One of the refreshed models was the Triton 2WD GLS, which sits as the second-highest variant in the whole lineup, just below the Athlete. The 2026 GLS sees cosmetic upgrades like more black cladding accents that, to be very honest, make the Triton look so much better than the previous iteration. I wasn’t really a fan of the Triton’s initial design, but the black accents make it look meaner and more aggressive, giving it a new personality, almost. In the GLS trim, you get LED Headlights, DRLs, and fog lights. You also get blacked out 18-inch rims and a proportionate sports bar mounted on the bed, which is a plus for me given the number of over styled sports bars there are on the market. Looking at the bed of the truck, you don’t get anything fancy- no electrical sockets of any kind- but it still features nice tie-down strap hooks that will surely come in handy.

As for the interior, the 2026 GLS model replaces the old fabric seats with full leather, which upscales the interior in a big way. The layout of the Triton’s interior is also very user-friendly; there are physical controls for the climate control and infotainment screen, plus the instrument cluster is a very nice analog unit that has a small center screen. It’s the right amount of modern touches blended with proper old-school ergonomics. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a wireless charging pad. The coolest interior feature has to be the rear passenger air-conditioning system, which doesn’t just give two vents mounted on the center storage. Rear passengers get AC controls and four individually controlled vents for proper ventilation and cooling.

Where the Triton really shines, though, is build quality. We’re so used to new cars feeling flimsy here and there, but the Triton feels really solid inside. You can tell that the plastics and soft-touch materials they used were developed to be durable above all else. You can also feel its solidity in the way certain toggles and switches feel, like the signal light stalk requires effort to engage, and the physical buttons don’t feel hollow when pressed. I have to say that the Triton feels like one of the most well-built cars (not just pickups) I’ve ever experienced.

In terms of power, the Triton 2WD GLS comes with a 2.4-liter single-turbo diesel MIVEC engine that makes a healthy 180 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic with a manual-shifting option on the shifter; no paddles here. Another key aspect of the GLS is the inclusion of certain ADAS features; despite not being a top-of-the-line variant, it still has blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, and automatic emergency braking. It doesn’t come with ADAS, but it does come with standard cruise control and a slew of airbags that can be found in the usual places, as well as in the seats.

Before I get into the driving impressions, I want to first highlight how fuel-efficient the Triton is. In the 1 week I had it, I drove it over 250 kilometers and averaged 12 km/L in mixed conditions, and during one highway drive it displayed around 16 km/L. Based on my calculations, while accounting for the range to empty displayed on the trip computer, the Triton can give around 700 kilometers with a full tank.

Drive-wise, the Triton feels incredibly rugged, which surprised me because the Strada it replaced felt lighter and nimbler. The steering felt much heavier than the other pickups in the segment, and the ride is a tad harsher than before. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t consider these things bad points because this is a pickup; I was just surprised by how old-school it felt, compared to other pickups that are trying very hard to simulate comfort and be geared towards a lifestyle approach. The Triton very much feels like a pickup should; on the go, it feels invincible, like nothing could stop it, but not to the point where it would be uncomfortable.

I do have some feedback on the powertrain: coming from a standstill, it feels a little sluggish, and for some reason it holds the gears really long before shifting, which hampers acceleration and fuel economy. I tried multiple times to try to get it to upshift on its own, but it wouldn’t shift under 2,800 rpm. However, when you’re on the move already and the Triton is at speed it accelerates decently and even at higher RPMs it remains refined and smooth for a diesel. In other words, the Triton performs best with momentum, which should help when overtaking is needed. I also noticed that the turning circle is suboptimal compared to its rivals, leading to multiple maneuvers when parking or taking a U-turn.

At P1,999,000, the Mitsubishi Triton 2WD GLS actually costs significantly more than its competitors like the Hilux, Navara and Ranger. Is it worth it? The short answer is yes, given that the 2026 model introduced a lot of new standard equipment, but also because the Triton, even in this 2WD variant, feels highly capable and durable, as any pickup should.