WHEN it comes to pick-up trucks Mitsubishi is pick of the bunch with the L200.

It's been around since 1978 and has built a reputation for being tough and trendy.

With names such as Titan, Warrior and Barbarian the L200 has the macho image to impress and it's Britain's top selling pick-up accounting for some 20 per cent of the market.

Now there's a new L200 on the way and for truck fans it is going to be a revelation.

The fifth generation L200 is still as heavy duty as ever but it's been refined inside and out to create a workhorse that's as plush as a family car.

As a double cab it can seat five with a good amount of space in the rear and the levels of appointment are first class.

Top grade models come with sat nav, heated seats and a rear view camera as standard yet all versions have class leading features including hill start assist, lane departure warning, trailer stability controls and ultra-bright xenon headlamps.

It is also an immensely capable off-roader and the new L200 has a drive system with a 60/40 rear bias instead of the 50/50 split on previous models which has improved performance considerably.

Powered by a revised 2.5-litre diesel developing 178bhp and a useful amount of torque, the L200 has a fair turn of speed with a 0 to 60 time of 10.4 seconds and a maximum of 111mph.

Fuel efficiency has also been improved and the new model is officially rated at 42.8mpg with emissions of 173g/km which makes it the most economical pick-up around.

We had the chance to put the new L200 through its paces as the MIRA vehicle test track in Warwickshire where it proved to be an eye-opener when it came to driving on low grip surfaces and on rough terrain.

For a vehicle weighing 1.86 tonnes its ability to hold a line on a skid pan was astonishing such is the effectiveness of its electronic stability and traction systems.

On surfaces designed to replicate black ice the L200 remained controllable at speeds in excess of 30mph and in wet conditions completed emergency swerve manoeuvres at motorway speeds.

Off road it is equally impressive and showed its mettle on steep slopes, rutted and muddy tracks and through deep water.

Four wheel drive is now engaged via a rotary control aft of the gearlever and can be engaged at speeds of up to 62mph. There are four drive modes with low ratio gearing and differential lock engaged for the harshest of conditions.

The new L200 comes with either a six speed manual gearbox or an auto transmission which has paddle shifters allowing for low gears to be held when required. The ratio in first gear is such that hill descent control is not necessary and the truck can hold its own on steep descents - and that goes for the automatic too.

On the road in everyday conditions the L200 performs with great composure for a vehicle of such proportions - there is less body roll than you get on some SUVs - and it is nicely agile with a turning circle of 38.7 feet, again better than alternatives such as the Ford Ranger, Toytota Hilux and the Volkswagen Amarok.

It is surprisingly quiet and very easy to drive with good all round visibility. The engine is nice and lively and overall we managed to average 36 to the gallon and with a 16.5 gallon tank it is going to be good for at least 600 miles between fill ups.

Payload capacity is just over a tonne and it can tow up to 3.1 tonnes while the loadbed is 4ft 10ins square and 18ins deep.

The version we tried was in top but one Warrior trim which is priced from £23,049 excluding VAT. The range itself starts from £19,749 for a 4Life double can and tops out at £25,199 for an automatic version in Barbarian specification.

In every way the new L200 is a very sophisticated pick up and styled to impress with plenty of bright work, running boards, alloy wheels and rugged looks making it very much a truck that can be used seven days a week for either work, leisure or family duties.

As pick-ups go this is something of a game changer.