The Adorable Mitsubishi Delica Van Becomes a Tiny Overlander

The Mitsubishi Delica is an adorable little Japanese van, and this one has plenty of mods to make it a capable off-roader. Raised suspension, all-terrain tires and plenty of equipment allow the owner to go anywhere on this little rig.

This generation of Delica was never available from Mitsubishi in the United States. They started coming to Indonesia because 25 years of vehicle import rules finally made them legal in this country.

Owners are paying $16,500 for this one in 2020. It packs a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 140 horsepower (104 kilowatts) and 232 pound-feet (315 Newton-meters). It has a five-speed manual with an attractive transfer case. Drivers can choose from high 2WD, high 4WD with open center differential, high 4WD with locked center differential, and low 4WD.

This Delica design includes heavy-duty front and rear bumpers. On the nose, there is a winch. The tail has a full-sized spare wheel and a gas can. The enlarged fuel tank holds 30 gallons (113.6 liters) and provides a range of approximately 500 miles (805 kilometers).

Opening the hatchback reveals the Nestbox multifunctional storage solution. Opening the drawers reveals things like the cooktop, sink, fridge and cutting board. The folding bed is mounted on top. Instead of being bolted to the floor, this box has straps to hold it in place, meaning owners can remove the cabinet when not required for outings.

Mitsubishi recently showed off the tiny and rugged Delica Mini ahead of its public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2023. The car has an adorable little skid plate. Not many powertrain details have been made available yet, but this model has all-wheel drive and a hybrid engine.

At the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, Mitsubishi presents a custom Delica D: 5 for off-road modifications. It has a raised suspension and 16-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The roof rack holds the awning which can be set up.

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