Mitsubishi Express a city slicker

An explosion in online shopping has seen the van market grow within the light commercial scene, and European vans are stealing chunks of the market as operators try the products and get a feel for the car-like comfort a truck, where the driver sits on top of the front wheels, can’t compete with.

Toyota moved to bring its latest H300 configuration to Australia in May last year and now the first fruits of the Renault/Mitsubishi alliance have fallen from the tree and are arriving in Aussie dealerships.

The Mitsubishi Express is a Renault Trafic with a spec optimised to the local market, unique front grille, bonnet and badging, plus halogen headlights instead of its stablemate’s LEDs.

In direct competition, the two ranges are very close as Mitsubishi has decided to keep the range as simple as possible.

There are two engine/transmission packages, each available in either short or long wheelbases.

The smaller 1.6-litre twin-turbo diesel delivers 103kW and 340Nm and uses a six-speed manual, while the 2.0-litre single turbo engine with six-speed dual-clutch auto offers 125kW and 380Nm.

Both drive the front wheels.

Its working credentials are impeccable: rear barn doors, sliding doors each side, three seats across the front and a slew of electronic safety gear straight out of the French factory.

Mitsubishi’s intuitive technology package (MiTECH) bundles stability control, roll over mitigation, emergency brake assist and stop signal, hill start assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.

On the auto there’s also a rear camera displaying in the rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and auto headlights.

My drive highlighted what I think might be the most attractive feature of the new Express: its liveliness.

Almost all traffic light sprints are done and dusted within 30m and in that space; even on three-quarter throttle, the Express will punch through four gears and be well ahead of the traffic. Unless you pack it properly, all the freight will have slid down the back too.

Times for 0-100km/h aren’t important here, it’s how the drive feels to the employee in the seat most of the day. In the case of the 2.0-litre unit, they’ll be very happy campers indeed.

The Express is aimed directly at the inner city and metro area delivery market where multiple parcel runs will be done quickly and economically, but the 1200kg cargo area is flat sided to maximise useable cubic space and a pallet will fit between the wheel arches.

Rear coil springs on trailing arms make for a less choppy ride than many others and the steering is tuned for precision.

The turning circle is a healthy 11.8m for the SWB and 13.2m for the longer van.

There are no plans for crew cab or cab-chassis variants at this stage.

Warranty is five years with 100,000km, compared with the Renault’s three-year, with unlimited kilometre offer.

Pricing is close but favours the Express.

Success is going to come down to the dealer network; in WA it’s one Renault Pro+ dealer v 19 Mitsubishi dealers.

Go figure.

MITSUBISHI EXPRESS SPECIFICATIONS

• Variants: GLX 1.6 SWB; 1.6 LWB; 2.0 SWB; 2.0 LWB
• Prices: $38,490; $42,490; $40,490; $44,490
• Engines: 1.6-litre four-cylinder twin turbo-diesel; 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
• Outputs: 103kW/340Nm; 125kW/380Nm
• Transmissions: Six-speed manual; Six-speed automatic
• Payload/Towing: 1200kg/1630-2000kg
• Cargo (cubic metres): SWB 5.2; LWB 6.0
• Fuel: 6.2L/100km; 7.3L/100km