I first visited the charming rural town of Boonah, 70 km south-west of Brisbane, 42 years ago. Nestled beneath the magnificent Scenic Rim Mountain Ranges, Boonah was well ahead of today’s push to rename Australian towns by their Aboriginal origin. The name was derived in 1887 from an Aboriginal word describing the district’s bloodwood tree or a brigalow-type acacia.
The writer has tested many cars along the rim since that first visit in 1983. On that occasion my passenger was the clever and capable, albeit controversial, Gabby Horan, then president of the Queensland Housewives Association. Offered a free lunch garnished with their famous French potato bake, we were invited to the Boonah Potato Festival to co-judge 15 contestants in the Miss Potato Quest, the winner to wear the title ‘Queen of Spuds’.
Adding to a judging repertoire over many years as an agricultural writer were Miss Orange, Miss Apple and Grape, Miss Dairy, Miss Timber, Australia’s Cattle Queen and, long before Miss Piggy … Miss Pork Producer.
But times have changed. By virtue of their names and, um, their entire premise – now lining women up in a kind of sequin-coated cattle call – it’s fair to say that beauty pageants haven’t historically been the most feminist of endeavours.
But judging the style, power and beauty of motor cars is acceptable. In fact, Boonah now features such street entertainment as festivals for classic and vintage cars, coffee and music: vibes for the heart – and potato growing competitions, sans beauty parades.
I’m sure I would have given the classic Holden Rodeo Ute multiple stars after that run to the potato festival all those years ago. The Rodeo was sold in Australia and New Zealand by Holden. Introduced in 1980, the Rodeo pickup truck was built by Isuzu over three generations.
Interestingly, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Isuzu Motors Ltd. (Isuzu) are new signatories to an agreement previously reached by MC and four other interests to collaborate on digital transformations in regional public transportation. The agreement, which focuses on autonomous-driving services in Japan’s Osaka City, addresses logistics and mobility related challenges with data-driven business and global digitation transformation.
The return visit to Boonah two weeks ago was aboard the new 2025 Mitsubishi Triton GSR Double Cab Chassis.
The Trjton features a wider track and a 2.4‑litre bi‑turbo diesel that puts out 15 kW and 470 Nm.
Under the skin sits the new ladder‑frame chassis shared with the Thai‑market L200, but tuned for local conditions. Super‑Select 4WD‑II now features seven terrain modes with braked towing climbing to 3500 kg.
There’s big torque from low revs, super select 4WD‑II delivering full‑time AWD for wet bitumen as well as low‑range for the rough stuff. And Mitsubishi’s 10-year warranty and capped‑price servicing that takes the sting out of ute ownership.
Mitsubishi’s price range is well spread – from $34,490 for a 4×2 GLX single‑cab manual up to $63,840 for the GSR dual‑cab pickup. Dual‑cab 4×4 volumes start at $50,940 (GLX auto). The new club cab and single‑cab chassis variants are landing progressively through 2025, giving fleet buyers and tray‑fitters far more choice.
The new Triton’s redesign brings a stiffer frame, hydraulic cab mounts and a cabin that offers plenty of room for adults in the rear. Every grade runs the new 9‑in. infotainment unit with wireless CarPlay, and GLS upward scores wireless phone charging plus LED headlights.
ANCAP handed the new ute a five‑star rating under its tough 2023‑2025 protocols, the first dual‑cab to pass that test cycle. Autonomous emergency braking works day and night, lane‑keep assist reacts gently rather than a sudden sharp action. Triton also offers a 360‑deg. camera on GLS and GSR and debuts a camera‑based driver monitoring system.
Service intervals sit at 15,000 km or 12 months, and the capped‑price schedule averages $799 a year for the first five visits. The 10‑year/ 200,000-km Diamond Advantage warranty remains the longest in the class
Triton’s official combined fuel cycle hovers around 7.7 L/100 km for a 4×4 auto.
“Triton has always been known for its ability to work hard and play hard,” said Bruce Hampel, MMAL’s general manager of product strategy.
“The Cab Chassis and Club Cab variants provide customers another opportunity to create a vehicle that suits their lifestyle – from tackling their chosen trade to chasing weekend adventures.
“Cab Chassis variants offer impressive scope for customisation, while the new Club Cab Pickup caters to those who only need a single seat row – but with ample cab storage space.
Mr Hampel says Mitsubishi’s vision is to drive Australians to be more adventurous, and these new models give Triton the product depth to deliver.
Additionally, Mitsubishi has introduced a sub one-tonne payload option for Triton GLX, GLX+ and GLX-R Double Cab Pickups. This follows a successful introduction of similar tonne payload GLS and GSR grades last year and further broadens Triton’s fleet appeal.
