Our Vans: Mitsubishi L200 2.4 MIVEC
31 August 2016: The final reckoning for the L200
The Details
| Current mileage | 5723 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 42.8mpg |
| Actual economy | 34.5mpg |
It's the end of the road for our L200. After 5700 miles the time has come to hand it back and give a final assessment. Over the past six months Mitsubishi's big and burly workhorse has impressed and occasionally frustrated, but its quality has always shone through.
On the positives, the L200 is an extremely capable works vehicle, with an impressive 3.1-tonne towing ability and a huge load area that will easily carrying a tonne in the back. Admittedly, it's not a market leader - many of its rivals will carry and tow more - but it has more than enough in its locker to do everything your typical builder, gardener or outdoor enthusiast will need. What's more, owing to a few smart extras - namely the optional load cover - the L200 will keep things safe in the back and away from prying eyes.
Another big plus point for the L200 is found in its four-wheel drive. Indeed, Mitsubishi has put all of its off-road knowhow into it and I've never had any trouble navigating muddy farm tracks or flooded roads. The Super Select four-wheel drive system is also easy to use too, with the rotary dial activating the all-wheel drive system on the move in the matter of a few seconds.
The L200's 2.4-litre engine is a strong selling point too, with mountains of torque - 430Nm to be exact - which makes it effortless to drive, with strong pull from low-down the rev range. In fact, other than sports cars, I've seldom experienced an engine with so much torque - it's that strong. On the downside, the four-cylinder diesel is thirsty, which means it probably costs more to run than a fast Ford...
The L200 has proved capable, but expensive to run...
Mitsubishi claims that the 2.4 MIVEC will return 42.8mpg and 700 miles on a single tank of fuel; however, as you might expect, this is nowhere near the truth. As I hand it back to Mitsubishi, the L200 is averaging 34.5mpg. This has been mostly achieved over the past few weeks, with no payload and just one passenger. Load it up, however, add a few passengers and the real world economy will easily dip into the mid-20s.
The L200 handles well enough on the road though, but its ladder chassis and leaf sprung suspension can make it a bit bumpy when unladen. Fully loaded, the ride improves dramatically and the Mitsubishi is a composed motorway companion with low levels of engine and road noise. That said, it's no match for the Nissan Navara.
The interior is good though, with comfortable leather seats and lots of head and leg room for up to four adults. The dashboard is easy to read too, while the navigation and DAB audio makes it simple to get around and stay entertained, which is always important for a works vehicle that can double up as the family transport at the weekend.
The L200 does have its limitations though. It doesn't tow as much as the competition and its load bay is one of the smallest of any pick-up in its class. However, it does driver better than most of its rivals and it has one of the best engines in the business, which will make it a no brainer for many.
« Earlier: How does the L200 rate as an off-roader?
