Used Mitsubishi L200 for sale: everything you need to know
Back in the 1990s the Mitsubishi L200 was one of the first pickups that became popular for more than just commercial use, as the brand realised fancier versions would appeal just as much to the burgeoning market for SUV buyers. Mitsubishi’s truck doesn’t dominate the UK pickup market like it used to, but it remains a popular choice even today.
That’s despite being slightly off the pace when it comes to driving characteristics, creature comforts and engine choice, but it’s still a rugged truck that’s suited to hard use, and a 3500kg braked towing rating doesn’t hurt its credentials either. Below we cover the L200 in more detail, including its engines, trim levels, and costs.
Should you buy a Mitsubishi L200?
Even in the face of popular rivals like the Ford Ranger, the L200 still has strong credentials as a working vehicle. It’s got a larger load bed than several of the other trucks on the market, a payload of over a tonne depending on the model, and it’s rated to tow a braked trailer of up to 3500kg, beating some rivals by a good half-tonne.
It’s also well-suited to off-road use thanks to standard four-wheel drive (selectable, like many trucks it runs primarily in rear-wheel drive) and some sensible wheel and tyre combinations, while higher-specced versions like the Barbarian come with dedicated off-road driving modes to make best use of the various high and low-range modes and the locking differential. It’s a better road car than previous generations too though, feeling more composed on bumpy roads and stable on the motorway.
The four-cylinder engine does the job, but some drivers may miss the smoothness and extra performance that some six-cylinder rivals offer. Several rivals have more cosseting cabins too with fancier toys and more modern layouts - though fundamentally there’s little to complain about with the L200’s tough and well laid-out cabin. It’s fairly spacious too, housing five adults if you need to.
The Ford Ranger is the big player in the UK market today, and has a much wider range than the L200, including the appealing Raptor performance model. The Volkswagen Amarok meanwhile is more car-like in its earlier iteration (the 2023-on models are Ranger-based), while the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, and Isuzu D-Max all remain popular workhorses just like the L200. Mercedes and Fiat have also sold pickups in this class - the X-Class and Fullback, respectively.
What’s the best used Mitsubishi L200 model to buy?
It’s good to see equipment such as air conditioning and cruise control even on the basic 4Life, and if you’re using an L200 as a workhorse, this might be just enough to make the truck liveable for more than just short trips. We wouldn’t blame you for looking further up the range for more kit, though we should point out that as the L200 has a handy double-DIN sized aperture in its dashboard, you can install whatever smartphone-friendly media head unit you like in any model rather than searching further up the range for one with build-in infotainment or navigation. The Barbarian is worth considering if you plan to spend more time off-road, but spend any more and you may be better served by some of the L200’s rivals.
Used Mitsubishi L200 fuel economy and performance
- Mitsubishi L200 2.3D manual: All L200s use a 2.3-litre turbocharged diesel four cylinder, and all come with four-wheel drive as standard. The only difference for this 150PS engine is which gearbox you have fitted, and in manual form you get a 12.4-second 0-62mph time, and CO2 emissions of 198g/km.
- Mitsubishi L200 2.3D automatic: With the same power but an automatic gearbox, the 0-62mph time slips to 13.5 seconds, and it’s slightly less economical too, with a quoted CO2 figure of 206g/km.
What used Mitsubishi L200 trim levels are available?
- The Mitsubishi L200 4Life is where the range starts, and gets air conditioning, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, keyless entry and cruise control.
- The Mitsubishi L200 Trojan adds DAB radio, climate control and an adjustable steering wheel, plus safety features including extra airbags and lane-departure warning.
- The Mitsubishi L200 Warrior gets a touchscreen media display with smartphone connectivity, dual-zone air-con, keyless entry, LED headlights and privacy glass.
- The Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian comes with heated front seats, leather upholstery, extra interior and exterior lighting, a spring-assisted and damped tailgate, an off-road driving mode and hill-descent control.
- The Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian X tops the lineup with a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and unique decals and interior trim.
Used Mitsubishi L200 dimensions and load space
The Mitsubishi L200’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 5,225mm (Barbarian and Barbarian X: 5,305mm)
- Width: 1,815mm
- Height: 1,780mm
The Mitsubishi L200’s payload capacity is:
- Up to 1,080kg, depending on model
- Load bed length: 1,520mm
- Load bed width: 1,470mm (1,000mm between rear wheel arches)
- Load bed depth: 475mm
Used Mitsubishi L200 road tax
Run the L200 as a private vehicle and you’re subject to the same £190 yearly fee as most SUVs and other petrol and diesel cars. As a light commercial vehicle, the tax bill is £335 a year, though business users will of course be able to claim back the VAT on the purchase price.
How much is it to insure a Mitsubishi L200?
All L200s use the same engine so there’s not a great deal of difference in insurance groups across the range - it goes from group 37 for a 4Life model, to group 42 for the Barbarian X.
