The newly released Mitsubishi Triton cab-chassis models, along with the extra-cab pick-up version, have received the top five-star safety rating from ANCAP, mirroring the scores already achieved by the dual-cab versions. This five-star result, awarded under ANCAP’s updated 2023–2025 testing protocols, marks a significant milestone, as the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton is the first dual-cab ute to be evaluated using these stricter standards. The high safety rating is applicable across all 2WD and 4WD Double Cab models now available in both Australia and New Zealand.
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg stated that this rating reflects Mitsubishi’s commitment and capability in producing vehicles that meet the highest safety standards. She noted that dual-cab utes hold substantial popularity among private buyers and commercial fleet operators in both countries. They are often utilized as utility vehicles for work purposes, but they also frequently serve as family cars. Therefore, Mitsubishi’s achievement in attaining a five-star safety rating is both commendable and important, as it aligns with the public’s expectation for top-rated safety across this popular vehicle segment. Hoorweg also emphasized that the drive for five-star ratings should be consistent across all types of vehicles, not limited to those intended primarily for fleet use.
In terms of safety performance, ANCAP highlighted that the Triton offered excellent protection for the driver and front-seat passenger, as well as for child occupants, in most crash simulations. The vehicle scored particularly well in the frontal offset crash test for the passenger, in the full-width frontal and side pole tests for the driver, and in both frontal and side-impact scenarios for child dummies. However, some concerns were raised regarding rear-seat safety. Specifically, the full-width frontal test revealed weaker protection for smaller rear passengers, particularly in the chest area and upper legs, resulting in a 'weak' score and a penalty due to increased risk of abdominal injury.
When it came to assessing how the Triton would affect occupants of another vehicle in the event of a crash, ANCAP concluded that it performed better than many comparable models in the same category. Nevertheless, its overall ‘safety assist’ rating was brought down due to limitations in its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, particularly in more complex crash scenarios such as T-bone intersections and head-on impacts.
ANCAP also assessed the effectiveness of the Triton’s Driver Monitoring System (DMS), one of the first of its kind to undergo local evaluation. While the system met the required protocols by issuing alerts for driver fatigue and distraction, it was noted that Mitsubishi could refine the system to minimize unnecessary alerts. ANCAP pointed out that although manufacturers can select between audible or haptic alerts to earn safety points, DMS warnings triggered during low-speed maneuvers—like reversing or parking under 10 km/h—are not scored under current safety guidelines.