MITSUBISHI has upped the ante in terms of all round pick-up appeal with its latest version of the L200.

Pick-ups have been a vital ingredient of Mitsubishi in the UK for more than 30 years and from the humble Mk1 with its column gear shift a dynasty of go anywhere, utterly versatile people and load carriers has developed into a fifth generation that must have the opposition reeling on the ropes.

For instance, its flagship Barbarian model is best in class for economy, emissions, performance, all-wheel-drive, safety, utility and manoeuvrability.

The previous generation is certainly a hard act to followand has won more awards than all of its rivals put together. Since its UK launch in 2006, it has outsold all other pick-ups. Andits forerunner, the L200 Series 3, was almost entirely responsible for the development of the vehicle segment.

The new Series 5 L200 inherits the DNA of its predecessors and further advances the pick-up concept. It is an entirely new vehicle from the ground up, with significant improvements in no fewer than 330 areas.

The aim was to create the ultimate vehicle for commercial duty, combined with SUV-like refinement in quality and dynamic performance. In all key areas the new L200 Series 5 is best-in-class.

It is as competent climbing up a mountain or navigating a building site, as it is comfortable on a motorway or around city streets.

It remains the only pick-up that can be driven permanently in 2WD and 4WD on Tarmac and off-road.

With five-seat comfort, it retains the unique ‘J' curve body design between cabin and cargo area which is not just for visual styling. It allows for a 25 degree recline in the rear seats, making for a comfortable 4 or 5-passenger ‘long journey' space. Interior width has also increased, as have the size of the driver and front passenger seats.

The level of equipment specification on standard models is also class leading. For example, the new dual-zone air conditioning is 30 per cent quicker at cooling down the cabin space from 50 degrees to less than 20 degrees.

It is also brimming over with driver aids and on the launch event at the Mira test facility I was able to test it on simulated treacherous surfaces and found myself doing emergency lane changes under full braking and a passable impression of the Tokyo drift in a tight circle. Things you would never dream of doing years ago in a pick-up with rear leaf springs.

Mitsubishi have made this vehicle a much easier drive in an urban environment with a turning circle of just 5.9 metres. Anyone who has tried to park a large five-seater pick-up in a supermarket car park will know how difficult this can sometimes be.

Ride comfort is elevated to SUV levels through the introduction of a fully revised suspension, including six shock absorbing body mounts that are more than double the size of the previous model. These absorb noise and vibration from the road, contributing to a smooth and quiet cabin experience.

The new L200 Series 5 has the largest load capacity of any pick-up, in no small part due to the extensive use of high-tensile steel in both cabin and cargo bed, building in strength without increasing overall vehicle weight. The result is a pick-up with the best in class combined load bed capacity and full towing capability of 4.1 tons - nearly 300 kg more than competitors.

With a combined 42.9 mpg, L200 Series 5 uses up to 25 per cent less fuel than the competitive pick-ups. And at just 169 g/km COit has the lowest emissions in its class by as much as 33 per cent, safeguarding owners against a future emissions based tax regime for commercial vehicles.

The new 2.4 MIVEC turbo diesel engine sees power and torque increased to 178bhp and 430Nm at 2,500 rpm, delivering superior performance through a new 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic. At 10.4 seconds, L200 Series 5 accelerates quicker to 62 mph than any other pick-up.

Off road, it is one of those vehicles that tackles the seemingly impossible with a relaxed ease.

One feature is that it can climb a steep slope at tickover with no pedal input from the driver.

It is certainly amazing to have tracked the success of the L200 over the years.

It is one of those vehicle I has driven as a motoring journalist since the arrival to our shores of the Mk1 and have tracked its progress since. The Mk5 is without doubt the best five-seat pick up I have driven to date.