I passed by this third generation Mitsubishi 4WD Delica van the other day, and it brought to mind a recent article I read where Toyota is offering a “Woodland Special Edition” of its 2021 Sienna minivan. The Woodland model will include the Sienna’s AWD option, and an approximate one-half inch increase in ride height. Kia is also hoping to tap into the SUV bandwagon with its new Carnival minivan, which has much more SUV-like proportions. But Mitsubishi originated the “tough” minivan segment almost forty years ago with its 4WD Delica StarWagon.
1982 StarWagon
1985 Pajero 4-door
In 1982, Mitsubishi took its Pajero 4WD chassis, slightly modified it, and dropped the Delica’s forward-control minivan body on top. The Pajero was a true off-roader, as capable as an equivalent Jeep Cherokee, so the Delica was no pretender; it had a two speed transfer case and a locking differential. It made quite the splash – when I first arrived in Japan in the early ‘80’s (still the “Bubble” period) they were a frequent sight.
1988 JDM StarWagon
1988 US version RWD Wagon
A new version was released in 1986 and while transitioning to a unibody design, retained its stout 4WD underpinnings. The North American market only received the regular “Wagon” van from 1987-90. Engines in both the 1982 and 1986 update were a variety of Mitsubishi inline fours, both gas and diesel.
1985 Delica Australia version
At that time Mitsubishi had extensive manufacturing and/or co-production partnerships in North and South East Asia, so the Delica was also routinely seen in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and Korea (assembled by Hyundai).
A more significant update occurred in 1994 with Gen three of the 4WD model. The nose was extended to improve frontal collision safety but the engine was still mounted longitudinally. A gas V6 engine option was added also. The StarWagon moniker was superseded with the “Space Gear” name in Japan, while being retained in other markets.
A complete re-design was made with the 2007 D:5 model, moving to a new transverse-engine platform. The AWD system was one similar to that used on the Outlander SUV.
The front end was tweaked in 2019. The AWD model is now called “Active Gear”.
Both the Sienna and Carnival seem to be taking the mild approach of “toughening-up” their looks to entice potential SUV buyers; the Delica however, was and still is the real deal when it comes to an M/SUV.
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Thanks for the informative article! I’ve been seeing a handful of RHD 4WD early to mid 3rd generations in my part of Virginia, until today I had no idea what gen. they were, so TIL. I had one behind me in Roanoke VA and there are some running around the college towns of Radford and Blacksburg. #vanlife. I now realize the availability of them in my local, Duncan Imports has a location in the next town over from me in Christiansburg VA with a few of these vans on hand in their inventory. These and various RHD Toyota SUVs are becoming common sights.
I remember the North American version as a kid in NJ, used to see a few as floral vans etc., in a downtown setting, but imagine those are long gone now.
I, also, don’t remember seeing many of the 87-90 series in my neck of the New England woods. Bit of a shame; if I were in the market then for a used car I could be interested in this.
Am I figuring the ’90s redesign was influenced heavily by safety and crash standards for the front-seaters?
Ive driven a petrol gen 2 in Tasmania a friend with a bush block had one a very capable van off road, there are or were a lot of the gen 3 spacegear vans in NZ though it is a while since Ive seen one as exJDM imports they suffer like all JDM cars from Japanese neglect and a lack of parts here when things start to go wrong, and this legendary Japanese reliability is an urban myth, Japanese vehicles break down we have a huge repair wrecking and scrap industries based on Japanese cars especially the exJDM cars so popular here and it seems to have gobbled most of those Spacegear vans that were so popular most were diesels and MMC does not have a good rep in that fuel variety.
There are a number of the second and third generation versions around here as well (as imports of course); along with the lack of a pickup truck, it’s yet another niche that Mitsubishi might have a following with had they stuck with it or introduced over here. While perhaps a stretch slightly too far design-wise for general US consumer tastes, the prior and current generations look like excellent updates to the form and well worthy of consideration. Heck, my 14yo son the other day came to me and told me that he saw a Previa and now wants one of those, so clearly the appreciation for somewhat oddball yet high quality Japanese designs lives on.
Very common here in the PNW. And more show up all the time. It’s a hot segment, and easy to import now, or buy from importers.
Spotted a Star Wagon up the street a few weeks ago.
Jim, what’s the “correct”, i.e. your local pronunciation of Delica? The Toyota Celica is “Sell-ick-ah” here in the States but “suh-Leek-ah” in the UK for example. No idea what it is in Japan actually.
But the Delica could even be “Deh-Like-ah” for all I know.
I believe its Del-ee-ka Jim, as the Japanese pronounce “I” as a long “e”…
Celica is also pronounced Cel-ee-ka here too…
Those first generation ones were extremely popular in Australia, the second generation seemed less so, and the third gen ones were a popular used import; pretty sure Mitsubishi didn’t sell them in any form as new vehicles. I didn’t realize the early ones were on a Pajero chassis; no wonder they were so capable off-road.
As usual, Aoshima offered several versions of their kit; this one’s the Delica Space Gear with Crystal-Lite Roof.
I believe I’ve seen a ’90s-vintage 4×4 Delica in my neck of the woods (Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina) fairly recently; it was parked at an AutoZone once. You mentioned the US only got the “regular” RWD model so this one had to have been imported from Asia since it would be at least 25 years old. DEFINITELY a rare bird around here!
During the week before Labor Day in 2020 in a shopping mall on the outskirts of Narragansett, Rhode Island, I did a double take. “What in the world”” thought I. I approached the front passenger who explained that it was a more than 25-year-old Delica. Because of its age, it could be imported to The U.S. Right-hand drive, Diesel power, and a cool ride. There is a club for Delicar owners in The U.S., too. It is a shame that the updated Delicar or whatever Mitsubishi wishes to call it, is not brought in The States.