Mitsubishi Triton ML, MN, MQ, MR and MV: the generations, told apart
Triton fitment is all about the code, because the badge spans five very different generations and the changeovers sit right in the middle of the years most used utes come from. A "2015 Triton" could be an MN or an MQ depending on the build month — the same year-catches-people problem as the HiLux and Ranger, just with a different alphabet.
This guide lists the verified Australian windows and how to buy for your exact series.
The generation windows, as published
- ML — 2006 – 2009
- MN — 2009 – 2015
- MQ — 2015 – 2018
- MR — 2018 – 2024
- MV — 2024 onwards
All the years here are from that table — the same source the generation pages use. Changeovers happen mid-model-year, so treat the window as a translator, not a substitute for your build plate.
The MN→MQ boundary is the main trap: the MN ran until 2015 and the MQ started in 2015, so a bare "2015 Triton" can't tell you which you have.
How to tell them apart
The definitive test is the build month/year and the series code off the identification plate. In rough terms, this is the generational shape of the AU-market Triton:
- ML (2006–2009): the earlier-generation Triton of the mid-to-late 2000s.
- MN (2009–2015): the next generation, which carried into the mid-2010s.
- MQ (2015–2018): the faster, sharper restyle of the modern Triton.
- MR (2018–2024): a further update.
- MV (2024 onwards): the current generation.
Styling is a hint, not proof — build date wins. A used Triton described only as "2015" must be pinned down before you buy anything for it.
Why the code matters for fitment
Each of these is a different vehicle with different mounting points. A bar designed for an MN is not designed for an MQ, even though the badge is the same. So the rule that runs through every guide here applies hardest to a line with this many changeovers:
- Search your series code — ML, MN, MQ, MR or MV — not just "Triton".
- Have your build month/year, or better the full VIN, before you contact a retailer.
- Check the listing names your series and build date, not just the model.
FITSPEC never claims a part fits. It reads the fitment the retailer published for your series and build date and attributes it to that retailer.
FAQ
What are the Triton series codes in order?
For the Australian market they run ML (2006–2009), MN (2009–2015), MQ (2015–2018), MR (2018–2024) and MV (2024 onwards).
Is my "2015 Triton" an MN or an MQ?
Model year is not build date. The MN ran until 2015 and the MQ started in 2015, so a Triton built early in 2015 is an MN and one built late in 2015 is an MQ. Check the build date off the identification plate.
Does an MN part fit an MQ?
No general answer — they're different generations with different mounting points. Some parts carry across a changeover; others were redesigned precisely at that point. The only answer worth acting on is the retailer's published fitment for your series and build date.
What is the current Triton called?
The current generation is the MV (2024 onwards), preceded by the MR (2018–2024), MQ (2015–2018), MN (2009–2015) and ML (2006–2009).
*By Ben Horne, FITSPEC. Fitment, compliance and safety depend on your specific vehicle — confirm with the retailer and a qualified fitter before you buy.*
This guide is general information, not fitting or engineering advice. Fitment, compliance and safety depend on your specific vehicle — confirm with the retailer and a qualified fitter before you buy.