Mitsubishi plans the comeback to the US truck market, again. The last project didn’t go so well. After Mighty Max was discontinued, the Japanese carmaker needed ten years to bring another pickup to North America. However, Raider could not fill the shoes of its predecessor. But, the truck could get a new chance. The 2021 Mitsubishi Raider will be based on the Triton/L200 model, which is quite popular in Asia and Europe. Plus, the manufacturer will use the cooperation with another Japanese giant, Nissan, to make its model competitive in the new market.
The 2021 Mitsubishi Raider could fill the spot in the mid-size segment, competing against Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma (Hilux across the ocean). There are a lot of questions about this model, including powerplants and styling. Also, we are not sure if the truck is going to be named Raider after all. Mitsubishi’s most popular vehicle is available under different names across the world. Besides Triton and L200, the truck is also called Strakar or Magnum (and several other names).
2021 Mitsubishi Raider Specs
The most popular L200 truck is being sold with a diesel engine. This is not going to happen for the US market. Currently, only Chevy Colorado is using a diesel unit in the mid-size class. We won’t count Jeep Gladiator and its 3.0-liter V6 since it is a motor for larger pickups. So, the 2021 Mitsubishi Raider needs a petrol unit for this area.
The solution might be found in the SUV segment. The Outlander is using a V6 engine with 230 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the rest of the segment, that is less capable than Ranger and Tacoma can offer. The base version could borrow the powerplant from Nissan Frontier. Two companies are part of the big alliance and a 2.5-liter four-pot engine is the good choice for starters. Still, most buyers will skip this 150-hp rated unit for the more powerful drivetrain.
Styling
The 2021 Mitsubishi Raider needs to bring something new to draw the attention of buyers. Engines could be that if the company develops special powerplants for its truck. Since this is not likely to happen, Mitsubishi will try to offer an eye-catching design. Triton and L200 are looking nice, but both models are ready for the redesign. When this happens, we will know more about the Raider and the direction of its development.
A four-door cabin and short bed are certain options. We will see if the truckmaker is going to bring other layouts. It will be a big plus for the start of life. Trim levels are also important. We can only assume that the 2021 Mitsubishi Raider will use the same packages as the Outlander. Well, the only trim available with the V6 engine is GT. Premium offer is LE and SEL, with leather seats, power moonroof, blind-spot monitoring system, and heated steering wheel. The plug-in hybrid is not delivering enough power for the pickup truck.
2021 Mitsubishi Raider Release Date and Price
The new pickup truck could debut next season and the production will start immediately. The price needs to lure buyers, which means the truck with a four-pot engine is going to cost slightly over $20,000.