From a distance, both cooly-parked Mitsubishi L-300 and Isuzu Traviz might just seem ready to transform and explode down the runway like two imposing and indestructible Autobots from the Transformers movie fame, especially when imaginably viewed under a dazzling play of light cast from a newly-minted showroom.

But as the saying goes, there is always a chink even in the most formidable of armors as one car feature prominently stands out from the rest, especially in the case between the L-300 and the Traviz work fleets as both utility vehicles were particularly designed as haulers of cargo or heavy payloads.

Therefore, this article will try to focus on identifying the similarities or differences found in the features exhibited by both cars as the first topic will dwell on engine specifications/features.

ENGINE

 Each year, automakers from both Mitsubishi and Isuzu Motors have tried to make progressive iterations on each of their respective car variants and as this year was no exception, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC), however,  has pulled all the stops to minimize competition by earnestly tweaking on engine specs with the result that the Mitsubishi L-300 engine now roars on its newer 2.2 liter DOHC (Euro 4 compliant) diesel engine with an added 40% more torque thereby producing an official 99hp on its 200 Nm of motor efficiency.

Compare this brute strength to Isuzu Traviz’s 2.5-liter 4AJ1 engine which putters along at a feeble 77hp and 177 Nm of torque.

Although both utility vehicles have similar strains of transmission capabilities and as both were powered by turbo-diesel power plants one will likely get a clearer picture about who’s in charge of hauling up the meanest of loads based on the data shown here.

So for this category, we hand in the trophy for the Mitsubishi workhorse.

Winner: Mitsubishi L-300

EXTERIOR

While both cars show similar aesthetic design and utilitarian appeal on the outside, there is still that slightly distinct touch of dissimilarity among them readily revealed to the naked eye, especially upon closer examination of their body configurations.

The Mitsubishi L-300 has always been a solid forerunner of a solid boxy design, a virtual utilitarian template kept in posterity until even today since its conception in the Philippine car market scene way back in the 80s.

True to form, this same boxy rigidity is best exemplified by the newer Mitsubishi L-300 variant which now comes with a facelift as it now boasts of color-keyed bumpers, a few upgrades on the grille and headlamps.

The cabin of the newer L-300s has also been raised a few notches for better visibility on the road and also to make room for a fiercer engine.

On the other hand, the Isuzu Traviz also stood out with the same boxy design however, the difference lies with the front exterior being nicely tapered at the edges with a rounded finish, giving it a more polished look as opposed to L-300’s boxy obdurateness.

Moreover, both the L-300 and the Traviz come at affordable prices packaged with an assortment of body configurations for business needs.

However, the L-300 has a preset body configuration that is readily available upon post-production thus eliminating the hassle of trying to configure the vehicle to meet up with business demands while the Traviz on the other hand, exclusively boasts of a cab and chassis platform and well, not much else.

But to make up for its shortcoming though, the latter takes pride in the adaptability of its wheelbase options for more customization in terms of body configuration.

But as they say, time is of the essence as the L-300 is the winner in the cut and run department because it provides a quick gas-get away-option, a factor much compromised by the Traviz because of its need for customization. 

Winner: Mitsubishi L-300

INTERIOR

 A Spartan-like interior meets the eye as one steps inside in either one of the vehicles mentioned here.

However, this utilitarian blandness is more pronounced in the L-300 cockpit

because its dashboard features still reek of vintage (old) design heavily adapted from yesteryears while the Travis cabin boasts a more modern and spacious interior upholstered with fabric seats, lots of durable plastic materials for cabin structural support, dual air conditioning unit, and a reverse warning mechanism which the L-300 unfortunately, does not have

But the controls embedded in the L-300 dashboard, however, are easier to use, thanks to a recently upgraded gauge cluster but an updated column-type gear shifter, however, may just pose a bit of a setback to anyone unfamiliar with this interface.

Therefore, taking into consideration the ease of use with regards to the gear shifter and for providing much more cabin features/add-ons, the win goes over to Traviz.

Winner: Isuzu Traviz 

PAYLOAD

The category foremost in the minds of businessmen is whether one of these utility vehicles can truly carry the heaviest of loads.

So far as the charts are concerned, it does seem like the Isuzu Traviz would stand out due to its weight-bearing capacity of 1,660kg as opposed to the hauling power of the L-300 which can carry far less, only at an approximate 1,215kg of weight.

Short off the mark, however, the L-300 at least has a powerful engine which compensates for its lack in the payload department although the Traviz, weak in the engine category, however, can carry far heavier loads than most other utility vehicles including the L-300.

Therefore, in this regard, a tie must be conceded between the two cars as each delivers excellent performance in each respective category duly mentioned.

Winner: tie

PRICE

 For the budget-conscious, the Mitsubishi L-300 has a keen advantage over the Isuzu Traviz.

The former carries a modest price tag of just above P800,000 for its cab and chassis variant while the latter fares are a bit more expensive above the P960,000 mark for its short wheelbase cab and chassis variant.

Moreover, the L-300 as mentioned a while ago has always been fabricated at the factory with a pre-set body configuration allowing it to roll out fresh from the showroom while the Traviz though needing much customization, does provide more flexibility, particularly in terms of its long-wheelbase options.

Winner: Mitsubishi L-300

FINAL VERDICT

Based on several win-lose scenarios, it appears that the Mitsubishi L-300 has the most number of winning streaks compared to the Isuzu Travis which only won in the cabin-interior category and then lose in the rest.

That is not to say that one can easily write this vehicle off the bucket list as an inferior product. Far from it. The Traviz is a much more specialized light commercial vehicle (LCV) needing further customization to leverage on-cue business demands; a pros-factor in diversified businesses as the need to adapt becomes the norm.

On the other hand, the L-300 is a reliable, affordable, and a sturdy-stand-alone utility vehicle that is readily available to the buying public. So, take your pick?

Overall winner: Mitsubishi L-300