Even reliable off-road vehicles have their shortcomings. For instance, two tough SUVs are the Mitsubishi Montero and the Toyota 4Runner. However, both have had model years that were prone to engine troubles and other concerns. Even high-end off-road vehicles are susceptible. Alternative off-road vehicles, such as Japanese vans, are not either. A well-known Japanese van in the overlanding world is the Mitsubishi Delica. But even though it has a lot of amazing features, it also has some drawbacks.
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Do Delicas have any merit?
Since I’ve had my first Delica for about a year, it is without a doubt the best 4×4 available. When I initially received it, I gave the engine a thorough overhaul, and it now runs like new and can handle any terrain. Nothing compares to these cars, which have been in our family for almost 8 years. The only drawback is the fuel efficiency, which can be pretty bad when traveling over long distances at 70 mph on the highway. However, for a 2.8 liter turbo diesel, they are superb on slower roads. I would advise any prospective purchasers to purchase one!
What makes Delicas so well-liked?
There are many aspects of the Mistubishi Delica that people seem to miss, even though they may not be the most well-known or attractive cars.
The vehicle is a cross between a four-wheel drive Pajero/Montero and a regular van, which makes it the ideal choice for adventurers who enjoy exploring and spending the night in their vehicles.
Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of the Delicathe majority of people also aren’t familiar with it. The four-wheel drive van has only been available for purchase in Japan since the 1980s. However, the rate of importation into Chile, Australia, Canada, and the UK has skyrocketed over time. Yet why?
These are the primary causes for which so many people are beginning to import Delicas, and which led us to decide to modify ours into a 44-home vehicle for traveling the globe.
Comfort
Delicas are actually highly advanced for their years because they were created and made in Japan. A few benefits of driving a Delica include heated seats, electric mirrors, automated headlights, a sizable sunroof, arm rests, and flexible seating.
The extremely plush seats and roomy interior of the van give you the impression that you are traveling in a luxury car rather than some random car that resembles a toaster. Perfect for exploring and taking lengthy drives.
Four-wheel drive
The Delica has a 3.0 V6 petrol or 2.8 turbo-diesel engine option and shares the same drive train and traction system as the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero. With low-range gears and the same central differential lock used in all Mitsubishi four-wheel drives, Mitsubishi Super Select provides traction for it.
This means that compared to its siblings, Delicas are just as competent of four-wheel driving, if not more so. The suspension and a portion of the chassis, which were created to meet van-specific criteria, are the only features that set the Delica apart from the other 4x4s in the Mitsubishi lineup.
This implies that during our trip, we will be able to take Vanda pretty much wherever we choose. Watch the video above to see what a Delica is capable of!
Vehicle for eight or tiny home for two
In a Delica, eight passengers can fit comfortably and with room to spare! When Alex’s whole family came to visit us in Australia, we first got Vanda to transport them about. With temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius in the middle of the summer, 8 of us traveled in Vanda very pleasantly with no issues.
But if you don’t have a large family, the Delica offers enough room to turn into an incredibly cozy campervan for two. When designing a house in a Delica, the possibilities are endless. Check out this makeover, which has it allan inside kitchen, an outdoor shower, a pop-top roofand more.
What kind of motor does a Mitsubishi Delica have?
The Mitsubishi Pajero and the fourth generation Delica both share the same engine and transmission, however unlike the Pajero of the time, the fourth generation Delica is monocoque built and does not have a separate chassis. With four-wheel drive, high and low ratio ratios, and differential locking, the Delica 4WD still has enough of off-road capability. From a 2.5-liter to a 2.8-liter intercooled turbo-diesel engine is available. Additionally available are 2.4- and 3.0-liter V6 petrol engines with 12 or 24 valves. All models, with the exception of the 2.8-liter diesel, are offered with two or four wheels.
The fourth generation’s passenger variants were referred to as Mitsubishi Space Gear without ever using the Delica moniker, while the cargo versions were referred to as the Mitsubishi L400.
Hyundai used the Mitsubishi Delica as the foundation for the Hyundai Starex (A1) in South Korea, which was produced from 1997 to 2007.
This generation, referred to as the WA series in Australia, was offered in passenger (Mitsubishi Starwagon) and cargo (Mitsubishi Express) configurations. Between September 1994 and September 2003, the Starwagon was offered. The Express began publication at the same time and ran until 2005. The WA models were distinguished with the “Walk-Thru” moniker in order to set them apart from the cheaper, earlier-generation SJ series that sold alongside the semi-bonneted WA Express.
The four levels of specification for Australian Starwagons were GL, GLX, GLS, and 4WD. Mitsubishi gave the GL a 2.0-liter inline-four with carburetion, the GLX a 2.4-liter inline-four with fuel injection, and the GLS a 3.0-liter V6. Both four-cylinder engines came with a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, with a four-speed column-shift automatic available as an option. The only available transmission for the 3.0 liter GLS was a floor-mounted automatic with four speeds. Only the entry-level GL and mid-range GLX versions were kept in the lineup for the 1996 facelift model.
The Mitsubishi Delica is it capable off-road?
Mitsubishi Delicas are still not widely available in the US. So long as you are aware of its restrictions, choosing an L300 is acceptable if you desire one. It has that very angular styling as well.
The L400 Delica is superior in virtually every way if you really want a competent off-road Japanese van, though. It is more cozy, more potent, and just as trustworthy and capable, if not more so. Additionally, examples cost about the same as L300s.
How many kilometers can the L300 Mitsubishi get out of a liter?
“I feel a connection with our L300 that is strong. Never bumigay, siya ilang beses na nasubukan. I didn’t hesitate to buy it back when I saw the chance, Kaya. For me, the van is more than just a family vehicleit is a member of our family. Ernest Yu, a delighted owner of a Mitsubishi L300, stated.
The proud owner of a Mitsubishi L300 is Mr. Jessie Cabral. Despite not being his first choice at first, he finally changed his mind and is now the Vice President of the L300 Club of the Philippines. He views the L300 as a flexible vehicle with a wide range of uses. He purchased the unit for his delivery service business six years ago, and he has since used it for a number of outreach initiatives. He recalls with pleasure making the trip to Dingalan Aurora to assist an Aeta tribe. Mr. Cabral praised the L300’s exceptional performance as well, recalling how it effortlessly navigated through treacherous zigzag roads and through rivers.
His delivery business was severely impacted when the Metro was put under ECQ, but instead of allowing the situation get to him, he adopted the adaptable nature of his L300 and changed the focus of his company to provide shuttle services for businesses. The action enabled him to overcome his situation.
“It is possible to tweak and madiskarte on a daily basis. I’m not capable of doing anything but talk, really. Dapat bukas ang mga mata sa bawat pagsubok para sa opportunity na maari natin mamaximize. Higit sa lahat, kailangan din natin mapagpasalamat sa blessings na natatangap at mapag-share sa kapwa na mag-ugali para tuloy tuloy ang biyaya. Mr. Jessie Cabral said.
Visit any of our 55 stores nationwide or online at www.mmpc.ph to learn more about the consistently dependable and trusted Mitsubishi L300.
How many kilometers can a Delica go?
An old, unclean engine that hasn’t had regular oil changes will start to lose compression, produce higher EGTs, leak oil, and smoke about 250,000 kilometers. It will continue to run indefinitely, but it won’t be very pleased.
Are Delicas 4WDs?
Since then, many have arrived in the United States and are now in the hands of owners. I spoke with Matt Farah, host of The Smoking Tire podcast and owner of Westside Collector Car Storage, Andrew Groves of Miscellaneous Adventures, and Andy Lilienthal of Crankshaft Culture to gain a deeper understanding of that experience, as well as how people found their cars and why they like them. They are all proud Mitsubishi Delica owners.
According to Farah, owner of a 1991 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon Exceed Turbo D, “I originally wanted a van-type vehicle to use as a cool, affordable, and interesting shop truck and airport pickup vehicle for my customers at WCCS, but I bought it about six months before we actually opened and my wife started driving it. She advised me to go buy an other shop truck if I wanted one since this was now her vehicle.
Lilienthal, who owns a 1994 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear, said: “The Delica offers a true 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case paired with the adaptability of a van platform. No domestically manufactured vehicles readily do this, and particularly not at a Delica price point.