The Mitsubishi Triton has been a stalwart of Australian roads and worksites for decades, but even longtime owners often miss some of its most sophisticated features.
While most drivers know about the basics like four-wheel drive and towing capacity, there are two particular features that remain largely underutilized by Australian owners—despite offering significant advantages in our diverse driving conditions.
Think of these features as the difference between knowing how to drive a car and truly understanding how to harness its full potential.
Just as a professional racing driver extracts more performance from the same vehicle than an average driver, understanding these hidden capabilities can transform your Triton ownership experience.
The Revolutionary Super Select 4WD-II System: Your All-Terrain Command Center
The first feature that most Australian Triton owners don’t fully grasp is the sophisticated Super Select 4WD-II system, available on higher trim levels like the GLS and GSR.
This isn’t just another four-wheel drive system—it’s a comprehensive all-terrain management solution that provides four distinct driving modes plus seven specialized terrain settings.
To understand why this system is special, let’s start with a fundamental misconception. Most Australians treat four-wheel drive as something you only engage when you’re stuck or heading off-road.
This thinking comes from traditional part-time 4WD systems that can damage themselves if used on sealed roads. The Super Select system completely changes this paradigm.
The key breakthrough lies in the 4H mode, which functions as a full-time all-wheel drive system that can be used on any surface—bitumen, gravel, wet roads, or even dry highways—without any risk of drivetrain damage.
Picture this mode as having an intelligent center differential that automatically distributes power between the front and rear axles as needed, much like the systems found in premium SUVs.
Here’s where it gets particularly relevant for Australian conditions. Many driving instructors and Mitsubishi experts now recommend leaving the Triton in 4H mode permanently for everyday driving, especially in wet conditions or when towing.
This provides significantly better stability and control than traditional two-wheel drive, particularly during sudden lane changes or emergency maneuvers.
The system offers four primary modes that work like a toolkit for different situations. The 2H mode sends power only to the rear wheels and should primarily be reserved for highway driving where maximum fuel economy matters.
The 4H mode creates a 70/30 rear-to-front power split and can handle everything from city driving to light off-road work. When conditions deteriorate further, 4HLc locks the center differential for maximum traction on loose surfaces like sand, mud, or gravel. Finally, 4LLc engages low-range gearing with locked differentials for serious off-road challenges.
But the system becomes truly sophisticated on GLS and GSR models, which add seven specialized terrain modes: Normal, Eco, Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand, Rock, and even specific settings optimized for different surface conditions.
Think of these as pre-programmed recipes that adjust engine power delivery, transmission behavior, and braking intervention to match specific terrain challenges.
Consider a practical Australian scenario: you’re driving from Melbourne to a camping spot in the Grampians. You start on the freeway in 4H mode for better stability while towing your camper trailer.
As you transition to gravel forest roads, you switch to 4HLc and select Gravel mode. When you encounter a particularly challenging sandy section near your campsite, you might briefly engage Sand mode, which adjusts throttle response and traction control to prevent wheel spin and maintain momentum.
The beauty of this system lies in its on-the-fly operation—you can switch between 2H, 4H, and 4HLc at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour without stopping. Only the low-range 4LLc setting requires you to stop and shift to neutral first.
What makes this particularly valuable for Australian owners is our country’s diverse driving conditions. In a single day, you might encounter sealed highways, gravel roads, creek crossings, and beach sand.
The Super Select system adapts to each environment, providing the optimal balance of traction, fuel economy, and drivetrain protection.
The Diamond Advantage: Australia’s Most Comprehensive Automotive Protection
The second hidden feature that many Triton owners overlook is the full scope of Mitsubishi’s Diamond Advantage program, which extends far beyond the basic five-year warranty that most people assume is their only coverage.
Most Australians think about car warranties in simple terms—a few years of basic protection, then you’re on your own. The Diamond Advantage program fundamentally changes this equation, but only if you understand and activate its full benefits.
Here’s the key point that many owners miss: by having all scheduled services completed at authorized Mitsubishi dealers, your warranty automatically extends to an impressive 10 years or 200,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. This isn’t an expensive add-on or insurance product—it’s included with your vehicle purchase.
Let’s put this in perspective with a real-world example. Imagine you purchase a new Triton in 2025. With the Diamond Advantage program properly maintained, you’ll have comprehensive warranty coverage until 2035 or when your odometer hits 200,000 kilometers.
For a vehicle that many owners keep for eight to ten years, this coverage can extend through the entire ownership period.
But the program goes beyond just warranty extension. It includes 10-year capped price servicing for up to 150,000 kilometers, covering the first ten regular services at 15,000-kilometer or 12-month intervals.
This means you’ll know exactly what your service costs will be for the next decade, protecting you from inflation and unexpected service price increases.
Consider the financial mathematics here. Over ten years, vehicle service costs typically increase due to inflation and increasing complexity of repairs. With capped price servicing, you lock in today’s prices for future services.
For a vehicle serviced annually, this could represent savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared to paying market rates in years eight, nine, and ten of ownership.
The program also includes 12 months of Auto Club Roadside Assistance and membership with each new vehicle purchase.
This isn’t just basic breakdown coverage—it provides comprehensive support including mechanical repairs, battery replacement, fuel delivery, and even accommodation assistance if you’re stranded far from home.
The practical implications for Australian owners are significant. Australia’s vast distances and sometimes challenging driving conditions make long-term reliability crucial.
Whether you’re a tradesperson relying on your Triton for daily work or a family using it for weekend adventures, the Diamond Advantage program provides peace of mind that extends far beyond typical ownership expectations.
There’s an important activation requirement that many owners miss: you must complete all scheduled services at authorized Mitsubishi dealers within the specified intervals to maintain the extended warranty coverage.
Miss a service or have work done elsewhere, and you revert to the standard five-year, 100,000-kilometer coverage.
This creates an interesting decision point for owners. Some might initially consider independent mechanics for cost savings, but when you factor in the value of extended warranty coverage plus capped price servicing, the dealer network often provides better long-term value.
The program also demonstrates Mitsubishi’s confidence in their product quality. By offering Australia’s only 10-year, 200,000-kilometer new car warranty, Mitsubishi is essentially saying they expect their vehicles to remain reliable and trouble-free for the entire typical ownership period.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
These two features—the Super Select 4WD-II system and Diamond Advantage program—represent Mitsubishi’s approach to differentiating the Triton in Australia’s competitive ute market.
Rather than just competing on price or basic specifications, these features add genuine long-term value for owners who take time to understand and utilize them properly.
The Super Select system provides capabilities that many owners never access, while the Diamond Advantage program offers protection and cost predictability that extends far beyond what most manufacturers provide.
Together, they can significantly enhance the ownership experience for Australian drivers who take advantage of their full potential.
Understanding these features requires moving beyond basic vehicle operation to appreciate the engineering sophistication and long-term ownership benefits that Mitsubishi has built into the Triton.
Like learning to use all the functions on a smartphone rather than just making calls, these capabilities become more valuable as you understand their applications to your specific driving needs and ownership goals.