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Head to head: Mitsubishi L300 vs Isuzu Traviz

We compare a veteran of the segment versus the latest addition to make its way into the market.

Autodeal on Feb 10, 2021

Exterior
Interior
Power
Payload capacity
Price
Verdict

Commercial vehicles are an important part of the cargo industry in the Philippines. These vehicles help carry a wide number of goods from one place to another to help keep the supply chains running.

In this comparison, we will be putting the Mitsubishi L300 vs the Isuzu Traviz. The latest addition to the Isuzu truck lineup serves as the newest entry-level vehicle for the Japanese brand. It sports two available adaptable wheelbases along with a familiar 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine. On the other hand, the L300 brings to the table an updated design along with a new and more powerful 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine. These two commercial vehicles both come at affordable prices and come with multiple body configurations to help meet your business needs. With that said on to the head to head.

Exterior

In terms of how these two vehicles look on the outside, they both carry a similar design. The L300 carries over its older boxy aesthetics but adds a few added cues such as a revised lower bumper, grille, and headlights over its prior iteration. The cabin of the Mitsubishi has also been lifted up ever so slightly to make more room for the engine, which is updated from the diesel mill of the prior generation. The Traviz, on the other hand, comes with a still boxy design but with rounded edges and a few more cuts and creases. Aside from this, both vehicles come with halogen lights that put them on similar footing with one another.

Where the differences start is when it comes to the availability of body configurations. Currently, Isuzu only sells the Traviz in a cab and chassis form, with body options being optional add-ons. It is important to note that the Traviz does come with two wheelbase options to choose from increasing its customization factor. However, Mitsubishi, on the other hand, sells the L300 with preset body configuration straight out of the gate. This gives the Mitsubishi an advantage over its Isuzu rival as there is no need to configure the vehicle. With that in mind, we give the win for this category to the Mitsubishi L300, however not by a lot because while the Isuzu may not come with a body. Businesses might have something else for the truck in mind or a builder at the ready if they want something more specialized. However, for being a business-ready LCV at the drop of an invoice, the L300 is definitely a quick gas-and-go option.

Winner: Mitsubishi L300

Interior

Mitsubishi L300 vs Isuzu Traviz inteiror

Stepping into the cabin of either vehicle and you are greeted with a simple yet durable interior. While both commercial vehicles do come with seating for three the Traviz comes with a more modern cabin layout. While still boxy in design, the interior comes with more rounded edges and more up to date materials. There is even a small digital display found in the gauge cluster of the vehicle, giving it an edge over its Mitsubishi rival.

The L300, on the other hand, comes with an older design with a flatter dashboard layout. Controls are easier to use and the gauge cluster has been updated compared to its older iteration. However, it is important to note that the Mitsubishi comes with a column-type shifter that many may not know how to use immediately.

For having a more up to date interior and an easier to use gear shifter, the win goes to the Isuzu Traviz.

Winner: Isuzu Traviz

Power

When it comes to what is under the hood, both the L300 and Traviz come equipped with turbo-diesel engines. While the Isuzu light truck comes with a familiar 2.5-liter 4AJ1 motor last used in the Isuzu Crosswind, its Japanese rival comes with a newer 2.2-liter power plant under the hood. The Traviz manages to push out 77hp and 177 Nm of torque with power being sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual. While the L300 also has a similar drivetrain and transmission, it shifts via a column type shifter and comes with 98hp and 200 Nm motor at its heart. Out of the two vehicles, this makes the L300 a more powerful machine with a newer engine compared to its newer bodied rival. For this category, the win goes to the venerable Mitsubishi vehicle.

Winner: Mitsubishi L300

Payload capacity

As commercial vehicles, both the Isuzu Traviz and the Mitsubishi L300 are expected to carry heavy loads. With that in mind, comparing the two based on their payload capacities can be tricky as they come with multiple variants. In this category, we will take into account the highest possible payload each vehicle can take to determine a winner.

The Isuzu Traviz in its short-wheelbase form can carry 1,660kg, while the Mitsubishi L300 comes with a payload capacity of 1,215kg. Despite coming with a much weaker engine, the Isuzu can still carry more. For this category, we will give it a tie, while the Traviz has a higher payload capacity, it comes with a weaker engine, the L300 has a more powerful motor, however, it loses out to the Isuzu in terms of payload capacity. It will have to go down to which LCV is more capable, and capability may have a different kind of meaning depending on the business. Surely, with its more powerful engine, the L300 will get up to speed quicker, but with a higher-rated payload capacity, the Traviz is definitely going to be able to haul more—however fast or slow that will be.

Winner: tie

Price

When comparing the Isuzu Traviz pricelist to the Mitsubishi L300 pricelist, a few things become apparent. The L300 is the more affordable vehicle among the two with a price tag of just above P800,000 for its cab and chassis variant. However, it is essential to note that in its Exceed trim with an FB body equipped with dual airconditioning it is the more expensive vehicle. It is just P2000 shy of the P1,000,000 mark.

The Isuzu Traviz, on the other hand, starts at a much higher price for its short wheelbase cab and chassis variant. Starting a little bit above the P960,000 mark, this makes it the more expensive vehicle of the two even without a body. The same can be said about its long-wheelbase variant as its price point is just as expensive as its Mitsubishi rival. With that said, the win goes to the Mitsubishi L300 as the vehicle has already been configured from the factory. However, we can’t deny the customizability of the Traviz and the long-wheelbase option that it offers.

Winner: Mitsubishi L300

Verdict

2019 Mitsubishi L300 FB Exceed Philippines

Now that we have gone through the basics of what each vehicle has to offer it’s time to choose an overall winner. The Isuzu Traviz while offering better customizability options in terms of what body and wheelbase you can choose from, does come at a more expensive price point. This makes it ideal for those who want a cab and chassis model that they can specifically adapt to the needs of their business.

However, when it comes to the usability of the vehicle the Mitsubishi L300 stands out as premade variants are available with the vehicle straight from the dealership floor. Not to mention that it also comes with a dual-aircon model that makes it ideal for people transporting duties. While the L300 does come a little short when it comes to payload, it makes up for it with a more value-for-money price tag and can still retain a customizable option thanks to a cab and chassis variant.

All things considered, we award the overall win to the Mitsubishi L300 for its more affordable price tag and for having variants that already have bodies attached to them that you can use straight out of the dealership.

Overall winner: Mitsubishi L300