Mitsubishi Delica D:5
The Delica is a quirky, stylish alternative to mainstream people carriers, but does the UK need an eight-seat off-road MPV?
Whether or not the UK needs an eight-seat off-road MPV remains to be seen, but if it reaches these shores, the Delica will be a quirky, stylish alternative to mainstream people carriers. However, it will need diesel power to win over buyers, and the cost of its four-wheel-drive set-up could make it pricey compared to rival models.
What do you get when you cross a conventional off-roader with an MPV? A Mitsubishi Delica D:5. Its massive interior has room for eight, and it comes with the same four-wheel-drive set-up as the brand's Outlander SUV. What's more, it could be heading for Britain.
The unique 4x4 people carrier is already on sale in Japan, where Delica is an established name. The badge will also be familiar to many UK drivers thanks to the number of grey imports on the roads. But the latest D:5 could make it to showrooms here officially if bosses give it the thumbs up.
From the outside, its boxy design is deceptively compact; the Delica is 9cm shorter and 8.9cm narrower than a Ford Galaxy. Its clean lines and smooth surfaces combine with chunky alloys and a Hummer-style grille to set it apart from anything else around.
Inside, the futuristic centre console and twin dials give the cabin bags of character. Neat touches include an electric tailgate and powered sliding rear doors, all controlled from the dash. However, the two rows of rear seats don't fold as easily as those in the best MPVs, and two of the eight chairs cur-rently only have lapbelts.
Our car featured the firm's 2.4-litre petrol engine and CVT automatic box. The unit is short on power, and needs to be worked hard, but the column-mounted paddleshifters offer smooth and responsive stepped ratio changes.
There's plenty of roll in corners, and if you press on, the nose will run wide. But the D:5 is comfortable, and its tall driving position means great visibility.
To have any chance of success here, the Delica would need diesel power, but its Outlander underpinnings can accommodate an oil-burner. It's just a question of whether or not bosses decide fitting one is worth the effort.
