2023 Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme new car review

The Aussie tuners responsible for some of the most red hot Holden Commodores have applied their craft to a tough ute.

2023 Mitsubishi Triton XTreme.

Here’s a proposition to test the Aussie love of dual cab utes – a $71,990 Mitsubishi Triton.

Dubbed the Triton Xtreme, it’s the brainchild of those horsepower hoons at Walkinshaw

Automotive Group, who used to make rowdy HSV V8 Commodores.

These days they’ve turned their hands to ute tuning and they’re convinced there’s a demand among local Mitsubishi lovers for a more capable and stylish flagship version of Triton.

Aussie tuner Walkinshaw has applied its craft to the Mitsubishi Triton.

They’ve spent 18 months developing the Xtreme, which goes on-sale in the third

quarter of 2023 through the Australian Mitsubishi dealer network.

Mitsubishi dealers appear to be on board with the concept as they’ve snapped up 400 of the 500-strong production run already.

The Triton Xtreme is not based on the new sixth-generation Triton Mitsubishi will launch next year. In fact, Mitsubishi Australia is not involved in this project at all.

Instead, the Xtreme is a Walkinshaw-funded development of the existing Triton GSR range-

topper, which retails from about $15,000 cheaper at $56,940 plus on-road costs.

The Mitsubishi Triton XTreme is $15,000 more than the Triton GSR it is based on.

The Xtreme’s updates are installed at the same Walkinshaw facility in Melbourne where

utes such as the Volkswagen Amarok W-Series and HSV SportsCat have previously been

developed and built.

Externally you can pick the Xtreme by its decal kit that includes side stripes and a bonnet

emblem shaped to ape the Mitsubishi’s dynamic shield grille.

More substantial adds-on include a new four-inch dual-tube sports bar with cut-out Triton

logo, fender flares, a front bash plate and integrated light bar.

The look is completed by custom-designed 18-inch forged aluminium wheels wrapped in BF

Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres.

It has custom 18-inch alloy wheels and chunky all-terrain tyres.

Overall, the Xtreme looks more potent than the standard Triton GSR without being too extreme.

The all-terrain tyres give an indication as to where Walkinshaw has devoted its energies in this project.

It’s all about improve the behaviour of the Triton, making it a better ride and drive both on- and off-road.

The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine’s 133kW/430Nm outputs are unchanged, as is the transmission and four-wheel drive system.

The engine, transmission and all-wheel drive tech remain unchanged.

To achieve its ride and handling objectives, WAG has sought out a long-time partner in

Adelaide shock absorber manufacturer Supashock.

If you’re a motor racing fan you might have heard of Supashock before as the supplier of

shock absorbers to the entire V8 Supercars field. Walkinshaw has a long relationship with

Supashock through racing and its production vehicles.

The Supashock shock absorbers deliver no change to ride height or wheel articulation to

assist off-road capability. Nor do they impact the Triton’s 900kg payload rating or 3100kg

braked towing capacity.

Upgraded shocks boost its off-road ability.

So has Walkinshaw achieved its ride and handling objectives? We had the chance to sample

the Xtreme at the old Holden Lang Lang proving ground on a bitumen ride and handling track and a short moderately technical off-road course.

With an interior unchanged compared to the standard Triton GSR apart from a build badge,

it’s a familiar start to the drive experience. And from there things don’t change dramatically.

On the bitumen test track the benefit of the Supashocks was most clear over a series of shallow dips taken at 100km/h. Instead of gradually being overwhelmed and becoming

bouncy, the Xtreme was able to progress without pogoing.

Off-road at slower speeds the Xtreme’s ability to travel more smoothly than the standard Triton was also an improvement.

It’s quickly apparent this is not a Ford Ranger Raptor rival, falling more in the vicinity

another local upgrade project, the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior.

The challenge really comes when assessing if the Xtreme is worth $15,000 more than a

Triton GSR. It’s an incremental improvement, so buying one would be a case of heart ruling

the head.

VERDICT 3/5

The Walkinshaw-tuned Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme adds a hero model to the line-up for a cost

that will exclude all but the true believers.

MITSUBISHI TRITON XTREME

PRICE $71,990 plus on-road costs

ENGINE 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel, 133kW and 430Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE Up to 10 years/200,000km, 10 years/150,000km capped price servicing.

SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking, cruise control, lane departure warning,

blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert