L200 is great pick-up, no bull

Dec 1 2008 Peter Hayward

I'VE been driving Mitsubishi's strange L200 Raging Bull pick-up with a sort of fastback load cover trying and failing dismally to make it look like a coupe of some sort. It's an agricultural pickup. Get over it.

It is a good pick-up, as such things go, with double cab giving space for five, decent power and a reasonably comfortable ride - unlike most of the others.

It can also keep up on the motorway, and being a Mitsubishi 4x4, will take any and all off-road work in its stride.

Raging Bull is England rugby captain Phil Vickery's sportsgear brand and the enhanced spec of the vehicle includes leather seats, sat nav, cruise control and Bluetooth hands free phone system.

Interior

It comes with a no-extra-charge auto alternative to the five speed manual and prices are £2,000 down with Mitsubishi's 'Credit Crunch Support'.

The driving position is not good, rearward vision is limited to the large side mirrors and road holding is awful - nowhere near as good as other 4x4s.

FAST FACTS

Mitsubishi L200 Raging Bull

Price : £16,939

Mechanical : 165bhp, 2,477cc, 4 cylinder diesel driving all four wheels via a 5 speed manual gearbox

Max speed : 103mph

0-62mph : 14.6 secs

Combined mpg : 32

Insurance group : 8

CO2 emissions : 225g/km

BiK rating : 21%

Warranty : 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 6yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust

Marks : 7/10

Main rival : Nissan Navara