Looking for a pickup that will stand out from the crowd, all-rounder and practical? Well look no further and pick the Strada Athlete. Mitsubishi Motors Philippine Corporation (MMPC) reveals its newest pick-up variant – the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete, an upgrade on its current GT variant with all the added technology and safety. Its big, its bold, its elegant on tarmac and off-road. The Strada Athlete is a versatile pickup truck that can overcome any terrains or weather.
The Strada Athlete’s exterior may not be a hit on most people, but it’s not a bad looking car and has a distinct look from the rest of its rivals. First glance in front, you will see the black Dynamc Shield Concept Fascia that is present on almost all of its models. It has a BI-LED projector headlamps to keep those dark roads lit and those square turn signal lights and halogen fog lamps. The side profile of the Athlete has a sporty feel due to its low roofline that is not common on pickup trucks. It features an all black trim accents from its grills, wheels, side mirror covers, door handles, roof, styling bar, tailgate grip and the rear bumper. The rear of the Strada Athlete is much simpler compared to its front, but it really balances the cars styling. It has an LED rear combination lamps with fog lamps that helps it to conquer all the weather. The Athlete has a bed liner which protects the paint of the bed. To tie it all up, Mitsubishi gave the Strada Athlete body graphics on its side to complete the aggressive design.
The interior has a two-tone black and orange leather with orange stitching accents in its seats, steering wheel, shift knob, handbrake handle and floor center console. The only thing missing in the interior is the leather padded dashboard to complete the look of a luxury suv. The cabin feels sporty yet comfortable with the front seats has support on your back during long drives yet still holds you dead center during cornering. The driver seat has a 8-way power adjustment while the front passenger seat still has the manual adjustment. The windows are electric but only the driver’s window has the automatic feature. The cabin is well refined and it will give you a great driving experience. At the center is a 2DIN touchscreen infotainment system with mirror link and navigation beneath it is the dual aircon control which can be easily operated by the driver or the front passenger. The Strada Athlete has a top mounted rear air circulator for the rear seats which is a nice feature for a pickup truck. There are cup holders and pockets from front to back and there is also a usb charger in the center arm rest which is easily accessible.
Engine and performance:
The Strada Athlete packs a 2.4L MIVEC Turbo Clean Diesel engine with Variable Geometry turbo. The 4N15 produces a respectable 181hp and 430 Nm of torque which is common to all the Strada variants. The Strada Athlete 4x4 has a 6-speed automatic transmission with Super Select 4WD II system that allows you to shift into 4 driving modes; 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc, with ease. It also has an Off-Road Mode Traction Control with 4 modes; Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand and Rock. The transmission shifts with no hesitation and responds almost instantly with the changes of the accelerator. The 4N15 may not be the most powerful engine compared to its rivals but the transmission utilizes its every power and makes overtaking easy. It feels stable during high-speeds and the suspension is not that rough for a pickup. Steering feel maybe a bit heavy but tolerable and maneuvering it in tight streets can cause a slight problem but the Athlete has the Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which tells you whether or not there is an incoming traffic, and Multi Around Monitor with guiding and expected course line to help you guide and avoid your surroundings. The Athlete also packs Auto High-Beam, Mistubishi Active Stability and Traction Control (M-ASTC), Forward Collision Mitigation System (FCM), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Hill Assist (HSA), Blind Spot Warning System (BSW) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), Anti-Locking Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and 7 SRS Airbags.
Verdict:
With the Strada Athlete just 50,000 pesos more than the current top of the line Strada GT 4WD 2.4D A/T with Sports Package, it is not hard to go for the Athlete 4WD. With some of the features that is only available for the Athlete, the difference in the price is worth it, plus the Athlete 4WD has a higher ground clearance compared to the other variants of the Strada. The Strada Athlete is well worth purchase if you are looking for a pickup truck that is good to look at, economical, practical, can go anywhere or even a daily driver or a grocery getter. It is a complete pickup truck, it may be not the perfect pickup truck but it can conquer anything you will throw at it. You can have off-road capabilities yet comfortable on roads.
PRICE:
Php 1,440,000 2WD Athlete
Php 1,760,000 4WD Athlete
Kommentarer