On The Road
There’s no getting away from the fact that pickups have a ‘unique’ set of driving characteristics compared with the more, shall we say, well planted CVs of similar weight. A high centre of gravity plays a large part in this, as does highly sprung suspension that tends to bounce under minimal duress, especially when unladen. But it must be said that even in this arena, where a certain lack of refinement is par for the course, the L200 does not give a good account of itself.
Body control is best described as fidgety and the suspension does not inspire confidence when turning into corners- when pushed its rear wheels struggle to maintain direction. Luckily the steering has enough weighting and feel to allow you to sense any indiscretions before they become an issue.
It’s not that the L200’s a real handful; it just requires that bit more concentration than its peers. And in that context its shortcomings can’t be ignored.
The 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine sounds unrefined and the power delivery is not linear when working through the rev range; its lack of modern technology is clearly evident. To its credit it does have a usable torque band, but it doesn’t delivery from low down – revs have to be maintained when fully laden to avoid ponderous acceleration from a standstill.
But once you’re up and running it provides plenty of go. On the hill tests it performed admirably, maintaining the required speeds with ease – keep within the torque band and it provides all the power you need.
This ray of light does not continue with the gearshift. While excuses can be made for this category of vehicle due to the heavy-duty mechanicals used, it still loses out to its rivals with a loose, slightly notchy action.
Braking hard produced no nasty surprises and the action was progressive enough to modulate under heavy loads and steep descents.
Cab Comfort
Unlike the more aesthetically pleasing Warrior and Animal versions, which are available with the single and the double cabs, the Club Cab does not have the latest cosmetic upgrades and makes do with a sparse, if functional interior. The dashboard is typical Japanese fare with a plethora of grey plastic and ‘contemporary’ switches.
Ergonomics are good with easy-to-read dials and simple-to-use stalks. The driver’s side seat is surprisingly comfortable and a decent position is easy to find, though some more adjustment would be welcome. The steering wheel is only adjustable for rake, giving the ‘long-arm’ effect.
The cabin as a whole feels surprisingly well screwed together with no signs of rattles or squeaks: a good sign if it’s going to be thrown around off-road.
Direct storage is adequate with slim door bins, a small glovebox and a central tray below the handbrake. A hidden compartment is located behind the front seats – handy if you have valuables of expensive equipment that needs to be kept out of sight – while the Club Cab arrangement can be utilised for storing tools and the like behind the front seats.
The rear bench seats, which fold upright when not in use, are really only suitable for short distances unless your colleague is a ‘mini-me’ type. This is by no means a slight on the layout, as the rival set-ups from Ford and the gang offer similar space and functionality. But if you need to ferry a colleague (or Paul Daniels) from one site to another it will no doubt come in handy.
While the road manners of the L200 may not be fully up to scratch, the cabin does a good job of suppressing these inadequacies. Road roar is well contained, and though the engine may lack sophistication it does not intrude to any great degree. Motorway driving is relatively relaxing with minimal wind and noise for a vehicle of this time.
Forward and side visibility is good, with minimal interference from the A-Pillar., while the rear is only slightly obscured by the metal frame which helps keep the load out of the cabin.
