The second-gen Mitsubishi Delica Mini kei van is even more adorable
In the Philippines and the rest of the world, the Mitsubishi Delica is known to be the van which had the option for having four-wheel drive and raised ground clearance (for some variants) compared to its competitors, allowing it to go to places that it couldn’t. The fifth-generation model is considered forbidden fruit for the rest of the world, and there’s an even more adorable and desirable variant that’s Japan-only, called the Delica Mini.
The first generation was released back in 2023, and was the recipient of the Japan Car of the Year’s Best Design award for 2023-2024, also bagging a Good Design Award in 2023. Needless to say, it’s a hit in Japan and has won the hearts of many internationally as well.
While one may think this is a heavy cosmetic update, this is an entirely new generation set to be released in Autumn 2025.
The front receives the biggest changes, with the grille and headlight assembly being more streamlined and simplified, down to the new, enlarged semi-circular daytime running lights. The “jowl” that was originally a dark chrome finish is now color-matched to the rest of the body.
Finally, larger fog lamps, a smaller bottom grille, and a larger skid plate front and back, revised vertical taillights, and the Delica wordmark stamped on the tailgate wrap up the changes.
The car’s design and overall shape have been refined, with more prominent and muscular fender flares with square accent designs, a “power valley” for the hood, new five-spoke alloy wheels that look eerily similar to a dog’s pawprint, a new side garnish, and taller rear taillamps.
Two new colors in Sand Beige Pearl and Denim Blue Pearl are also available, and the kei van can either be finished in single-tone or dual-tone paint jobs.
The interior has also been made more spacious, with improved visibility. By shifting the A-pillar forward and narrowing it, the cabin gets 115mm of additional space.
Cabin color schemes are either a two-tone black and beige or an all-black finish with leather-and-fabric upholstery, and the tech is updated to now sport a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with a seven-inch driver’s display. Plus, Google Services (Maps, Assistant, and more) are now integrated. Plus, it’s the first kei car with “walk away and unlock when approaching” functionality, combined with the electric sliding doors.
It will now get five drive modes— Power, Normal, Eco, Gravel, and Snow, that change engine response and stability control programming, and Prosmooth shock absorbers (made by Kayaba), high-rigidity stabilizers and bearings, plus a retuned rear suspension, made specifically for the 4WD drivetrain of this vehicle.
Mitsubishi hasn’t provided any specifications for the powertrain yet, but the previous-generation Delica Mini was powered by an electrified three-cylinder, 659cc engine that was either turbocharged (BR06DET) or naturally aspirated (BR06DE) with outputs of 62 horsepower and 100Nm of torque or 38 horsepower and 60 Nm respectively, mated to a CVT and a small electric motor with 2.7 horsepower and 40 Nm of torque.
Just like the new Nissan Roox and Mitsubishi eK Space, the Delica Mini will get a 360-degree camera, the Mitsubishi e-Assist driver assistance system with blind-spot monitoring with rear collision mitigation, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Of course, with the kei car market exclusively reserved for Japan, we can only dream about getting these cars in left-hand markets like ours, but we’re pretty sure something like this would sell like hotcakes in our country.
Photos from Mitsubishi Motors
