Mitsubishi L200 test drive since 2006 pickup

What kind of truck is this?

It’s not bad if the one who tests cars does not have a special love for this category of cars. Sergey Kanunnikov tried to be unbiased. Photo: George Sadkov.
 
Ssang Yong Action Sports
The Action model appeared on the Russian market at the end of 2006, a pickup on its base in 2007.
Engine: diesel, 2.0 l, 141 hp
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic. Connected front -wheel drive, reducing gear.
Complete: P20M01, P20M21, P20A21, P20L21.
Price: 745 000865 000 rub. ($ 29 20033 900).
 
Mitsubishi L200
The pickupian was represented in 2006, debuted in the Russian market in 2007.
Engine: diesel, 2.5 l, 136 hp
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic. Connected front -wheel drive, reducing gear.
Complete: Invite, Invite+, Intense, Instyle.
Price: $ 24 99033 290.
 
Mazda BT-50
The pickup debut at the end of 2006.
Engine: diesel, 2.5 l, 143 hp
Gearbox: 5-speed mechanical. Connected front -wheel drive, reducing gear.
Complete: Direct, Touring, Touring Plus, Active.
Price: 611 000788 000 rub. ($ 23 96030 900).
 
Farm? Hardly. For a serious economy is small. In addition, in Russia, only a very rare farmer will buy such a car. For outdoor activities with a bulky inventory? Perhaps, but the bicycle can be fixed on the passenger roof, and it is difficult to attach skiing in such a body. Maybe, after all, a cheap alternative to an alternate? This is probably attracted by most pickup fans. To understand why and whom these cars, first you need to figure out what they are. Let's try?
 
Passenger truck
The design, as you know, is useless to argue. Perhaps those who consider the Sanyon-Aktion athletes are strange will be a little more than fans. But the latter will probably be more active.
 
In appearance, a chisel -shaped car seems to be a passenger. It is somehow inconvenient to put on such and toothy tires. The salon, like the body, tried to make it original, but the originality came out some kind of simple-minded. The buttons are scattered randomly, the panel is too plastic, climate control is not very clear. What? There is no radio in the car for 30 thousand dollars? Superficiency record! It is especially funny that at the same time there are buttons on the steering wheel.
 
At first it seemed that it was convenient to sit, but soon I felt: I rub my right knee on a powerful console with the very frivolous buttons. No matter how the sensation did not disappear. By the way, the foot felt the action day after parting. At the back in the car, you can transport the patient on a short shoulder, only children on a long journey.
 
The asset has a minimum of noise and vibrations of a quite passenger car with the manners of an athlete athlete. An energetic, but not at all a frantic start only to join without interference into an under Moscow. I rejoice in excellent dynamics and suddenly I feel: the engine has already reached the limiting revolutions. I turn on the second, and almost immediately the same thing happens! Up to 2000 rpm, the motor is dead, then they do not allow to live calmly short gears. It is not always possible to get into the necessary. Switch quickly? Not at all easy! Firstly, Sanyon’s adhesion is obscure, the line between a free and working move is poorly noticeable. Secondly, the gearbox forced to recall the forgotten term was not developed. The lever constantly rests on a certain, albeit small, barrier.
 
On the highway, the action thanks to spring pendants is comfortable and obedient. Only characteristic rolls give out not quite a passenger car. The suspension smoothes even serious (but smooth!) Unevenness. He would not be so light and amorphous, and it would be very good.
 
But it is better not to meddle on off -road. I almost calculated the speed, and the suspension on the seemingly harmless irregularity misses a blow. The road clearance is frankly small. Unknown gear ratio of transmission also affects the reduced row. For a sandy rise, the first is not enough, the second is a lot. Action is the only subject with electronic transmission and problems that are caused. I turn the steeple from 2wd to 4wd blink both characters, and the car was clearly left -wheel drive. After a dozen or two meters, the front-wheel drive still earned. But in order to turn it off, I had to reboot in the company. When starting a hot motor, an interesting feature found out: Sanyon starts only with a partially pressed gas pedal. Stop tormenting the car off -road. She is clearly passenger, besides for those who can and love to work intensively to the lever box. But that this lover is lucky in the back?
 
Cargo all -around
Mitsubishi-L200 does not have the extravagance of the action, but you can’t call it boring or modest. The salon is like a non -cheap car: practically hidden, tasted with taste. The second row of seats in Mitsubishi is the most spacious. Another small touch: L200 has the lightest rear side. But at the same time, by the way, a high body.
 
I did not expect to sit behind the wheel very convenient. The distance between the pillow of the chair and the floor is a little reminder of the old Japanese and some modern Chinese models.
 
According to the design, level of decoration, equipment of Mitsubishi, a solid all -around. Such, it seems, should keep yourself well on the highway. But at first it brings the machine gun. The first impression of others: I am a kettle, I can’t fit into the stream. The car reacts to a deep pressure of the pedal with a huge delay. An attempt to release the pedal leads to chaotic jumping of the gears. In order to confidently ride, you must adopt the pedal to certain, in no case large (categorically not on the floor!), But corners found with experience. Now it’s clear: the dynamics of Mitsubishi is very decent.
 
The late ABS at the first moment made me doubt its serviceability (!). But the main drawback of the car: the behavior of the ship. The right of the steering wheel! The bagel is turned almost 90 degrees slowly, reluctantly, the car begins to drift in the indicated direction. Left steering! The car, tilted, returns to the original. The stiffness of the suspension is thoroughly picap, of course, excusable. But it hurts very much from side to side on smooth irregularities, and sometimes it seems: I am in a tractor, and there is a trailer behind.
 
No, of course, there is no crime. At speeds no more than 100110 km/h (and where is the truck faster?) Everything happens smoothly and irrepressible. It will be tired of on a long trip and on a mountain road, where you are especially acutely felt by huge angles of rotation of the steering wheel and thoughtful reactions. In addition to what kind of good, right knee, accidentally turn off the overdrave, pressing the button on the box selector.
 
But on the off -road Mitsubishi in his element. Gradually, I am sorting out all the provisions of the transmission lever (the scheme on it was more honorable!), Connecting the front bridge, blocking the differential, moving to a low row. Then I work only with a gas pedal, which in such conditions does not create problems. In the sand slide? Please! Through a shallow river? No problems! In the thicket? It’s a pity for the beautiful metallic in rural areas, however, very prosperous, Mitsubishi-L200 will undoubtedly be the first guy! In the city and long trips, we would probably be tired of each other.
 
All -terrain pickup
Mazda BT-50 is largely similar to Mitsubishi. The same rigidity (but impenetration!) Suspensions, especially tangible in a empty car. An understandable circuit of the transmission management for off -road and confident behavior there. Not stunning, but decent acceleration and clear braking.
 
Mazda salon is simpler, but planting is more convenient than in L200. Sensation: I always sat in this chair. The back is a little closer than in the Japanese, but more spacious than in the action. The body is more, but longer and the loading height is smaller.
 
Acceleration of a mazda with a manual box is much easier and clearer than Mitsubishi with a machine gun. True, it is accompanied by a too fierce and annoying roar. The VT-50 vibrations are also great, as well as the moves of the lever of the box resembling a truck.
 
The smoothness of the Mazda stroke is much worse than that of Sanyn, and is generally close to Mitsubishi. Of course, it is not perfect shocks from overcoming grooves and bumps speak somewhere in the lower back. But this is still better than the longitudinal transverse swing L200. On the serpentine, the BT-50 requires the rotation of the steering wheel to noticeably smaller angles, although the slowdown when performing commands left and right is also characteristic of the Mazda. Of course, it is unfair to demand the reactions of a sports coupe from the pickupa and even the sedan, but I would still like to bring Mazda and especially Mitsubishi a little closer to them.
 
On the off -road Mazda is no worse than a fellow countryman. A manual, not an automatic gearbox will cause inconvenience only to a very inexperienced driver. Tip: For a leisurely but confident movement in pampas, use mainly the second lowered. Enough for all occasions.
 
Perhaps the BT-50 is the best compromise between freight and passenger qualities, between reliability on off-road and comfort on asphalt. Namely, this is what fans of pickups expect from cars.
 
After the test, I can hardly represent a similar car in everyday city life. Of course, I have many opponents. But before the final choice, I think, it’s good to find out, what kind of truck is this?.
 
Sergey Kanunnikov: Evaluating the pickups from the point of view of a specific task, of course, we would get other results. Our point system involves a comprehensive assessment in averaged conditions, under daily operation. By the way, most pickups in Russia live that way.
 
Ssang Yong Action Sports A car with a cargo body, inconvenient in the city, weak on the road.
 
General assessment 7.4
 
+ Comfortable suspension, passage reactions to steering, a minimum of noise and vibrations.
- uncomfortable controls, close rear seat, inconsistency of the engine and gearbox, thoughtful transmission control.
 
Mitsubishi L200 is no longer a truck, but also not a universal alternate, well adapted to smooth roads.
 
General assessment 7.7
 
+ Elegant design, good smoothness, spacious rear seat, good cross -country ability.
- Cargo controllability, inconvenient traction control, low driver's seat, high body.
 
 
Mazda BT-50 The most compromise pickup among subjects, most suitable for various tasks.
 
General estimate 8.0
 
+ Convenient landing on the front seats, good dynamics, understandable controls.
- noisy engine, mediocre smoothness, slowed down rising reactions.
 
Sergey Kanunnikov
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"