Which Mitsubishi Truck is Best? Comparing the Canter, Fighter and Super Great - Vol.295
Mitsubishi produces three trucks and in this article we'll discuss the advantages of each of these trucks.
The Canter
If you need a 7.5 tonner with great payload allowance this could be the one for you! The Canter was designed to offer a relatively light weight frame and chassis compared to most others on the market within the class.
While some will say this concept is likely to mean poor durability and stability, there have been no proven statements to suggest the performance of the vehicle in this area is below any other in the 7.5 ton range.
Usually powered by a 6.5 liter diesel engine and controlled with a 6 speed gearbox which is fitted as standard, the 7.5 ton Canter can offer a very handy 5,000 kg payload. Compared to the fighter and the Super Great the interior within the Canter leaves much to be desired.
However, the handling and highly maneuverable turning circle make up for its plain standard cockpit trimmings. Drivers looking at long hilly routes with a 7.5 ton version may find the 172 rpm block better suited to their needs.
The Fighter
This is Mitsubishi's staple medium duty truck. It was designed with visibility and drivability within urban environments in mind. It will pull masses larger than the Canter, with 10,000 to 24,000 kg payloads being the target size.
Compared to the Canter, the modern Fighters (since 2009) have been redesigned with much more contemporary cabin features and with the aim of making it more suitably high-tech and comfortable. The cabin is an over engine design and the passenger doors include transom windows to provide the driver and passengers greater range of visibility. This is greatly needed due to the vehicle's larger class compared to the Canter.
The fighter has a larger design emphasis on long term efficiency at prolonged higher speeds so its front is made a more curvy rounded point to add aerodynamic advantages breaking the air. This reduces drag and makes the truck more energy efficient.
The cabin offers significantly more space to its passengers than the Canter, with all features and handles presented more ergonomically than those in smaller less expensive class vehicles.
At first sight the dials and instrument graphics may seem quite mundane or even dated, but in the long term most drivers will appreciate this aspect, as controls and lights on the dash remain clear after years of scratching and dirt build up.
The Super Great
The Super Great was introduced in 2011 as Mitsubishi's new heavy-duty hybrid truck. The vehicle has an engine that is both combustion powered as well as electronically powered. The diesel engine combines with a generator, lithium battery and control systems that mean the power unit is as much as 10% more efficient than a conventional combustion only engine.
The engine can be at times switched from being completely electronically powered to purely diesel driven, another way energy is stored and fed back to the wheels is through breaking recovery.
The concept is simple, these HEV (hybrid electric vehicles) offer owners much greater fuel and economic efficiently, environmental benefits, low emission status and more creditable vehicles in a rapidly changing transit market.
If you are looking to invest in the latest and best technology going forward with the best functional and reputation advantages in mind, the Super Great is an option very well worth considering for its long term benefits. However those that are not in the market for state of the art hardware will find the Canter and the Fighter far more affordable options.