|
Since the 2006 Strada GLX is still underpinned by the original L200’s platform, expect almost the same characteristics with pick-ups of yesteryear. The ride is unforgiving even on paved grounds, even more so when the going gets rough. Passengers will feel like being tugged up and down, like an airplane encountering turbulence (only worse). Likewise, drinks stored on the center console mounted cup holders will find its way onto the dash and carpet in no time. The rear passengers, who sit almost 90 degrees, will find the ride even harsher and bare metal b-pillar (as opposed to a plastic covered one) will surely cause more head lumps. Handling is pretty much middle-of-the-road for the Strada GLX with the usual corpulent amounts of understeer and body roll. However, with its narrower body, it’s actually easier to maneuver around in traffic and to park. Visibility is quite excellent too with expansive greenhouse and side view mirrors. Perhaps the Strada’s only weakness is its somewhat larger turning radius—a surprising fact given the Strada’s very manageable body size. Under the hood, the Strada GLX is equipped with the 2.5-liter 4D56 engine with intercooler. This guarantees that even though the Strada GLX is basic in comfort and convenience features, it doesn’t fall short in performance. 100 bhp and 235 Nm of torque are modest figures, but behind the wheel the Strada manages quite well. It can easily keep up with most cars on the road, reaching 100 km/h in no time. But like any other vehicle that’s built for hauling (i.e. acceleration) rather than top speed, a seemingly invisible barrier will heed progress beyond 120 km/h. The 5-speed manual is easily likeable with refreshingly short stroke between gears and a relatively precise shifting action. It’s still no sports car, but it will not cause any crunched gears or missed shifts. The clutch too is easy to modulate, with just the lack of a foot rest the only problem. The gearbox also incorporates Mitsubishi’s Easy Select 4WD system which allows shifting from 2WD to 4WD on the fly. Even though there are far more technologically superior and larger pick-ups out there, there are still some people who find the simplicity of the Strada GLX appealing. And I’m one of them. I still find the ride too stiff and the turning radius too big, but beyond the bed liners and body kits, it’s the Strada’s mechanical soundness that makes it a winner. It must be remembered that pick-ups aren’t mere status symbols but were designed and engineered for hauling and towing, and there’s no other pick-up out there that fulfills this singular mindset than the Strada GLX. |
|
|||||
 |
||||||
