle of nowhere.
It has radio and features two 12-volt outlets, two USB-A inputs
and an HDMI port. While the driver can change audio volume on the
steering wheel, touch-sensitive controls on the screen itself will no
doubt annoy passengers.
The six-speaker stereo system does not impress, sounding tinny
and unrefined. On the plus side, there’s a dedicated ‘Apps’ button that
effectively acts as a smartphone mirroring switch.
The Ranger is basically a set of
tyres away from excellence
Top: Visibility out of
the Triton is better
than most of its
rivals; The Triton
has surprisingly
supportive but
cheap-feeling seats
and rear comfort
suffers from short
thigh support
Above: The Ranger
scored a five star
ANCAP rating
but misses out
on systems such
as blind-spot
monitoring. Interior
shots were not
available as of
going to press
FORD RANGER XLT
Overall, the Ranger XLT presents a functional workstation that is ergonomically sound. The seats are more comfortable than some other Ford
commercial vehicles, such as the Transit, but they are still average. It is worse up back, though, where the rear seats lack contouring and
support on firm cushions.
Legroom is class-leading for rear occupants. The front footwells are also generously sized. Features-wise, the XLT makes do with manual
seat adjustment but has cloth seats, carpet floor coverings, auto headlights and wipers, a leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control,
one-touch power window on the driver’s side and keyless entry.
The Ranger scored five stars in ANCAP crash testing back in 2015, but its equipment list in this area is far from comprehensive. The XLT
misses out on blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. It features six airbags and forward visibility is okay,
supported by over-shoulder visibility on both sides.
Practicality is improved for rear occupants by large cup holders in the doors. But the absence of USB ports or ventilation back there is
redeemed by a 12-volt power supply, 230-volt inverter and a centre armrest with two small cup holders. For child seats there are also two sets
of ISOFIX and upper anchorage points.
Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment system is viewed through the same eight-inch (20.3cm) touchscreen. That means app access, but also a
swathe of FordPass features that control items like remote air-conditioning priming, remote unlock and a vehicle locator function.
Slow-to-respond SYNC3 systems are a known problem, but it seems to be luck of the draw whether an individual car is affected and this
test car has no issues.
In addition to the main screen, the Ranger also features two multi-function TFT displays within the instrument cluster that can provide
handy access to various systems.
This level of customisation is a unique feature that few dual-cab ute rivals can match. Also unique to the Ranger is a USB port near the
rearview mirror for dashcam connectivity.
76 ATN July 2021 FULLYLOADED.COM.AU