The What Van? Road Test: Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian X (2019)

Date: Monday, September 21, 2020 | Author: Steve Banner

Interior and equipment

The Barbarian X comes with heated front seats plus a heated steering wheel. All the seats are leather-trimmed, air-conditioning is installed, and the driver and front passenger can enjoy individual climate control settings.

A touchscreen controls the DAB radio, and smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is a key feature along with Bluetooth connectivity. Cruise control and a 12V power point are fitted, all the doors have electric windows, and the heated exterior mirrors are electrically adjustable. They fold away electrically too.

The steering column can be adjusted for height and reach – the wheel plays host to remote controls for the radio – while the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable for height, reach and rake. Grab handles are mounted on both the A and the B-pillars and there are handles above all four doors.

In-cab storage facilities include a big lockable glove box, bins in each of the front doors with a moulding to hold a soft drink can, a small bin in each of the back doors, and a lidded compartment between the front seats. A sunglasses holder sits above the windscreen and you will find a couple of cupholders between the front seats.

A small cubbyhole in the back of the console between the front seats contains a couple of USB charging points that the rear passengers can use.

All three rear seats have headrests and lap-and-diagonal belts.

The two outboard seats offer a reasonable amount of legroom but the middle seat does not, and is not suitable for long journeys. The centre section of its back folds down and can be turned into an armrest, complete with a couple of cupholders, for the two remaining rear seat travellers to use.

Blue so-called mood lighting is a feature at floor level and the Barbarian X is protected by an alarm.

Turning to onboard safety systems, ABS, active stability control, traction control, brake assist, lane departure warning and electronic brakeforce distribution are all installed. So are hill start assist, hill descent control, blind spot warning and lane change assist.

What is already a comprehensive safety package doesn’t end there. A forward collision mitigation system triggers a warning if you are about to hit something. The alarm can be set to sound depending on how far away you are from the obstacle in question. Keep ignoring the alarm and the brakes will be applied. The package reacts to the presence of pedestrians as well as to other vehicles.

If you are reversing out of a gateway onto the highway then rear cross traffic alert will warn you if vehicles are coming. Automatic high beam dips the lights automatically at night to ensure you do not dazzle other motorists.

Installed too is ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation system. It cuts the engine’s power output for up to five seconds if it calculates you have accelerated when you should not have. To all that is added trailer stability assist.

Reversing sensors should ensure you do not back into a wall or a passing pedestrian. They are complemented by one of the most effective rear-view cameras we have ever encountered. As well as displaying what is directly behind you it delivers a bird’s-eye view of the entire vehicle on a split screen so you can spot any hazards either side or ahead.

Press a button on the steering wheel and you get a rear view from lower down. Press it again and you can see if anything is a bit too close to the nearside sill; both sills have full-length steps. Front parking sensors are fitted as well. Front fog lights aid safety, as do the headlamp washers.

Front, side, curtain and knee airbags provide some protection if you come unstuck despite all the safety gizmos.

Our Mitsubishi L200 pick-up boasted LED headlights, daytime running lights and puddle lamps to ensure you don’t end up ankle deep in water when you step out of the cab. The windscreen wipers start automatically when it rains too.

Power-assisted steering delivers an 11.8m minimum turning circle. A double wishbone suspension set-up helps support the front of the vehicle while elliptic leaf springs are deployed at the back.

Our test vehicle’s 18in alloy wheels were shod with Dunlop AT20 Grand Trek 265/60 R18 tyres. A spare wheel is provided.

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