Mitsubishi Delica Is Coming Back. Here's What We Missed Over The Last 34 Years

What do you get when you take a seven seater people mover with a flat load floor and pair it with the go-anywhere capability of the Mitsubishi Pajero’s drivetrain? The stuff of dreams. That was the Delica Space Gear and it was fantastic on two fronts: If you needed to haul people and their crap, it had it covered. Seating for seven was versatile the second row seats could swivel 180 degrees or fold flat and combine with the third row seats to make a bed. Of if you needed to haul something long, they could slide up against the back of the front seats for even more cargo room.

And then there was the drivetrain. Engines and four-wheel drive systems were shared with the Pajero. This meant Mitsubishi’s Super Select four-wheel drive system with low and high range, locking center differential and the choice of a 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine or a 3.0-liter V6.

Named for a famous ski region in France, the Delica Chamonix was marketed for those who ventured into cold regions to ski. In addition to random “Chamonix” badging, it came with waterproof carpet, additional roof insulation for warmth, limited slip differential, dual batteries and a heavy duty alternator to hold up to colder temperatures. These things were tough. Our own Bradley Brownell spent a few days with one a few years ago and became a believer.

For those that wanted a bit of luxury with their off-roady van, Mitsubishi offered the Delica Super Exceed. Only available with the Crystal Lite roof, a turbodiesel engine and an automatic transmission, it came with fancier features and was the top of the Delica line before more off-road focused models. There were Alcantara seats, thicker carpet, a better stereo system, and a standard fridge/heater box. It was still pretty rugged though. There was a limited slip rear diff, a dual battery setup similar to the Chamonix and an in-dash inclinometer and altimeter.

The Delica Active World was a later take on the Delica Chamonix and was equipped similarly. Marketed as a cold weather package, it was equipped with a larger battery, heavy duty alternator, snow tires, and an insulated roof. Power came from a 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine. That’s all in addition to various “Active World” decals.

Mitsubishi was just out here creating words in the late 2000s. The brand created the “Roadest” trim for certain models that was more sporty and JDM looking. In 2007, the Roadest trim was slapped onto the Delica.

The differences between the Delica Roadest and other Delica trims are pretty obvious. It got unique styling with a monochrome paint scheme, ground effects, special grille, 17-inch wheels, and more notably, a lower ride height and two wheel drive. It also had weird “ROAR Complete” badging which...who knows what it meant.

The Delica Jasper was another cold weather variant similar to the Active World and Chamonix. It had the same cold weather features like the snow tires and extra insulation as those other models. This all came in a Delica that had more basic features like less premium carpeting.

If you wanted a basic, four-wheel-drive people mover with no sort of luxury features, the Delica Exceed was the one to get. While buyers had options like a gas or turbodiesel engine paired with a manual or automatic transmission, that was the extent of the options. There were vinyl seats, basic carpeting and an analog inclinometer and an altimeter.

A trim of the current generation of the Delica, the Urban Gear is the more city-focused trim of the Delica lineup. Other than features like wood trim, 18-inch all terrain tires, heated front seats and a power sliding door, there’s actually... nothing really special about it.

Look at how cute it is! While this isn’t exactly a Delcia per se, it’s still cool enough to warrant a mention. Introduced in 2023 as a “super height-wagon kei-car,” the Delica Mini is just that, a kei car version of the Delica. It’s tiny. It measures just 11 feet long, four feet wide and six feet tall. And even at it’s heaviest, it still weighs 159 pounds less (2,337 pounds) than the heaviest Mazda Miata.

If this thing ever came to the U.S., it might be a hazard to drive on our roads because it’s so underpowered. Mitsubishi put a 0.66-liter, 52 horsepower I3 under its hood though a 64 hp version of the same engine is optional. Pricing starts at $13,000 and tops out at just over $17,000 for loaded versions.

The fifth and current generation of the Delica has been on sale since 2007, though it did get a 2019 refresh. With modern automotive technology, the Delica’s lineup has something for everyone. From the urban dweller who just wants a people mover to the outdoorsy type that wants something that can handle itself on the trails, buyers can choose four-wheel-drive systems, diesel engine and even a plug-in hybrid.