It doesn’t quite happen every month, but it does seem like there’s a new version of the Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck on a very regular basis.
The latest special edition of the Parkers Pickup of the Year 2019 is this new Challenger model, which appears to be a sort of end of the line celebration of the current Series 5 generation ahead of the Series 6 L200 arriving in the UK in autumn 2019.
What’s special about the Mitsubishi L200 Challenger?
By Mitsubishi’s standards, this is quite a tame looking special edition, although it does still have a set of wheel arch extensions, widening its stance.
These are finished in black, and if you examine the pictures a little more closely you’ll see the Challenger has number of other black details as well, including:
- Bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels
- Front grille
- Front bumper accents
- Front fog light surrounds
- Side steps
- Door mirrors
- Door handles
- Rear bumper
The Challenger comes in a choice of white, grey or black body colours, so you can make those details even more subtle if you wish. We like the way it looks with the grey, though.
Do you get any extra standard kit?
The Challenger is based on the existing Warrior trim level, and aside from the bodywork modification comes with the same standard equipment as that model.
Highlight items include:
- Black leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Smartphone Display Link infotainment with 7.0-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Reversing camera
- Dual-zone climate control
- Automatic windscreen wipers
- Lane departure warning system
- Hill-start assist
- Trailer stability assist
It’s a decent roster of kit, but doesn’t match the range-topping Barbarian models – or indeed the other special editions based on them, which includes the Barbarian Black that was launched at the 2019 CV Show in April, and is still available at the time of writing.
What engine and gearbox does the L200 Challenger have?
The Challenger gets the more powerful 181hp version of Mitsubishi’s 2.4-litre turbodiesel pickup truck engine, which also produces a very useful 430Nm of torque.
The L200 is one of the lightest pickups around, so even though it doesn’t have the outright power of some rivals, it’s still a strong performer in this specification.
The engine comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, and a five-speed automatic is optional.
Both versions use the more sophisticated of the two 4x4 systems available in the L200; called Super-Select II, this includes the ability to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive while driving at speeds up to 62mph.
Is this the last L200 special edition before the Series 6 arrives?
We wouldn’t absolutely bet on that, but we’re told that Mitsubishi is stocking the Challenger to the extent that it is planned to continue on sale alongside the Series 6 when that arrives in autumn 2019.
This is to ensure that the company has a big enough supply of L200s to satisfy potential demand. The Challenger is intended to be the only Series 5 model taking up this role, but it is of course possible a few other examples will still be in stock come the arrival of the new versions.
We had a very early drive of the Series 6 in 2018, and were impressed with the changes, though exact UK specification – including pricing – is still to be confirmed.
How much does the L200 Challenger cost, and when does it go on sale?
You can order a Challenger now, and prices start at £27,705 for the manual and £29,105 for the automatic – both figures are on-the-road but excluding VAT.
That makes the Challenger £1,190 more expensive than the Warrior it’s based on, and actually £55 more than a L200 Barbarian with the same engine and gearbox and more standard equipment.
So whether the Challenger is good value to you very much depends on how keen you are on the enhanced exterior with its black detailing and bigger wheelarches.
Also read:
>> Mitsubishi L200 Series 5 full review
