By AR Editors
We can think of a thousand active uses for the Mitsubishi Delica D:5 Ultimate Gear here in the United States, from mountain biking expeditions to family camping trips in the wild. Though Mitsubishi has never sold the Delica new here, plenty of us have always known about the lifestyle van. Older Space Gear models fall under the 25-year import rule and show up at trailheads with roof tents and a coat of dried mud. But this week in Las Vegas, Mitsubishi put a current, extremely customized variant on display.
The Delica name is short for “Delivery Car” and began life in 1968 as a cab-over truck and van, then picked up 4-wheel drive and a faithful following in the 1980s and 1990s through the Star Wagon and the L400 Space Gear. The current Delica D:5 arrived in 2007 and was facelifted in 2019. In nearly 19 years, Mitsubishi has sold more than 300,000 of these tall, boxy units in Japan, and it is still built as a right-hand drive for that market only. But instead of replacing it, Mitsubishi updated the Delica. The refreshed D:5 went on sale in Japan on January 9, 2026, in three grades with 7- or 8-seat layouts. Pricing runs from ¥4,510,000 (about $28,700) for the G to ¥4,944,500 (about $31,500) for the P. Pre-orders passed 5,000 before launch, with 80% of those being the top trim.
What Changed for 2026
Power still comes from a 2.2-liter turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine producing 143 horsepower and roughly 280 lb-ft of torque and pairs with an 8-speed automatic and 4-wheel drive. The main mechanical addition is the patented S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control), the torque-vectoring AWD system Mitsubishi first developed for the Lancer Evolution. Drivers choose from Eco, Normal, Gravel, and Snow modes, and hill descent control is standard.
Outside, the grille and both bumpers are new. The Delica name is now worked into the tailgate trim, and fresh wheel-arch moldings surround 18” alloys. A new matte grey called Moonstone shifts toward blue in direct light and comes with a black roof. Inside, an 8” digital gauge cluster replaces the old analog dials. Automatic emergency braking now detects cyclists, front and rear parking sensors were added, and the surround-view camera has about three times the resolution of the previous system.
From Tokyo to Las Vegas
The 2026 SEMA Show, which kicked off November 3 and runs through 6 in Las Vegas, was Mitsubishi’s first appearance at the aftermarket exhibition since 2012. In honor of that milestone, the Japanese automaker was represented by six unique vehicles. The main debut featured three variants of the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition, an off-road version of the Outlander. Alongside it were an Outlander Sport Trail Edition, the Triton that won the 2025 Asia Cross Country Rally, and the Delica D:5 Ultimate Gear, which first appeared in January at the Tokyo Auto Salon, where Mitsubishi filled its stand with 11 custom Delicas under a “Delica Festival” theme. That lineup ranged from a D:5 Active Camper built with outdoor brand LOGOS, finished in white birch wood grain and brown upholstery, to a Delica Mini with a pop-up roof and a 25 mm lift. Mitsubishi also displayed the actual D:5 its rally team used as a support vehicle throughout the 2025 AXCR.
The van sits on a suspension lift and runs full-time 4-wheel drive. The body is covered in a textured spray-on coating similar to a truck bed liner. Aftermarket wheels carry Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires, and a rear ladder climbs to a stacked roof rack. Inside, the rear seats fold completely flat to form a bed after long days of adventuring.
Mark Chaffin, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, said the company picked SEMA to show the market where the brand is going. Its future is focused on moving further into off-road and outdoor lifestyle territory, and Chaffin said devotees and the outdoor community are central to that plan because adventure is the hallmark of the company. The Delica isn’t coming to the U.S. for now. Still, the Ultimate Gear build targets the American overlanding crowd, and a lifted Japanese van is an easy draw at a customization show like SEMA.
With overt enthusiasm from SEMA showgoers, we’re hoping Mark and the team change course and bring the van over.
