Mitsubishi Express priced Down Under as forbidden-for-South Africa HiAce rival

Revived two months ago after a seven-year absence, Mitsubishi Australia has revealed exact price and spec details of its reborn Express panel van.

Essentially a restyled Renault Trafic built in the same Sandouville factory near the city of Le Havre, the Express returns Down Under as either a short-or-long-wheelbase model measuring 4 999 mm overall with the latter coming in at 5 399 mm. Claimed load volume is 5.2 cubic metres for the former and six cubic metres for the latter.

Touted as being more of a workhorse, and therefore cheaper than its sibling, the Express is only offered in one trim regardless of bodystyle, the GLX, with notable standard equipment consisting of 16-inch steel wheels, dual sliding doors, electric windows, cruise control, height adjustability for the driver’s seat, heated electric mirrors, a central armrest when the third seat is not in use, fabric trimmed seats and twin rear barn-style doors.

Unlike the Trafic, the Express does without a touchscreen infotainment and instead comes with a conventional audio that still features Bluetooth and USB. A smartphone mount is however provided just above the left-hand-side air vent with a storage slot positioned above the radio.

In terms of safety, all models get five airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, Blind Spot Monitoring, traction control, Hill Start Assist, rear parking sensors and Roll Over Mitigation.

Underneath the bonnet, two turbodiesel engines shared with the Trafic are offered; a twin-turbo 1.6 that makes 103kW/340Nm and a single blower 2.0-litre that delivers 125kW/380Nm. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on the former with the latter getting not only a six-speed dual-clutch as standard, but also auto on/off headlights, rain sense wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror that doubles up as the display for the reverse camera.

Payload is rated at 1 150 kg for the short-wheelbase 1.6 and at 1 115 for the long-wheelbase with the 2.0-litre loading capacity standing at 1 200 kg and 1 150 kg respectively. The braked trailer towing mass for the 1.6 is two tonnes and for the 2.0, 1.7-tones and 1.6-tones.

Classified as an Australasian market only model for now, the Express can be had in a choice of four colours; Platinum Grey, white, black and red with delivers commencing next month. As mentioned, it is not expect to make the trek to South Africa soon.

PRICING

Express 1.6 GLX swb – $38 490 (R455 117)

Express 1.6 GLX lwb – $40 490 (R478 765)

Express 2.0 GLX swb EDC – $42 490 (R502 414)

Express 2.0 GLX lwb EDC – $44 490 (R526 063)

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