Mitsubishi's Triton and Pajero Score Top Marks in Overlander Magazine's 'Class of 2009' Awards

CLOVELLY PARK, AUSTRALIA – July 1, 2009: Overlander Magazine’s acclaimed annual four-wheel drive awards has seen Mitsubishi top the class in two separate categories, with the Triton taking out the top accolade as the Best Diesel Ute, and the legendary Pajero wagon named Best Value for Money.

Overlander Magazine’s Class of 2009 awards rate all four-wheel drives currently on the market, not just those that are new or significantly revised this year.

Mitsubishi’s much awarded NT Pajero Di-D has seen significant changes since winning the Best Value for Money category for four consecutive years. With its revised engine, new gearbox, noise reduction technology and added appointments for a more luxurious look and feel, the new Pajero was a clear front-runner for its category.

“The changes were enough to see the new Pajero take out our 2008 4WD Of The Year award (December 2008) and also see it run extremely close to knocking the Prado out as the winner of the Best Medium Wagon (Diesel) category in these awards,” said Trent Nikolic, editor of Overlander magazine.

“The engine’s willing performance is matched by a chassis that offers the sort of high-speed dynamics that most Japanese four-wheel drives can only dream about,” he added.

A new winner in the Best Diesel Ute category, the Triton Di-D Double Cab can attribute its win to Mitsubishi’s revolutionary Super-Select system, which allows drivers to switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive mode on the fly.

Safety was a make or break issue in the ute category of this year’s awards according to Nikolic.

“When it comes to safety, the Triton has an ace up its sleeve: the availability of side and curtain airbags on dual-cab models and the Super Select four-wheel drive system,” said Nikolic

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) Vice President of Brand and Marketing, Paul Unerkov, was pleased to see the Triton and Pajero gain recognition in these awards.

“To be named in Overlander Magazine’s prestigious annual awards gives Mitsubishi a great sense of pride. Against every four-wheel drive on the market, both the Triton and the Pajero were named the best in their respective categories for their strength, safety, style and value,” said Unerkov.

The stronger, safer and more manoeuvrable Triton range in a choice of four engines, in either single or double cab, and the legendary Pajero with more power, efficiency and style are available from over 200 Mitsubishi dealerships nationwide.