Mitsubishi L200 long-term test review: report 2

The car Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian X Double Cab Run by Max Edleston, junior photographer

Why it’s here To see if a pick-up truck can be as comfortable and practical for daily life as a large SUV

Needs to Offer all the space that a What Car? photographer might need, be great for long-distance trips and off-road driving, and function as a mobile office

Mileage 943 List price £32,525 Price as tested £41,317 Test economy 33.0mpg Official economy 36.2mpg Options Adventurer III commercial hardtop (£1446), Electric Blue metallic paint (£455), tailgate locking kit (£310), bed liner (£210), bed mat (£134)

27 September 2020 – A snapper's best friend?

Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest benefits of a pick-up truck is the enormous amount of cargo space they possess. As you’ll no doubt be tired of me saying by now, a large boot is a must-have for any jobbing What Car? photographer, as is the ability to deal with any terrain, at any time of day, and at any time of year. As such, I need to be able to have anything and everything ready to go at the drop of a hat, and fortunately, the L200 has so far had me covered, with its truly massive load bay. 

So far, it has successfully moved my life from one end of the country to the other twice; delivered many boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables to those in need at this current time and, on a more down-to-earth level, it has carried enough wood to create the kind of bonfires you only usually see in early November.

Now, while I am a big fan of the macho-looking sports bars that grace many a pickup, I felt that a more practical angle would be a hardtop to cover the load bay and protect my cargo from the elements. Specifically, I chose the Adventurer III Commercial Hardtop, which allows me to keep my kit in the back safe in the knowledge that it will stay dry and secure. Why didn’t I go for a rolling top option instead? Well, bitter experience has revealed these have a tendency to leak. 

Another element I am especially fond of is the tailgate. With a slow opening mechanism built-in, it doesn’t rip your hand off every time you open it; that's what I found happened on a lower-spec L200 I tried out recently. Its hinges are also incredibly strong, easily holding my weight, and as such I have often used it when I need more height when going for a more unconventional photo angle during a shoot. 

The only downside to the hardtop is the necessary inclusion of a rather large key to lock and unlock it. I’m getting used to it now, but it’s taken some time for me to remember to use the central locking for the rest of the vehicle but then to go back and check the tailgate is locked using the key.

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