The advent of the carrier van has been, by far, the most effective in providing convenience to small-scale cargo transportation. With its vast applicability and reliability, the Mitsubishi Express has earned its place in this class.
This carrier van had its debut in 1980 as a pickup variant of the Mitsubishi Triton product line. It morphed to stand out as a product of its own in Australia due to its steady sales. Throughout its production run, the Express has sported a range of engines and body styles, persevering against competitors, like the Hyundai iLoad and the Toyota HiAce.
First Generation (1980–1986)
The Mitsubishi Express was introduced in Australia in 1980 as 2-door 3-seat utility trucks or utes based on the Mitsubishi L200 and 2-door 3-seat commercial vans based on the Chrysler L300.
Ute Truck based on Mitsubishi L200 (Mitsubishi Forte)
Elsewhere, it wore the badges of Mitsubishi Forte, Mitsubishi L200, and Mitsubishi L200 Power X. In Australia, it arrived in 1980 as the Mitsubishi Express with two trims called L200 and L200 1000kg. The L200 was the recreational ute, while the L200 1000kg was a commercial ute truck that had a stronger suspension capable of loading 1000kg. The recreational trim, on the other hand, came with a softer suspension and a load capacity of 500kg.
Initially, these utes were powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol engine (57 kW, 114 Nm) paired to a 4-speed manual gearbox, the same one used in the L300 vans.
In 1981, Mitsubishi released a 4WD version of the L200 and upsized its engine to 2.0-litre capacity. This new 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol engine (67 kW, 142 Nm) was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The following year, a new trim (L200 1150kg) and the 4WD received a new engine, a 2.3-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine (49 kW, 137 Nm) hooked to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The sporty mode came with radial ply tyres, electronic ignition, bucket seats, a pile carpet, radio, floor console, and an adjustable sport steering wheel. The utility trucks variants would be phased out in the second generation of the Mitsubishi Express, leaving the Delica-based vans to fill the range.
Van/Minibus, based on Chrysler L300 (Mitsubishi Delica)
Chrysler Australia built the Chrysler L300 Express as a successor to their SA product line. Mitsubishi later acquired the operation and renamed it the Mitsubishi L300 Express. The new L300 featured commercial three-seat panel vans and eight-seat people movers. The same 1.6L powertrain initially used on the L200 served these trims – 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol engine (57 kW, 114 Nm) paired to a 4-speed manual gearbox.
In 1982, Mitsubishi offered the higher-spec 8-seat Star Wagon (also written as Starwagon) leisure trim, which featured radial-ply tyres, a higher roof, an electric sunroof and cloth interior. A 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (60 kW, 132 Nm) and 5-speed manual transmission supplied its power.
The L300 Express was redesigned in 1983 with chrome-fitted rectangular headlamps, black resin bumpers, and modified front suspension spring rate to improve ride comfort. Mitsubishi released the 4WD version with the 1.8-litre engine paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. An upgraded 2-litre engine was also available.
Second Generation (1986-2013)
The utes would continue to be sold until 1987, but would soon leave the Mitsubishi Express lineup. The Delica-based Express evolved into two separate lines – the commercial cargo carrier and the people mover. The cargo carrier would retain the Mitsubishi Express name, while the people mover would become a separate model under the Mitsubishi Starwagon nameplate. The following trim levels comprised the second generation:
Mitsubishi Express (2-door, 2-seat commercial cargo carrier)
- ECi 4X4 – upgraded 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (81 kW, 182 Nm), 5-speed manual gearbox
- MWB – 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (66 kW, 147 Nm), 5-speed manual gearbox
- SWB – 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (66 kW, 147 Nm), 5-speed manual gearbox
In 1990, Mitsubishi provided a naturally-aspirated 2.5L 4-cylinder diesel engine (51 kW, 147 Nm) for the SWB and MWB trims, in addition to the existing engine choices at the time.
Mitsubishi Starwagon (2-door, 8-seat people mover)
Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Starwagon, which was previously a trim of Mitsubishi Express L300, was marketed as a separate model. It consisted of the following trim levels:
- ECi 4X4 – 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (81 kW, 182 Nm), 5-speed manual
- GL – 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (66 kW, 147 Nm), 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual
- GLX – 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (66 kW, 147 Nm), 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual
- SE – 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (81 kW, 182 Nm), 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual
The GL trim (base) featured air conditioning, central locking, cloth trim, power steering, and radio cassette with two speakers as standard equipment. The GLX added, power mirrors, power steering, dual-zone AC, and six speakers instead of two in the base model.
Phasing Out
Production of the Starwagon was halted in 2004, with sales immediately ceasing in Australia and the rest of the world. The Express, meanwhile, continued production until 2005. However, some markets including Australia, benefited from an extended production and thus continued selling the Express after 2005 but eventually ended in 2013.