MITSUBISHI’s trucks have the following varieties:
| Small-sized truck | -CANTER GUTS (Loading capacity up to 1.5 tons) -CANTER (Loading capacity approx. 2 tons) |
|---|---|
| Medium-sized truck | FIGHTER and FIGHTER MIGNON (Loading capacity approx. 4 tons) | Large-sized truck | -SUPER GREAT (Loading capacity 6.5 tons and above) |
The truck name differs based on the loading capacities as shown above.
This was mentioned previously, but the MITSUBISHI’s 4 ton trucks consist of the FIGHTER and FIGHTER MIGNON, so let’s take a look at their differences.
MIGNON is a medium-sized truck with the same chassis as the FIGHTER and the cabin of the small-sized CANTER truck. This might be the reason for its name, which means ‘cute’ in French.
Even though it has the size of a medium-sized truck, its price is low.
In other words, the MIGNON is a cheaper version of the FIGHTER; it is a rare truck which was manufactured from between 1986 to 2002.
Again, as the MIGNON has a reduced vehicle weight, its maximum loading capacity is 4.5 tons. It is considered rare for this characteristic too.
Under the Japanese driving license system, the size of the vehicle that can be driven is based on the gross vehicle weight rating and the maximum loading capacity. Of course, the larger the vehicle size, the more difficult it is to obtain the license.
Medium-sized trucks can be driven with the usual “Medium-sized vehicle license,” but although the MIGNON can be called a medium-sized truck, it can be driven with the easiest-to-obtain normal license and hence can be driven by the general public who only possess a normal license.
Hence, the truck is often rented out at car rental places for casual uses.
Differentiating between the FIGHTER and MIGNON
The truth is, there are car dealers with experience in the export industry in Japan who cannot differentiate between the FIGHTER and MIGNON. Let’s take a look at the photographs to determine the way to differentiate them.
The trick is to check if it contains a CANTER’s cabin. Let’s take a look at the various trucks manufactured in 2002.
| CANTER | MIGNON | FIGHTER |  |
 |
 |
|---|
As mentioned earlier, the CANTER and MIGNON are almost the same, but the grille guard part and bumpers are bigger for the MIGNON. Also, there is a MIGNON logo on the right side of the MITSUBISHI’s three-diamonds mark.
On the other hand, the FIGHTER has a totally different shape, as you can see. Looking at the picture, you will be able to tell the differences among them.
The MIGNON has the same chassis as the FIGHTER, so let’s determine which truck is suited to you, based on the desired loading capacity, and the ideal cabin environment. Also, the MIGNON is cheaper in the Japanese market, so the exported trucks also have a cheaper selling price.
It would be good if you can consider the differences listed above when making your purchase decision.
The models of 4 ton trucks by other manufacturers are also listed below. How about finding the most suitable truck for you?
MITSUBISHI FUSO FIGHTER
MITSUBISHI FUSO FIGHTER MIGNON
ISUZU FORWARD
ISUZU FORWARD JUSTON
HINO RANGER
NISSAN CONDOR
