Our Vans: Mitsubishi L200 2.4 MIVEC
22 June 2016: Bed bugs
The Details
| Current mileage | 3245 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 42.8mpg |
| Actual economy | 33.4mpg |
It has been a busy few weeks for me and the L200, although most of my road trips have involved the M25 and airport car parks. Indeed, it's been a hectic time to be a motoring journalist and everyone at the moment appears to be busy launching new cars, vans and pick-ups.
One of the most interesting vehicles I've driven these past two weeks has been the new Toyota Hilux. As you might have guessed, this is one of the L200's chief rivals and I was keen to see how the two compared. After all, the Toyota is a pick-up icon and some 20 million of the things have been sold over its 50 year lifespan. In fact, I think you'd have a challenge to go anywhere in the world and not spot a Hilux on the road.
In regards to driving and looks, the two are quite similar. Both are based on a ladder chassis with leaf sprung suspension at the back and are capable of carrying payloads of 1055kg. However, upon inspecting the back of the double cab Hilux I found that it has a distinct advantage over the L200.
Digging out a tape measure, I found that the Hilux's load bed - 1645mm wide by 1525mm long - is 175mm wider than the L200's (1470mm wide and 1515mm long). That's a huge gap. What's more, the Toyota's load bed is slightly longer, by 10mm, giving it one of the largest load areas of any double cab pick-up on the market.
The new Toyota Hilux gets a longer and wider load bed over the L200
The Hilux also benefits in terms of choice, with the option of single and extra cab body styles. It will tow more too, with a braked limit of 3.5 tonnes. The L200, in comparison, will pull 3.1 tonnes and is limited to double cab body style only.
Following my Toyota experience, I was left feeling a little disappointed on the drive home, although I should add that the Mitsubishi is better on the road. The 2.4-litre diesel in the L200 is far superior to the Hilux's 2.4 D4-D, with less noise and more power. That said, there's no denying that the Hilux is a more practical. The 3.5 tonne towing limit is a particular area that will win it business.
However, the L200's fuel economy is slowly creeping up - I'm now averaging 33.4mpg - but this is still a long way short of Mitsubishi's claimed 42.8mpg. The economy did spike up to the high 30s, but this was short lived as it was on the motorway with cruise control active. After leaving the M25, the economy fell back to the mid to low 30s.
I have no complaints about comfort though. The L200 has excellent seats and a spacious cabin that makes it great for spending a few hours behind the wheel. The leather seats have lots of side and back support too, which is great news for me and my back during these busy weeks.
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