Review of the new Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian

There are only certain vehicles that could get away with being called something like Barbarian without looking silly and all of them are pick-up trucks. We know the Mitsubishi L200 can pull it off because buyers have been snapping up versions with impossibly macho titles like Animal, Warrior and Trojan for years. There was even one special edition called Raging Bull for goodness sake. Some people will feel self-conscious behind the wheel of anything with Barbarian writ large down its flank but maybe their sensibilities are a little fragile for pick-up ownership generally, let alone for the purchase of this flagship L200 that comes swathed in chrome, leather and aggression.

Mitsubishi used to reign supreme in the UK pick-up market but a number of other brands noticed how much cash the Japanese firm was making and set to work on securing a piece of the pie for themselves. These days, Nissan's Navara, Toyota's HiLux, Ford's Ranger and others provide a strong challenge and in the latest L200, there is even evidence of eyes being taken off balls in certain key areas. The Barbarian model is the ultimate L200, a double cab model with lots of equipment, snarling looks and plenty of power.

Power to the Barbarian's tough off-road underpinnings comes from the 2.5-litre common-rail diesel unit that powers all L200s. The difference here is that this is the engine in high power form as reserved for the top-spec L200 models. It benefits from a 41bhp power hike to 175bhp, an increase that's not merely a result of software tweaks. Mitsubishi engineers redesigned the fuel injection system, altered the turbocharger and revised the shape of the cylinders to get that extra muscle.

Peak power comes at 4,000rpm and the maximum torque of 400Nm comes at 2,000rpm providing an abundance of the low end shove that a good pick-up needs. The unit is capable of hitting 60mph from standstill in 12.1s before rumbling on to a 111mph top speed but the optional automatic gearbox reins performance back to 13s.

"It's hard to imagine where else you could get so much visual impact for the money"

Ride quality has long been a major downside of pick-up ownership but the L200 makes steps in the right direction with its independent double wishbone front suspension. At the back are heavy duty leaf springs, which don't help on-road composure but are necessary for large payloads to be accommodated. Also underneath, chassis rigidity has been greatly improved compared to the old L200, lessening vibration and boosting handling. Buyers used to SUV passenger cars will still find it all a little agricultural, however.

The Mitsubishi L200's standout feature is probably the way it looks. Curves are not things we're used to seeing on macho pick-up trucks but the L200 is smothered in them. The front end, obviously Mitsubishi, is softened with rounded edges for grille and headlamps, plus oval recesses for the circular fog lights. The rear edge of the cab arcs down and around the vehicle's lower edge, while the liquid lines of the tailgate and windows are a world away from those on boxy rivals. The Barbarian confirms its status as the flagship model in the range with a special bodykit including a sports grille with a protective chromed plate beneath. There's also chrome for the door handles and the fuel filler cap.

The cabin materials on the L200 are less impressive than on some other pick-ups and it doesn't feel as cohesively screwed together but it goes further than any rival in terms its adventurous design. The Barbarian adds full leather trim and special front seats that look particularly striking thanks to a design that appears to be based on Arnold Schwarzenegger's muscle-bound stomach in Conan the Barbarian.

As the top L200, the Barbarian uses the advanced Super Select full-time 4x4 set-up similar to that found in Mitsubishi's Shogun. It allows the L200 to be driven in 2WD or fulltime 4WD mode on the road without the excessive wear and tear suffered by part time systems as a result of transmission wind-up. In slippery offroad situations, a further 4WD mode can be selected which maximises traction by locking the centre differential. Both of the systems are operated by the traditional and rather clunky lever sited alongside the gear stick which seems slightly dated when compared to the dash-mounted dials used by rival manufacturers. All of the Super Select L200 models feature the M-ASTC traction and stability control system as standard.

The L200 is narrower than most other UK market pick-ups which aids manoeuvrability and helps produce a tight turning circle. The downside is a slight reduction in interior space and carrying capacity. The double cab bodystyle is the only one you can get in Barbarian trim. This is a five-seater model with a decent amount of legroom for the rear passengers and seat backs angled at 25 degrees which make a pleasant change from the staunchly upright seating provision usually found in older double cab pick-ups. There has to be a compromise for this extra passenger space and it comes in the shape of a modest 1,325mm load length.

The Barbarian sits above the Warrior at the top of the L200 range and comes with the kind of equipment list not normally associated with a commercial vehicle. It is a commercial vehicle, however, and that classification comes with major tax advantages for businesses and company car users. The Barbarian is targeted squarely at this kind of market. With its five-seat double-cab body, leather trim, climate control, a reversing camera, satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, it's well suited to make the crossover from working vehicle to family car. It's certainly a more interesting choice for company car users than a Ford Mondeo and the pricing might come as a pleasant surprise too.

You could probably guess that the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian is a pick-up truck without ever having seen or heard of it before. No other category of vehicle has the requisite macho persona to carry off such a title. Sure enough, this range-topping L200 has attitude in abundance along with an opulent specification and plenty of power. It's hard to imagine where else you could get so much visual impact for the money and on that score, the Barbarian is a winner.

There are better pick-up products than this L200 if you're planning on really putting them to work. If, however, you merely want a good-looking steed for light load carrying duties and on-road driving, the L200 Barbarian will make sense.