When Mitsubishi launched the Triton in Thailand, its presenters hyped the truck up and discussed how much more capable the new one is. It is not surprising, to be honest, as the brand has pedigree.

From the Paris-Dakar Rally-winning Pajeros to the World Rally Championship-fighting Lancer Evolutions, the Japanese carmaker has repeatedly proven that its four-wheel-drive powertrains can conquer almost everything.

Thus, we knew we were in for a great time when Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) invited us to try its brand-new truck with a drive to Bataan. And it proved to be quite an experience.

We left Parqal Mall in Parañaque City early as the first day of the drive was packed with activities. As the first designated driver of a range-topping Athlete variant, I enjoyed the truck’s improved performance and handling on the highway.

The 2.4-liter, two-stage turbo 4N16 engine’s 210hp output and 470Nm of torque made its presence felt off the bat. Step on the throttle and the engine instantaneously revs up. And because the six-speed automatic transmission’s tuning is good, it immediately transfers all those horses to the wheels.

Having tried the current Montero Sport, I can’t help but rave about how the Japanese carmaker has improved the truck’s throttle response. There is no noticeable lag, and it just goes whenever you step on the accelerator.

Torque is also available across a wider rev range, making it useful when driving along tight provincial roads where overtaking could be quite challenging.

After having a very satisfying lunch at My Lola Nor’s Meryendahan in Pampanga, we headed to Bataan. Since this was the first driver change, I was able to enjoy the Triton Athlete’s interior and long list of standard features as a passenger.

Everything seemed to work well, and the fit and finish were satisfying as it was easy to get yourself comfortable inside the truck. The only gripe I had was the infotainment system: Though sweet-sounding, it can be a little bit laggy. But it’s something that can easily be remedied with a software update.

For two hours, we drove through provincial roads with varying conditions. It was a pliant ride, making it one of the most comfortable trucks available on our market. Then we finally got to the Cabog-Cabog View Deck in Bagac where we tackled a set of simple yet challenging off-road courses.

After riding shotgun with MMPC’s drivers, I tried the off-road course involving some steep gradients climbing up and down muddy hills. The Athlete’s powerful engine and proven Super Select 4WD-II system made power-sliding on muddy puddles fun and easy.

But that was just a taste of what was about to come. On our way to Rancho Bernardo, we took a different, more challenging route. This time, we were asked to line up alternately with 4×2 GLS models slotted between the Athlete variants.

This was because in case anybody got stuck, our top-of-the-line 4×4 models could help pull the 4×2 units and get them back rolling. It didn’t help that a sudden downpour made the conditions of the track worse.

Here, we drove through more challenging ruts, loose mud, and shallow puddles. I never had doubts because we were driving the much more capable Athlete variants. After all, our trucks had more powerful mills under the hood and different drive modes to play with.

Despite the very tricky conditions, we never got to use four-wheel low (4L) and all the drive modes since we breezed through all of the challenges without breaking a sweat.

The biggest surprise was that the 4×2 models, despite a slightly less powerful engine and a simple powertrain, got through the course without much drama.

We were left in awe as the “lesser capable” Tritons soldiered on and eventually breezed their way to the paved roads at the end of the off-road patch. Admittedly, there were some nerve-racking moments as we watched the 4×2 GLS’s rear wheels slip because of the poor traction in some sections.

But we proved that 180hp and 430Nm of torque—together with 222mm of minimum ground clearance—were enough to conquer the challenging track. In no time, all of us got back on the pavement despite our lack of off-roading experience.

The very capable drivetrains of the Triton gave us the confidence that we could take on just about anything, knowing that our steeds would make it. This got us raring to drive on even more challenging trails.

We spent the night relaxing, preparing ourselves for the drive home the next day. Driving on nicely paved provincial roads and the expressway, we traveled in great comfort.

During this media drive, we could put the truck in every real-world condition. And it proved capable enough to survive it all and be ready for more. The hype was indeed real. The all-new Triton is just better than the outgoing Strada in every conceivable way. It is also much more comfortable and safer, with all the features and the advanced driver aids that it’s fitted with.

With the Triton, “Go beyond limits” isn’t just a marketing tagline, but a lifestyle that it espouses. And though competitors may offer more on paper, Mitsubishi’s new truck offers real-world goodness and dependability.

And that explains why the Mitsubishi Triton is one of MMPC’s best-selling models today.