A lot has been said Mitsubishi Delica Mini. It's a model we'd love to see be offered outside of Japan, and it's a car we kept our eyes glued on when we finally saw it in the metal during the Japan Mobility Show 2023.
As it turns out, we at Top Gear Philippines aren't the only ones smitten with the little Mitsu. The judges of the Japan Car of the Year weren't immune to the Delica Mini's charm, either. Unlike us, though, the panel got up close and personal with the car, and reckoned there was a lot of substance to back up its style.
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Okay, so the Delica Mini didn't win the overall award. That title was given to the fifth-generation Toyota Prius instead. The pint-sized Delica wasn't even in the podium spots, as that was taken by the BMW X1 and Honda ZR-V. Nonetheless, it still bagged the Design of the Year 2023-2024 award.
One could say that it's aggressively adorable, but that's not the only reason why the Delica Mini won that award. The judges lauded it for being different from other Mitsubishi model from the last few years. If you take a look at models such as the Eclispe Cross, Outlander, Delica D:5, and even the Triton, you'll probably understand why the panel said that.
But aside from being a breath of fresh air for Mitsubishi, the Delica Mini got praises for its interior design and practicality. One judge even said it was ‘perfect for dog lovers’. Probably not a surprise given the car's mascot, Delimaru. Seriously, whoever came up with the idea of Delimaru deserves a massive raise. We'd love to get a hold of Mitsubishi's pup merch someday.
Anyway, back to the car. It'll obviously never carry as much as, say, a Montero Sport, but it can take in a lot considering its size. The kei car also received praises for its flexibility and space efficiency. We've sat in one and we can say that we agree with the judges on that front.
So, does it deserve the award? We're inclined to say yes. The only thing missing is the fact that it's not made for left-hand drive markets. A shame, really, because cars like the Mitsubishi Delica Mini and other kei cars would be welcome relief from all the truck-based SUVs all over the place these days.
More photos of the Mitsubishi Delica Mini:
