It’s hard not to root for Mitsubishi. Yes, the kei car fuel economy scandal was a real issue. Yes, it’s been more than a decade since the last Lancer Evolution rolled off the production line. Yes, half of its U.S. lineup is about to be Nissan-based. But there’s something enjoyable in cheering on the little guy, even if the headline news is a new off-road treatment for the Outlander crossover. Truthfully, Mitsubishi buried the lede on this one, because deep down in its press release for the gigantic SEMA show, it teased something: It’s bringing a JDM off-road Delica minivan to its show stand.
Alright, I suppose I should talk a little about the Outlander Diamond Trail Edition because Otterboxed crossovers are so hot right now. It’s essentially the outgoing Nissan Rogue’s smarter, more likeable cousin, given the full regimen of Hyrox and peptides.
This is one of the few cases where a whole bunch of extra cladding works, because it ties into the new high-clearance bumpers well and is complemented by a seriously chunky roof rack. Complex dark alloys get shod with all-terrain tires, there’s a new “Rock” drive mode that promises to modulate wheel slip over the craggy stuff, and how about that green?
In addition to this 2028 model year production crossover, Mitsubishi will have five other vehicles on its SEMA stand. Two are customized Outlander Diamond Trail Editions, one’s an actual race truck, one’s an accessorized Outlander Sport which really feels like a case of “What does it do?” “Its best, I guess,” and one’s something completely different. It’s called the Delica D:5 Ultimate Gear, and according to Mitsubishi, “this modified Japanese-market Delica D:5 van was shown at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon and received enthusiastic reviews from show attendees. This is the first time a current-generation Delica D:5 has been officially shown in the U.S.”
This van that looks like it was covered in paste and driven through an off-road shop at 100 MPH is certainly extroverted. Enormous flares, sand boards, 10 roof-mounted lights, nerf bars, and all those amber lights to warn of … something; this thing won’t be able to hide in the back of the Las Vegas Convention Center for long. But what is a Delica D:5, and why is Mitsubishi showing one off here?
Fundamentally, the Delica D:5 has been largely the same underneath since, oh, 2007. It doesn’t feature low-range four-wheel-drive like its predecessors and is powered by a somewhat dated diesel four-cylinder engine, but before you change the channel, consider this. It’s still a minivan with proper mechanical all-wheel drive, one of the relatively few on sale around the world. It also offers nearly two more inches of ground clearance than an all-wheel-drive Chrysler Pacifica and three proper rows of seats, all in a package five inches shorter than a Toyota Camry. In short, it’s the van for VanLifers who don’t need the bulk of a Sprinter; it’s been a hit abroad, and now Mitsubishi sure seems to be gauging interest stateside.
Two years ago, Automotive News reported that part of Mitsubishi’s plan to revive American interest by 2030 is an off-road-oriented, Delica-like van. According to the outlet, several future models were shown off at a meeting with dealers, and the van might be the most out-there:
The passenger van will arrive toward the decade’s end, according to a dealer who asked not to be identified sharing information from the internal meeting.
The van, one of two outdoorsy models coming this decade, is based on the D:X Concept, a futuristic-looking six-seater plug-in hybrid revealed at the Japan Mobility Show last year.
Mitsubishi has described the concept as having the roomy cabin space of a multipurpose vehicle, the road handling of an SUV and the driving performance of a PHEV.
Now granted, reports from dealer meetings don’t always turn into production cars. The report also claimed that a small PHEV crossover was coming to Mitsubishi’s American lineup, but the closest we’ve seen to that so far is a reworked Nissan Leaf. However, the report also claimed that “Mitsubishi will debut a lifted Outlander crossover variant,” and not only did the marque dip a toe in with the Outlander Trail Edition, but it’s going in even harder with the Diamond Trail Edition.
It’s expensive as hell to ship a car across an ocean just for a short period of exhibition, only to ship it back soon after. Manufacturers generally avoid this sort of expense unless there’s an actual reason for it: Previewing a future model, gauging market interest, that sort of stuff. The bottom line is that Mitsubishi sending a Delica D:5 to SEMA means something. Now to figure out what that means for the showrooms of the future.
Top graphic image: Mitsubishi
In the US, Mitsubishi has occupied the same dumb place since the Evo left us. It’s where you go if you want a new car, but you have a 570 credit score and even the Nissan dealer can’t finance you. Also, the darling of rental-car lots.
I think it would serve them well to import a few out-of-the-box (despite looking like a box!) models in order to entice some folks with decent credit scores to visit a Mitsubishi store.
I would be more interested in a regular Delica.
I don’t need the off-road cosplay. Just make it not ugly, not so slow that I’m scared merging onto the interstate and not so silly tall that I’m scared exiting the interstate.
I hope the D:5 makes it to our shores. Despite being the most pedestrian of all the generations, it still has that aura of the do-anything van.
Design writing not from the designer expert. And I may have missed CVT TRANSMISSION information that is a good enough reason to destroy Mitsubishi.
Loved my Delica. Incredibly capable offroad, comfortable, about as unique as it gets, and still hauls 4x8s from Home Depot when I needed it. I miss that thing — hope it’s still bouncing around somewhere in central PA.
I have no idea what the actual market would be among non-weirdos like me, but I do love the look of it….
Getting the aftermarket excited for your off road minivan is smart. Most probably forgot Mitsubishi exists.
Without looking up numbers, I’d think their most popular car had been the eclipse. Then it made it into FNF, boosting its profile.
They decided to bring that model back as a CUV so successful that I have seen three of them in traffic.
They also have a reputation for building very rottable vehicles. I remember my friend coming over here with her Evo 8 so I could install an o2 spacer and the underside of the car looked like it had spent a year in a salt spray chamber.
The car came here from TX and only had about three new england winters on it before that point. My 09 Outback that has spent its entire life here looks infinitely better underneath.
it would be cool if they would actually sell the delica here one day.
It’s like a Mazda5 grew up and became an outdoor enthusiast.
Delicious.
Bring them all over.
Lifted AWD V6 prior-gen Siennas with all-terrains are a bit of a thing. I’m guessing those folks are less enthused about the weak eAWD hybrid Sienna, so there’s an open market a few hundred strong for Mitsubishi to capture with the Delica.
Beyond that, several mini-mini vans have come and failed in the American market from manufacturers with far greater name recognition that Mitsubishi.
What were they? I can think of the Mazda 5 but not much else in that category.