Mitsubishi’s L200 pick-up has long been a favourite amongst British buyers and the smarter and more spacious version that sold between 2010 and 2015 matches its competitors in all key areas; writes Jonathan Crouch. 

Before this generation L200 arrived in 2006, you wouldn’t have thought it possible to create curvy looks on something as boxy and utilitarian as a pick-up, but Mitsubishi’s designers have somehow managed it.

In early 2010, the range was lightly re-styled to create the vehicle we’re looking at here, with a revised front grille and projector-style headlamps, a look featured across the range, whichever of the various bodystyles you choose.

The single cab version is reserved very much for businesses that need a proper old school working pick-up with a traditional two-seat layout and an extensive 2,220mm load length, with the option of Tipper mechanicals or ‘Dropside’ quick-release side panels for easy loading.

Customers of this kind who might occasionally need to transport more than one passenger can also consider the Club Cab version.

It offers a 1,805mm load length, with additional capacity behind the cabin’s front seats for secure storage or small passengers.

There are a number of things to check over with any pickup and the L200 is no exception.

Check that overloading hasn’t damaged the suspension. Despite the one-tonne payload, many buyers who visit garden centres at the weekend don’t realise quite how quickly a few bags of pea gravel or scoops of topsoil for the back garden can exceed a tonne in weight.

Also make sure that the load bay hasn’t been damaged by objects sliding round and denting the bodywork skin. The engines are rugged but check for damage to the interior trim which doesn’t feel as durable as in some of the L200’s rivals.

If we were buying the post-2006 modern era model, we’d want to seek out this 2010 to 2015-era version with its longer loadbay and smarter look.

These things kept this pick-up at the forefront of its segment and, for the same reason, a used version from this time will remain high on most buyers’ shopping lists.