Real men only apply
For a while, a few years back, it looked like the US trend for vast trucks and pickups was going to catch on here. Stateside rappers wearing signet rings the size of dinner plates applied the same “bigger is better” approach to all of their purchases, and cars like the mahoosive Hummer were suddenly very much in vogue. And then pick-ups, long the preserve of cowboys and home improvement herberts, looked set to follow.
Since then Hummer has died and we’ve had a global recession. Ostentatious fuel consumption and general excess when it comes to motoring is no longer chic. So a truck like the L200 now seems oddly outmoded as a lifestyle vehicle.
And take one look at this, the L200 Barbarian, and there’s little doubt that it’s got its eye on a market beyond builders, plumbers and landscape gardeners. The Mitsubishi L200 is almost single-handledly responsible for the growth of so called double cabs in the UK. This, a long cab pick-up, has rear as well as front seats – so can seat five – and can thus double as a work vehicle during the week and a family runaround at the weekend. The L200 Barbarian is an L200 with some body kit styling additions. It’s pretty aggressive to look at, although that said it’s not – strangely – unattractive. At least it’s attractive in a Wolf-from-Gladiators kind of a way.
NOT FOR THE SHY
With alloy wheels and mirror-shiny chrome elements including chrome rear bars, chrome grille, chrome handles, chrome wing mirrors and even a chrome fuel cap cover, this car will certainly attract attention. And just in case passers-by are in doubt as to what the origin of so much bling is, “Barbarian” is written on both flanks, on the rear tailgate and even sewn into the seats. And passers-by will notice it, believe me, in the same way that they would notice Sigourney Weaver striding down Oxford Street yelling “Get away from her, you bitch” in a wearable fork-lift truck. (This is an? Alien reference that you really ought to know).
So it’s not a car for the shy. But who indeed is it for? It’s a vehicle for hot air balloonists, mountain bikers, mountaineers and City workers who fantasize about being tree surgeons. Or tree surgeons who like bling. Basically, macho suits guys who see themselves as outdoorsy. And strong.
NOISY AND RUGGED
So what’s it like? Inside, the Barbarian is utilitarian but it’s easy enough to drive, even quite enjoyable. The leather-trimmed seats are genuinely comfortable and in the cabin there’s a lot of plastic. The cabin then is unremarkable, other than being surprisingly comfortable for a vehicle of this type.
This Barbarian is specced with a Kenwood satellite navigation system, which frankly has
the air of the afterthought about it. Yet the fact is it is undoubtedly the best satnav system
I have ever used. It also has the ugliest display, although my wife found the cartoonish Capri with the go-faster stripe rather endearing.
The L200 Barbarian has a 175bhp 2.5 litre turbo diesel engine coupled with a five speed automatic gearbox. It’s noisy and rugged and hardly refined although strangely far quieter and refined at speed, so much so that it is easy to creep up to about 80mph without realising that you’re doing so. It comes with a three year or 100,000 mile warranty and a tax advantage in that it’s in VED band LGV. The economy is not great and it was never going to be clean, but then if you need something that can carry 2,700kg this will be the least of your concerns.
The L200 is long but actually surprisingly easy to park, thanks to the rear view camera. The turning circle takes some getting used to: turning a steering wheel so much seems strangely old-fashioned. And accessing the cargo floor is tricky somehow. The rear tailgate door is pretty heavy for light-weights like my wife. It works in combination with a roller cover which pulls out across the cargo bed like a roller blind. To open it you need to heave it back towards the tailgate using the pull tether, then twiddle around with the lock to lock it. It’s fine for transporting big, serious stuff but it would become a pain for transporting the usual detritus of life like overnight bags and buggies. But then it’s when you find yourself sticking your Christmas tree into it, transporting a marble fireplace and/or a wardrobe from Ikea, that you are finally able to justify it. Maybe.
THE FACTS:
MITSUBISHI L200 BARBARIAN
price: £26,935
0-62mph: 13 secs
Top speed: 109 mph
CO2 g/km: 248
MPG Combined: 30.1mpg