Mitsubishi PH Brings in 2020 Strada Athlete with Prices Starting at P 1.443M (w/ 16 Photos, Specs)

It’s been a very busy few days for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines. After revealing the final Philippine specification and pricing of its much-awaited Xpander Cross, they’ve also announced the availability and pricing of the Strada Athlete as well.

Designed to appeal to those who want a bit more style, the Strada Athlete comes with all sorts of aesthetic changes that set it apart not just from the “regular” Strada, but from other pickup trucks in the market as well.

Outside, the Strada Athlete boasts of a more striking fascia thanks to its trademark Dynamic Shield grille now decked in high-gloss black. The same high-gloss black is also found in the door handles, side mirrors, and the 18-inch wheels. Side body graphics complete the changes.

Inside, the Strada Athlete differentiates itself from other variants with its orange and black leather seating with orange stitching. This orange stitching is also found on the door trims and steering wheel as well. Interior comfort isn’t compromised with features such as a touchscreen multimedia system with GPS, dual zone climate control, an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and push-button engine start/stop with passive entry.

The Strada Athlete remains mechanically unchanged. With that, it has the 2.4-liter MIVEC diesel engine pushing out 181 horsepower at 3,500 rpm and 430 Nm of torque at 2,500 rpm. This is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox with cruise control.

There are two variants of the Strada Athlete—a 2WD and a 4WD variant. The top-of-the-line 4WD gets a complete set of safety features including 7 SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control (Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control or MASTC), hill start assist, hill descent control, forward collision mitigation, ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation, automatic high beams, and a reverse camera.

Pricing for the 2020 Strada Athlete is at P 1.443 million for the 2WD and P 1.760 million for the 4WD. Colors available are: White Diamond, Jet Black Mica, and exclusive to the Strada Athlete 4WD—Sunflare Orange.

The 2019 Mitsubishi Strada Proves to be a Great Long-Distance Travel Companion

Previously, the Strada’s always been driven on the streets of Manila through an extensive review (link here), but this time, it’s tackling the roads of Palawan through this 300-kilometer ride and drive activity.

Palawan is considered by many as the last ecological frontier in the Philippines. Home to many unspoiled natural wonders, over the past few years it has gained significance as one of the country’s fastest growing provinces as well. The same could be said about pickup trucks: what was once a simple workhorse is now accepted by many as a bona fide status symbol; a weekday family vehicle that turns into a weekend adventure machine. Such is the market that faces the 2019 Strada, and it’s a role that it fulfills quite well.

Refreshed for duty this year, the Strada’s been significantly changed, especially outside. Subjectively, it’s the most futuristic looking pickup truck in the market today. Though the styling may be considered as a bit over-the-top, it does lend some gravitas to Mitsubishi’s new familial design language. The Dynamic Shield, with its slit-like headlights and angular bumper create a strong impression, further enhanced by the reworked fenders, taillights, and rear bumpers.

Inside, the changes aren’t as dramatic or obvious, but the little things, when added up make for worthwhile improvements. For starters, there are more padded sections, strategically placed where elbows or knees may come in contact with the dashboard—center console lid, door trims, edges of the transmission tunnel. Then, the steering wheel, shift knob, and handbrake are new as well. The steering wheel, nicked from the Montero Sport is far more luxurious with a thick rim and large, easy-to-understand controls.

Once before, Mitsubishi emphasized that the current-generation Strada’s designed to ferry rear occupants in far greater comfort than a standard pickup truck. The 2019 model ups the experience even more with additions that make any trip, short or long, much more comfortable. For one, there are the B-pillar grab handles that make for easy ingress. Second, there are the seats themselves which not only offer a comfortable pitch, but also offer the best hip support in its class. Finally, there’s also the subject of charging ports and a clever air re-circulator that cools the cabin faster than any other pickup truck in the market.

The newly-paved roads from Puerto Princesa to San Vicente would normally be better taken in a soft-riding SUV than in a pickup truck, but the Strada obliges with surprisingly good on-road manners. Off the line, the 2.4-liter MIVEC diesel engine doesn’t feel as punchy as some of the bigger-engined competitors, but as it gets going, it’s got a pretty strong shove. What’s more, the 6-speed automatic is responsive, downshifting quickly to keep the engine singing at its sweet spot; even so, the steering wheel column-mounted paddle shifters keep the driver always in control. Through the twisty coastal roads of eastern Palawan, going 140-160 km/h is fairly easy for this two-ton machine.

More than just its newfound straight-line grunt, the Strada also impresses with its road manners. The hydraulic power steering feels heftier at low speeds, but weighs nicely as the speeds come up. Even more impressive is how it feels through corners. Compared to other pickup trucks, it feels more obedient with better amounts of grip even the unladen cargo bed. The larger rear dampers and more leaves also do well to improve the overall ride quality, though corrugated surfaces still tend to make it through the cabin.

Drawing from 40 years of pickup truck heritage and expertise, the Strada easily exceeds anyone’s expectations. The latest model goes beyond the usual qualities of durability, reliability, and capability. While it’s managed to retain qualities sought-after by the typical pickup buyer, Mitsubishi has also stepped up with a convincing choice in the 2019 Strada. By blending capability with comfort, reliability with refinement, and durability with style it’s proven that pickup trucks can also be used for long road trips.

Review: 2019 Mitusbishi Strada 4WD GT

If you want to know how fickle the Philippine car buying public is, take a look at the fate of the Mitsubishi Strada. Once celebrated as one of the best-selling pickup trucks in the country, a weird re-design in 2015 alienated buyers, shifting them towards other makes and models. A facelift two years after that and a new engine helped the slide, but by that time the tide couldn’t be turned. This brings up the 2019 Strada—a return to design form for Mitsubishi.

Without a doubt, the 2019 Strada’s most talked about aspect is its design, and in a very good way. As far as refreshes go, it’s pretty substantial with everything from the windshield forward completely changed. The Dynamic Shield has translated well here giving it an unmistakably aggressive appearance. The LED headlights and DRLs are the slimmer units on top while the signal lights and front fogs are the larger ones located at the bottom. Over to the back, the rear fenders have been re-stamped too with squarish fenders that blend well with the re-worked taillights and rear bumper. It’s also worth noting that the re-design has increased the dimensions—with length up by 25 mm, height up by 15 mm, and ground clearance up by 15 mm.

Inside, the Strada isn’t much changed from the 2017 update, except for key touchpoints which when added up make for worthwhile improvements. The look and feel aren’t quite as luxurious or sophisticated as its rivals, but realizing that pickup trucks are now more leisure vehicles than simple workhorses, there are far more padded sections (stitched for good measure) on the center console lid, door trims, and at the edge of the transmission tunnel. The steering wheel, shift knob, and handbrake are new too, and along with the all-black color scheme (the previous one had a two-tone black-and-gray one) make for a nice place to stay in. Honestly, the only annoyance is the lack of storage options. Despite a new shelf in front of the shifter, there’s actually not much places to put items in, unless one of the cup holders is sacrificed to make way for loose change.

Perhaps the best thing about the Strada though is how it puts a lot of attention to the rear occupants. Sure, the driver is treated to a tilt/telescopic steering wheel and a power adjustable seat, but it’s how Mitsubishi has treated the people riding in the back that sets it apart. For starters, the B-pillar grab handles make for easier ingress. Once inside, the seats themselves have a generous cushion length and a comfortable pitch making it habitable even for long drives. Then, there’s a pair of USB charging ports to keep everyone’s devices juiced up.

However, the best part this 2019 is the clever air circulator. The Strada’s J-shaped cabin is already optimized for quick cooling (and it’s quite excellent at negating Manila’s summer heat), but the ceiling-mounted air circulator chills the interior even faster, especially for those in the backseat. Essentially, it draws in cold air from the front and blows it to the back. In all honesty, it works much better than the typical console vent ones.

For 2019, the engine is unchanged and that means having the 2.4-liter MIVEC clean diesel with 181 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque. It’s not as punchy as some of its big-engined competitors, but when the engine enters its sweet spot, there’s noticeable pull. In addition, it’s easily one of the smoothest and quietest powertrains in its class. The big change this year is the 6-speed automatic which improves off-the-line feel. Previously, the 5-speed gearbox hesitated on the upshift, but this new Aisin unit rectifies that, while also slightly improving the fuel consumption to 9.9 km/L or a 5 percent improvement over the old 5-speed box.

Despite the larger wheel and tire setup, the turning radius remains at a compact 5.9 meters (compared to around 6-plus on the other pickups) making it maneuverable in tight spaces. However, the hydraulic assist does mean a weightier feel, requiring more tugs of the wheel to slot it into a parking space. At higher speeds, it feels respectably stable and secure. Also, the rear suspension’s been tweaked with larger dampers and more leaves (from 5 to 6) than before. The thing is, this hasn’t increased the payload capacity. In fact, according to the spec sheet, it’s actually gone down to 858 kilograms from 950 kilograms. Still, the payoff here is a more composed ride. The brakes also have better bite thanks to the twin piston setup upfront.

Also new is a terrain-based 4WD system that goes hand-in-hand with the Strada’s trademark Super Select 4WD-II system. Not only does it offer things like a center differential lock, but the adjustable modes for snow/mud, gravel, sand, and rock offer a one-button approach for off-roaders because it adjusts the transmission, throttle response, stability control, and ABS in one go.

At P 1,670,000, the Strada’s on the pricier side of the pickup equation, but despite the considerable price increase compared to before, it’s still great value. On top of things like LED headlights, leather seats, dual climate control, and a push-button engine start/stop, for 2019, it adds Forward Collision Mitigation, Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation, and Blind Spot Warning—features previously found only on the Montero Sport.

As a whole, the 2019 Strada is a refresh done right. Not only does it continue to play the “value for money” game, but it now offers an attractive new look that’s sure to turn heads. Everyone reckons it should have been the pickup they launched four years ago, but even if it’s late to the party, it still offers a lot even for the most discerning pickup buyer.

2019 Mitsubishi Strada 4WD GT
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Ownership	2019 Mitsubishi Strada 4WD GT
Year Introduced	2015 (Refreshed: 2017, 2019)
Vehicle Classification	Pick-up Truck
Warranty	3 years / 100,000 kilometers
The Basics
Body Type	4-door pickup truck
Seating	5
Engine / Drive	F/4WD, Part-Time, Low, Locking, with LSD
Under the Hood
Displacement (liters)	2.4
Aspiration	Turbo
Fuel Delivery	Common Rail Direct Injection
Layout / # of Cylinders	I4
BHP @ rpm	181 @ 3,500
Nm @ rpm	430 @ 2,500
Fuel / Min. Octane	Diesel
Transmission	6 AT
Cruise Control	Yes
Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed	9.90 km/L @ 15 km/h
Dimensions and Weights
Length (mm)	5,305
Width (mm)	1,815
Height (mm)	1,795
Wheelbase (mm)	3,000
Curb Weight (kg)	2,000
Suspension and Tires
Front Suspension	Independent, Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension	Leaf Spring
Front Brakes	Vented Disc
Rear Brakes	Drum
Tires	Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 265/60 R 18 H (f & r)
Wheels	Alloy
Safety Features
Airbags	7
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)	Yes, with EBD
Traction / Stability Control	Yes
Parking Sensors	Yes, Front and Rear, with Camera
Front Seatbelts	3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2
Rear Seatbelts	3-pt ELR x 3
ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor	Yes
Other Safety Features	Forward Collision Warning Autonomous Emergency Braking Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation Blind Spot Indicators
Exterior Features
Headlights	LED
Fog Lamps	Yes, Front
Auto Lights	Yes, with Auto High Beam
Rain-sensing Wipers	Yes
Interior Features
Steering Wheel Adjust	Tilt/Telescopic
Steering Wheel Material	Leather
Seating Adjustment (driver)	Electric, 8-way
Seating Adjustment (front passenger)	Manual, 4-way
Seating Surface	Leather
Folding Rear Seat	Yes
On-Board Computer	Yes
Convenience Features
Power Steering	Yes
Power Door Locks	Yes
Power Windows	Yes
Power Mirrors	Yes, with Fold
Proximity Key	Yes
Climate Control	Yes, Dual Zone, with Rear Ventilator
Audio System	Stereo CD MP3 Aux USB Bluetooth GPS
# of Speakers	6
Steering Controls	Yes