Our Vans: Mitsubishi L200 2.4 MIVEC
3 August 2016: Candid camera
The Details
| Current mileage | 4706 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 42.8mpg |
| Actual economy | 33.9mpg |
Over the past few months I’ve grown use to the constant bleeping of the L200’s parking sensors. They don't need much reason to bleep away in merriment, regardless if something is nearby or not. However, as previously reported, they are an optional extra, which means you can avoid them altogether – and save yourself over £140 – by simply not having them fitted.
If truth be told, there really is no need to fit parking sensors. Most L200s get a rearview camera as standard and this little unit does everything you need when it comes to reversing. Indeed, not only does it see pretty much everything behind you, but it also displays it all in glorious Technicolor, via the infotainment screen on the dashboard.
Sometimes cameras on cars are - to be frank - useless. Too dark at night, too bright in the day and prone to going blind in the rain, they can cause more problems than they solve. However, the L200 benefits from one of the best in the business. Not only does it give a great view, but the wide angle lens makes it easy to slip into the slimmest of parking bays.
As well as appreciating the excellent rearview camera, I've also been won over by the ‘Premium HD navigation’, which is standard on Barbarian trim. Admittedly, there’s not much in the way of high definition – the navigation graphics look more akin to a 1990s’ Sega Mega Drive – but when it comes to getting you around the country, with minimal of fuss, the Mitsubishi navigation is top trumps.
It might look dated, but the L200's navigation system is one of the best in the business
Despite the dodgy computer graphics, the L200's nav is easy to read, simple to program and clear with its directions. Over the past five months, I've found that it has been great for avoiding traffic jams, with its live updates providing the latest road reports.
A recent bout of wet weather caused chaos on the A14, but I missed the whole thing thanks to the navigation rerouting me Cambridge via Papworth. This excursion also proved that the L200 - which runs in rear-wheel drive most of the time - is surprisingly stable in slippery conditions.
Regular pick-up drivers will know that - when empty – these vehicles can become a little unpredictable in the wet, with the rear-wheel drive pushing the back-end out at roundabouts and tight bends. However, the latest L200 doesn’t suffer from this handling trait, which means you don’t have to active four-wheel drive – and lose valuable MPG – every time a dark cloud appears on the horizon.
On the subject of economy, the L200 is returning almost 34mpg, which is a slight improvement over the mid-20s it was churning out at the start of my loan. That said, I have not been carrying any passengers and the load bay has remained empty, which probably explains why the economy has claimed in recent weeks.
« Earlier: Family fortunes Later: How does the L200 rate as an off-roader? »
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