IIMS 2014: Mitsubishi Delica – it’s a ‘Sport Utility MPV’

IIMS 2014 Mitsu Delica 1

We’re now completing the final lap of our 2014 Indonesia International Motor Show coverage after an intermission in the form of the Proton Iriz. Mitsubishi, which has a decent presence in Indonesia thanks to the Pajero Sport, launched the Delica at the annual Jakarta show.

Dubbed ‘the world’s first Sport Utility MPV’, the fifth-generation Mitsubishi Delica isn’t an easy vehicle to pigeonhole. No longer looking like a standard white van, the fourth-gen car’s rounded shape has been sharpened to create a monobox.

While not Dakar-ready in stock form, it looks pretty robust with a high ground clearance (190 mm) and high-profile tyres. MMC made a point to highlight the Delica’s long stroke suspension at the launch, too.

Like an off-roading MPV, except that the Indonesian market Delica is 2WD. Power comes from a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated four-pot with 150 PS and 191 Nm. The 4J11 with Auto Stop & Go (auto start stop) is mated to an INVECS-III CVT gearbox with six ratios in manual mode, swappable via long steering paddles that Lancer owners will be familiar with.

Inside, the seven-seater Delica is slightly more Alphard than Pajero Sport, with two captain chairs in the middle row. The last row is a slidable bench that side split folds 50:50, with decent room for luggage even with all seats up. Second and third rows get roof AC vents on each side. Access is via powered rear doors on both sides.

Standard equipment include HID headlamps, keyless entry, cruise control, dual-zone auto AC and a touch-screen multimedia head unit. Safety wise, the Delica comes with three airbags (dual front, driver’s knee), ABS, EBD, BA, Active Stability Control (ASC) and Hill Start Assist. The Mitsubishi Delica goes for Rp 409 juta (RM110,235) in Indonesia.

Just before IIMS 2014, MMC’s CEO Osamu Masuko announced that the company will be investing US$600 million to build a new assembly plant in Indonesia. The spend will also involve the development of a new vehicle for the market, and we’re expecting an MPV that competes with the Toyota Avanza, Daihatsu Xenia, Suzuki Ertiga and Honda Mobilio in the country’s Low-MPV segment.

Big JDM MPVs are popular in Malaysia, but will the Mitsubishi Delica, which doesn’t have that desired “VIP look”, work in Malaysia?

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • isuzuki on Sep 30, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    I want 1. How much?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • Wisdom on Sep 30, 2014 at 3:52 pm

      “MMC’s CEO Osamu Masuko announced that the company will be investing US$600 million to build a new assembly plant in Indonesia.”

      Pls dont blame Proton, again…..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
    • ijuara on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:38 pm

      Yes you’re looking at the new rebadge Proton Juara MPV soon.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 7
  • BeemerFreak on Sep 30, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    Fugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 11
  • niterunner99 on Sep 30, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    looks ‘boxy’ but somehow attracts me…quite nice indeed!
    in size, can compare to FORD’s Galaxy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • wonder on Sep 30, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    This car reminds me of the old things…. What happen to the platform sharing between Mitsubishi and Proton?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
    • Obviously (Member) on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:38 pm

      After the whole Inspira thing, Mitsubishi and Proton parted ways. That’s their last collaboration.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • 4G63T DSM on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    “Big JDM MPVs are popular in Malaysia, but will the Mitsubishi Delica, which doesn’t have that desired “VIP look”, work in Malaysia?”

    Why not? Hasn’t stopped the Innova from selling.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
    • Jimmy on Sep 30, 2014 at 5:53 pm

      If the new Innova comes with ESP + 6 airbags + power sliding doors at RM125k, then nobody will buy the Serena CBU at RM210K, Biante CBU at RM150K and this Delica. How can a Serena be so much more expensive than a Biante? And Nissan has problems with fit & finish and I heard they can’t even manage their aircons vibrations and filtering of outside air(they told customer that it is a normal phenomenon, treating them like 1st time buying car), terrible for a high-end vehicle. Mitsu has problem with refinement/NVH, please improve.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • If they priced it like Innova..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Obviously (Member) on Oct 01, 2014 at 7:49 am

      Mitsubishi doesn’t command the same brand trust as Toyota.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • taboogen on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:09 pm

    why they need a paddle shift in a van or sport utility MPV (SUMPV – ahaha) anyway. when the purpose of this car or van is to move goods or people or even goat from point A to B safely. 3 Airbags only for the front passenger, paddle shift drive like crazy.. recipe for disaster

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • Aerodynamic bro on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    10/11 would want why? Better than any nowadays car with low power and anything and I don’t care(or not) if the price is higher in Malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • gaviny on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    Delica is the favorite van of gangster last time, because they got sliding door on both sides, so super easy exit to pek yau while holding parang, that time hiace vanette only one side slinding door

    think i’m bs-ing , go look at hk movies, always is delica van

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • idealtech on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:29 pm

    For real? its more Steroid-Utilized Multi-injected Point Van (SUMPV eh?). Come one Hyundai, bring on the next gen of Starex.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • fastd on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    Boxy but practical.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Obviously (Member) on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:36 pm

    That grille…I think we’ve seen a similar version somewhere before…in that next-gen Triton leak? The Mitsubishi logo is lost in that sea of chrome of that Hummer-like grille. It’ll be hard to tell that it’s a Mitsubishi right behind you until it is very close. I can’t believe they want to leave it like that.

    I have quite mixed feelings regarding the design. It looks more utilitarian than sporty and mostly doesn’t look sporty at all, only from certain angles. The rear lights and that fake light strip doesn’t do the overall look any favors. I feel that it definitely won’t make it here in Malaysia, what with more desirable looking MPV vans for sale, unless they undercut them by a fair amount while offering equal or better specs.

    The only redeeming part of the car for me is the interior, specifically, the driver’s seat. MPV standard driver’s seat aside, the rest of the cockpit looks sportier with the paddle-shifters and Lancer-like instrument cluster…and it looks like they’re not kidding about the space though without a good shot of the rear seats, it’s hard to really say.

    We don’t know how it drives, though…but the looks alone are enough to turn away many. It’s not that it’s too boxy. The Alphard and Elgrand are boxy without looking unappealing. This? Hmm.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • ThePolygon on Sep 30, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    It’s a van.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • i can do my business & carry lots of orchids and sell like hot cakes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • This vehicle is boxy and look robust.
    Wait until they dress up this van with bodykit and aftermarket wheels .

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • The Delica D5 is not new. The first model had vertical chrome grill and looked like a MPV version of a Hummer. Saw a S’pore regd unit in Subang J a few years ago in two tone silver paint. Loved the militarilistic ( is there such a word? )look.Unfortunately mitsu only sold the Grandis otherwise i would have bot one.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • pokmang on Sep 30, 2014 at 7:09 pm

    any japanese model can ‘work’ in msia, only the introduction otr price in RM will retard buyers will

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • shawal on Sep 30, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    A boxy idea conceived out of the box…

    pretty neat in execution….

    with GST looming , more and more ppl are opting for people carriers…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Krasher on Sep 30, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    Where’s the SPORT in this “Sport Utility MPV”??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Teksi Drebar on Sep 30, 2014 at 7:34 pm

    They are not going to come out with Grandis equivalent? What replace Grandis?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • michelin on Oct 13, 2014 at 5:06 pm

      Future Grandis

      In 2014, Mitsubishi is planning to release the new Grandis during 2016, to compete with the Opel Zafira Tourer, Volkswagen Touran and Peugeot 5008. It will be based on the Mitsubishi Lancer, and is to be built in Australia (given the manufacturing plant closure several years ago, this is rather unlikely).

      Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Grandis

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • EnergyAnalyst on Sep 30, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    Dumbfounded and speechless

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Sep 30, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    they know better than to trust proton again

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • NormanTheGreat (Member) on Sep 30, 2014 at 11:47 pm

    Im pretty impressed,if it sell between RM130-140k i forsee a threat to Toyota Innova premium

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • NormanTheGreat (Member) on Sep 30, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    This is a rugged people carrier not a true sport performance oriented MPV..even Volkswagen Touran 1.4 TSI with 140hp/220nm isnt a truesport mpv,The touran kerb weight already reach 1.45 ton which is similar to 2.0 cars

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ss427 on Oct 01, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Strange…. this Delica van was on sale in SG for quite a few years already. First seen in 2009 if I rem correctly.

    Its no longer available these days… cos Mitsubishi brand is almost gone in SG… no cars to sell at all.. other than the tired Outlander.

    It was known as Delica D:5 in SG… same name as its JDM version
    http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200701/2007-mitsubishi-delica-d–15_460x0w.jpg

    One used example on sale here in SG
    http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=429800&DL=1015

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Giget on Oct 01, 2014 at 9:00 am

    This is Ultraman van to rescue the Japanese from dinosaur prone areas.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Usavich on Oct 01, 2014 at 9:42 am

    wow a hummer front grille on a van!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • nabill (Member) on Oct 01, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Looks old and utilitarian…. Unless its gonna b cheap,i dont c why anyone wd ignore da serena hybrid and da biante

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • daulat on Oct 01, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    FUGLY !!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Have Celica d5 in Malaysia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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