The 2022 Mitsubishi Strada should be getting more kudos, given that the current generation model has been on sale in the Philippines since 2019. After all, the Japanese diamond star beast of burden offerings are clearly in the league of rivals such as the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara, and Toyota Hilux.

The entry price at launch has also been competitive, from Php 1.165 million to Php 1.67 million. In addition, the automaker tossed in a Php 1.443 million to Php 1.76 million premium version, the Strada Athlete, in early 2020 despite the pandemic. But why does one see more examples of the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, and the Ford Ranger on local roads and in custom car shows instead of the Mitsubishi Strada?

What’s wrong with the 2022 Mitsubishi Strada?

Could it be its transmission? Some reviewers and owners claim that the automatic transmission has shifting delays in “(D)rive.  “That could be dangerous, particularly if the Strada is on an incline, you just moved to D from (N)eutral, and there are vehicles or pedestrians behind,” say some owners. Even if the pickup’s hill-hold feature (which keeps the unit stationary on ascent) were engaged and the driver’s right foot was on the middle/brake pedal, the lack of response from the transmission can be concerning.

Could it be its association as a Philippine government fleet unit? The Japanese pickup is a known Department of Education (DepEd) and National Irrigation Authority (NIA) official vehicle. Given that the country is in economic peril, an upgrade to the means of travel for DepEd and NIA brass left a bad taste in the mouth of many Filipinos. As such, it wasn’t farfetched that the brand had an unfair link to wanton government spending and the potential for corruption.

Could it be its build quality? Several reviews allege cabin plastics get easily scratched and dinged, particularly those on the top-end Strada Athletes. For some, that could be a non-issue. But for others – especially those forking over Php 1.7 million plus for a personal pickup, noticeable gashes on the interior plastics may be a dealbreaker.

Could it be the lack of Android Auto-Apple CarPlay capability for the mid-pack variants?  Suppose the Strada’s in-car infotainment (ICI) had Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In that case, the satellite navigation could tap more comprehensive sources of information (like Waze and Google Maps) or more music sources (such as Apple Music). If only the Mitsubishi Strada had Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, you’d neither get bored in traffic jams or long highway jaunts nor get lost on provincial roads.

Why should I spring for the 2022 Mitsubishi Strada?

Could it be the suggested retail price? The 2022 Mitsubishi Strada’s price range is between Php 815,000 for the base model, cab-and-chassis, and manual transmission-equipped variant, to Php 1.818 million for the Strada Athlete 4x4 Black AT.

For reference, the 2022 Toyota Hilux price roster is in the Php 843,000 million to Php 2.005 million spread. The Ford Ranger price tags are in the Php 1.198 million to Php 1.875 million scopes. The Isuzu D-Max models have a Php 862,000 to Php 1.835 million reach. The Nissan Navara versions run the gamut of Php 1.041 million to P1.796 million. As such, the Strada prices are less expensive than the abovementioned competition.

Could it be the four-wheel drive (4WD)? The 2022 Mitsubishi Strada’s non-tarmac ability didn’t just have high-range and low-range travel. Instead, the Mitsubishi pickup had two modes of high-range gearing. This was nice for trips on wet, packed dirt or dry/wet rocky surfaces. The 4WD also had four modes of traction control. This uses sensors on the wheels to “talk” to the computer box to deliver more twisting effort to any revolution. The result of all this off-road help is that you can bring people and products almost anywhere, shallow river crossings included.

Could it be the hauling ability? The bed carries dimensions of 1,520 mm (length) and 1,470 mm (width). That’s significantly longer than the previous generation’s 1,325 mm length and 1,130 mm width. Suppose you prefer a pickup in the provinces and you’re heavily involved in agriculture as a business. In that case, the bed dimensions could translate to a current Strada carrying four to five native Philippine pigs ranging from 1,250 mm to 1,290 mm in length. The benefit here is that a bed of the abovementioned specs is decent to good enough to carry items without opening the tailgate and having to construct a makeshift flag.

Could it be the standard electronic safety cops? These include:

• Anti-lock braking
• Deceleration distribution to all four wheels
• Parking sensors
• Reverse gear-activated camera with viewing via the infotainment system
• Traction control 
• Automatic high beams from the headlights,
• Sensors for the seven airbags
• Added engine braking on the descent
• Hill hold function that keeps the pickup stationary on inclines

However, the most notable Strada safety features are:

• Blind spot-sudden lane movement warning system
• Stability control for when the utility runner is towing something
• Added braking when the front bumper detects an imminent collision or when the unit suddenly accelerates

The lattermost safety doodad brings to mind the sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) issues of the pickup’s 2008-2015 Montero Sport sibling. A niggling issue that Mitsubishi seems to have addressed in the Strada platform.

Should you buy the 2022 Mitsubishi Strada?

It seems that the Strada has the price, the grunt, and even the safety features to present itself as better than its direct competition. However, the delays in putting that grunt to the rims, the plasticky interior build quality, and the lack of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity may very well be why customers are shifting their hearts and wallets to a Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, or an Isuzu D-Max.

Are these shortcomings making you think twice about the 2022 Mitsubishi Strada?