2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider off-road review

Mitsubishi Motors Australia has leant on Melbourne vehicle engineering firm Premcar to give its Triton midsize ute a tune-up. 

The result is the Triton Raider, a halo model based on the range-topping GSR-spec Triton. The changes are centred around vehicle dynamics, with improvements to ride and handling designed to improve the ute’s performance both on and off-road. 

If the Premcar name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you heard of the company when it worked its magic on the Nissan Navara and Patrol to create the Warrior models with great success. Premcar hasn’t strayed far from that successful formula with the Mitsubishi ute and the result is again a triumph.

Mitsubishi saw the popularity of higher-spec models in the ute market and wanted a halo model of its own. It also wanted to draw on its successful history in rally-raid racing with the Pajero models of the past and current racing operations with the Triton in South-East Asia. Hence the Raider name was chosen for this rally-raid-inspired model.

As the halo model, the Raider sits at the top of the Triton price list, coming in at $74,990 (+ORC). That’s almost $10K more than the next model down the range, the GSR Triton. The Triton Raider is only available in a double-cab 4×4 ute configuration.

JUMP AHEAD

• Premcar-engineered upgrades
• Interior and engine relatively unchanged
• On- and off-road driving impressions
• Verdict
• Specs

Premcar-engineered upgrades

Premcar didn’t have to reinvent the wheel when it came to improving the chassis of the Triton.

When we conducted our midsize ute test last year, our judges agreed the Triton chassis was already a great package that made the Mitsubishi one of the more fun utes to drive on dirt. Premcar turned its attention to the basics of ride and handling, specifically the tyres and suspension.

A bigger and more aggressive tyre was sought for both on- and off-road performance as well as looks, but without compromising ride comfort. The team settled on Bridgestone’s Dueler A/T 002 all-terrain tyre for the job and it fits the brief perfectly. The A/T 002 has a fairly mild tread pattern compared to some all-terrain off-road tyres and it uses a lighter construction to retain its passenger-car rating instead of the heavier light-truck (LT) rating.

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This lighter construction has huge benefits in ride quality and handling over an LT-rated tyre, while the construction and tread pattern are certainly capable of tackling most off-road conditions.

The A/T 002 Bridgies are 285/60R18s on the Raider, essentially a 33 in the old money. They are fitted to ROH Assault alloy wheels that have a bespoke offset to sit perfectly in the Raider’s wheel arches and are finished in a Raider-specific hue. These are not off-the-shelf ROH Assaults; they have been manufactured specifically for the Triton Raider and made to fit just right. The size and backspacing of the wheels give the Raider a 21mm increase in wheel track over the regular Triton GSR. This not only gives the Raider a stronger presence on the road but also improves its handling characteristics.

For the suspension, Premcar turned to its partner Monroe to supply the bespoke front struts. These include specific valving and tuning for the Triton Raider, along with internal rebound springs that work with extended bump stops to smooth out those sudden bumps when driving off-road.

The coil springs give a 10mm increase in ride height, which results in a 25mm overall increase once you add in the taller tyres. The rear leaf springs and dampers are matched to the front but also retain the Triton’s load and towing ratings. Of course, it wouldn’t be a hero model without a sticker pack and we’re glad Mitsubishi has kept this relatively subdued, although the styling bar on the tub is over the top.

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Interior and engine relatively unchanged

Inside, the Raider retains the high-spec Triton GSR features and trim, with just Raider branding on the headrests and a console badge. Standard kit includes heated and power-adjustable front seats, leather trim, a 9-inch infotainment screen and the full suite of ADAS systems.

Under the bonnet is the standard 2.4-litre diesel engine, pumping out a claimed 150kW and 470Nm through a six-speed automatic transmission and Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4×4 system that gives drivers the choice of two-wheel drive, full-time 4×4 and locked 4×4 in both high and low range. The rear differential is also lockable.

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On- and off-road driving impressions

Our first drive of the Triton Raider took us to Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills 4×4 Park, which gave us a great mix of off-road driving plus sealed and unsealed public roads.

First impression on the city streets was a reminder of how annoying I find this six-speed transmission at a suburban pace, as it constantly shifts up and down through the ratios seemingly unnecessarily. This isn’t limited to the Raider but applies to all Tritons with this transmission, as well as the Nissan Navara, which shares this driveline.

Things got better once we broke free of the city’s shackles and hit the highway, where the Raider cruised nicely at highway pace with none of the transmission’s nonsense and a solid feeling from the chassis. The all-terrain tyres gave no indication of their presence on the road, which would be appreciated by many users, and they didn’t feel affected by a rain shower.

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The tyres and suspension really came into their own when we reached the 4×4 park, where that rain had made most of the tracks wet. The Triton Raider crawled its way up through the wombat holes, where the rear diff needed to be locked to ensure progress. I’m sure it would have done the climb on traction control alone in dry conditions. The suspension felt sure-footed as we explored the property’s tracks and creek crossings.

More revealing was a drive on rough roads outside the park, where the Raider was composed and well-controlled in conditions that varied from wet gravel roads to potholed sealed backroads. The Raider package gives the driver confidence in the vehicle that you don’t feel in regular 4×4 utes. Again, it’s composed and controlled, and responds well to enthusiastic driving.

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Verdict

The Triton Raider is no Ranger Raptor in terms of powertrain and suspension performance, but it is considerably cheaper than the Ford performance ute.

That said, the Raider is nearly $10K dearer than the GSR base vehicle, and that could be considered a lot of money for what is essentially wheels, tyres and suspension. The big difference here is that these wheels, tyres and suspension have been professionally selected, tested, tuned and developed over thousands of kilometres by the teams at Premcar and MMAL. The end result is a package that works in tune with the donor vehicle and its enhancements, while retaining all of the ride comfort, performance and features of the factory model, along with full warranty and aftersales service.

Even though the Raider was SSM-developed by Premcar, it was done in conjunction with MMAL, so the Raider retains MMAL’s 10/10/10 Diamond Advantage warranty program comprising a 10-year/200,000km manufacturer’s warranty, 10-year capped-price servicing and roadside assistance.

Specs