We buy hatchbacks that have been lifted, like the Subaru XV Crosstrek. We buy station wagons that been jacked-up, like the Subaru Outback. At least in North America, hatchbacks and wagons haven’t exactly had a reputation for being cool for some time. You know what else aren’t cool? Vans and minivans. Can we convince automakers jacked-up vans are the next big thing? I ask because I keep seeing this Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear around and it makes a lot of sense.
This is no car-based vehicle with a slight increase in ride height, mind you. The Japanese-market Delica Space Gear mated the gearbox and front suspension of the Pajero/Shogun/Montero off-roader with the body of the L400/Express van. This was the same formula as had been applied in the two previous generations of four-wheel-drive Delica, the first having been launched in 1982. Unlike the Pajero at the time, the Delica employed unibody construction, although the Pajero eventually moved to this format in 2000.
The Space Gear had Mitsubishi’s Super-Select 4WD system, which allowed drivers to toggle between 2WD, constant AWD, and both high- and low-range with center diff lock; a rear limited slip differential was optional. Engines were a 2.8 four-cylinder turbodiesel with 123 hp and 216 ft-lbs and Mitsubishi’s ubiquitous gasoline 6G 3.0 V6 with 182 hp.
Although it was never officially sold outside of Japan, the Delica Space Gear has become one of the most popular grey imports in Canada, the UK, Chile and Australia. As is common with Japanese passenger vans, the Space Gear was available with plenty of features. For example, you could specify one with five sunroofs – one over each outboard seat on the rear two rows of seating, plus one up front, in a prelude to today’s panoramic sunroofs in people carriers. Mitsubishi, amusingly, called this option the “Crystal Lite” roof, like it was some kind of low-carb beer. Other features included rear cabin ventilation, available heated seats, and powered curtains and sunroof blinds.
The Space Gear seated seven or eight passengers, with ample head room to get up and walk around the cabin; there was also a choice between high- and low-roof models. In seven-seater versions, the second row of seats swivelled 180 degrees. Alternatively, you could flatten the second and third row of seats to make a bed or fold them up and out of the way. The third row could also be removed entirely.
Although some Japanese vans offered four-wheel-drive, there really was nothing that directly compared to the Delica Space Gear with its blend of versatility and off-road ability. Maybe I haven’t convinced you yet that the Delica Space Gear is both a great idea and a cool van. Maybe you just can’t reconcile how goofy it looks, being so long, narrow, and high off the ground. That’s ok, it’s an acquired taste.
Perhaps this might interest you? This is the Space Gear’s successor, the Delica D-5. Although Brisbane is full of Nissan Elgrands and other JDM vans, it’s much harder for me to find one of these so I can write them up properly. However, I have to say that, in my opinion, these are one of the best-looking vans ever made. For this generation, launched in 2007, the Delica moved to the Mitsubishi GS platform shared with the Lancer. With its car platform, these were less capable off-road than their predecessors – they also lost their low-range option – but they were much more refined on the road.
If a little plastic cladding and a higher ride height can make a wagon or a hatch appealing to North Americans, could it work for minivans? Ok, so a Delica Space Gear is probably a bit much and might be too much of a niche product, even though it is eminently capable. However, a Chrysler Pacifica X – in the vein of a Delica D-5 – could find buyers by offering true minivan practicality with the vague suggestion of off-road ability.
While something like a Pacifica X is almost plausible, it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing anything like this Delica Space Gear again. If you truly want a van you can take off-road, you best be getting in touch with your local Japanese grey importer.
Related Reading:
Curbside Outtake: 1983-90 Toyota Tarago – A Van By Another Name
Curbside Classic: 1987 Nissan Van – How Did This Turkey Escape The Crusher (Or Oven)?
Logic says that this ought to have all kinds of popularity, combining space efficiency with go-anywhere ruggedness. But no. There have been a handful of 4×4 conversions available on American vans but they have never become anything more than curiosities. The factory versions of Suburbans/Excursions/Jeeps seem to have sold well enough that van versions of the same thing never got any traction. So to speak.
They could market this like the Japanese so often do: as the Pacifica Sport.
I remember on my visit to Japan in the late 80s seeing a few of these. I can’t say that I ever saw an equivalent Nissan or Toyota minivan, though there is a small Mazda van that was fairly popular, too.
This is attractive looking, and the earlier series would have piqued my interest in the 80s. However, these wouldn’t work for me for the same reason why I doubt they would work for any. “average” American, and that is that they are just too small. Build this a size bigger, say as the size of the 1st generation Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager and I would be more likely to at least be seriously interested.
Are these smaller than a Villager? I just drove past a Villager 20 minutes ago, and I could swear these are as big or bigger – maybe it’s just because it’s jacked up?
I used to live in the UK, and Delicas are unbelievably common there for a car never officially imported.
If you compare a 94 Villager to a 94 Delica, the Villager (according to Wikipedia) is a foot longer and a foot wider.
I don’t think we’ll be getting in touch with a Japanese importer for our 4X4 minivans.
Could you get one of these as a camper version?
I’ve seen a tall, narrow, 4wd one of these tottering around Peterborough and now seeing the pictures am sure it’s a Delica van.
Quite common here ex JDM many have been converted into camper vans, the diesel engines are more robust in this model than the earlier models and this thing was also licence built in Korea by Hyundai as was the Pajero that spawned it.
I occasionally see an identical Delica driving around Toronto. Cool old van – I like it.
Don’t know if you were just joking, but there is a beer in Canada brewed by Labatts that is called crystal. Not low carb, but it is a mild lager.
I’ve seen a few Delicas around Seattle, some with Washington license plates and this one with British Columbia plates:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12119356@N00/albums/72157666203255230
Completely agree about the looks of the D-5 Delica. 11 years old and still looks wonderful.
The 4th Gen in the photos always looks to me like a banana balanced precariously up on some donuts.
Hahahahahahaha! That is some vivid imagery and I can totally see it!