2nd Gen Mitsubishi eK Space (2024 facelift) and Delica Mini

The second-generation Mitsubishi eK Space has received a facelift to keep itself fresh and apart from that, its rugged sibling, the Delica Mini, joins the party, giving customers various ways and means to enjoy the traffic-friendly kei minivans Mitsubishi offered.

2024 Mitsubishi Delica Mini

2024 Mitsubishi eK Space

For the 2024 model year, the second-generation Mitsubishi eK Space is now updated with a heavily revised front view that is proven to be more stylish than its pre-facelifted model. The first-ever Delica Mini, meanwhile, is the rugged version of the eK Space that serves as the replacement for the now-axed eK X Space. With its rugged styling and the DELICA lettering etched on the front and back, the Delica Mini showcases its outdoorsy vibe fit for a quiet Sunday drive into the woods.

2024 Mitsubishi Delica Mini interior

2024 Mitsubishi eK Space interior

The interior looks pretty much the same as the pre-facelift model but it's got a new sat-nav offered as an available extra and that's pretty much about it. For more expensive models, you can expect some noticeable stuff you may find, well, noticeable, such as the back table at the back of the front seats, keyless entry, touch panel aircon, and others, not to mention the waterproof sheet fabric which is ideal when you accidentally spilled something. The Delica Mini inherits most of the interior features from the eK Space so you can expect the same stuff from it.

Either way, they are tall enough to let occupants stretch themselves on the inside and offer generous rear legroom and ample spacing fit for all kinds of stuff to do. Honest work.

2024 Mitsubishi Delica Mini

2024 Mitsubishi eK Space

Both the facelifted eK Space and the Delica Mini are equipped with the same BR06 three-cylinder DOHC 12V ECI engine bolted with a tiny electric motor and a CVT gearbox. Thanks to some slight improvements, the fuel economy is around 20.9kmpl based on WLTC Mode standards. The Delica Mini is offered exclusively with the turbocharged variant of the same engine producing 64PS of power output and 19.2kmpl of fuel economy.

In kei car tradition, both the eK Space and the Delica Mini are no sweat to drive thanks to their compact sizing, less complicated suspension setup, and available 4WD, not to mention a wide range of safety tech from e-Assist to MI-PILOT, making them true city class cars for everyday use.

The facelifted eK Space and the first-ever Delica Mini are now ready to take on the new normal for simple people looking to find new hobbies out of these kei minivans. Like it or not, these traffic-friendly kei minivans are ready to get the job done, no rush at all.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

2nd Gen Mitsubishi eK Space/3rd Gen Nissan Roox

The kei minivans made under the NMKV joint venture, the Mitsubishi eK Space and the Nissan Roox, have been regenerated for their newest generation, and for this latest generation, these new models are ready to set right all the things that went wrong with their previous generations by delivering honest-to-goodness space, better efficiency, safety, and looks, in the midst of this new normal.

2021 Mitsubishi eK Space

2021 Mitsubishi eK X Space

2021 Nissan Roox

Like the recent smaller equivalents, both the new eK Space and the new Roox are still made by Mitsubishi as part of the NMKV joint venture and even though they look different, they're still the same kei minivans you now see fit.

2021 Mitsubishi eK Space

2021 Mitsubishi eK X Space

2021 Nissan Roox

Keeping in tradition, both the eK Space and Roox featured different styles to choose from. On the Mitsubishi side, there's the normal eK Space for those who are looking for something simple and then there's the eK X (Cross) Space for those who want something outdoorsy. On the Nissan side, the Roox is offered in base and the more stylish Highway Star variant. Either way, they're still good to go for people on the go.

2021 Mitsubishi eK Space interior

2021 Mitsubishi eK Space interior

2021 Nissan Roox interior

Like the previous models, both models are tall enough to let occupants stretch themselves on the inside and that is a good thing because these models offer generous rear legroom and ample spacing fit for all kinds of stuff to do. Whether you can use it for family outings or for small business purposes, even TNVS things, both the new eK Space and the new Roox can do just that decently. And thanks to the fact that it comes with a hands-free sliding door, it's more user-friendly as well.

For more expensive models, you can expect some noticeable stuff you may find, well, noticeable, such as the back table at the back of the front seats, paddle shifters for turbocharged variants, keyless entry, touch panel aircon, and others.

2021 Mitsubishi eK X Space

2021 Nissan Roox

On the performance side, they're still fit enough for city use and because they're small, they can squeeze through places big minivans can't get through. That's because underneath, these kei minivans feature Rack & Pinion steering, front MacPherson struts, rear torsion beams, front ventilated disc brakes, rear reading trailing brakes, and other chassis refinements. With that, they're still decent to drive out from the home and into the city centers.

These models come with a 660cc BR06 three-cylinder DOHC 12V ECI engine bolted with a tiny electric motor and a CVT gearbox. This engine can produce from 52 to 64ps of power and judging from its fuel economy, it's a WLTP-calculated 20.8kmpl, which in outdated JC08 mode standards, is less fuel efficient than its main rival, the Suzuki Spacia.

Safety-wise, both the eK Space and Roox offered a wide range of safety tech from e-Assist to MI-PILOT. Too much information.

The new eK Space starts at 1,399,200 Japanese Yen (around $14,000) while the new Roox starts at 1,416,000 Japanese Yen (around $14,200). They're still cheaper to own than the bigger minivans, making them a fair value in the new normal. So, if you have a choice between them, which one will you choose and why? Because both the new eK Space and the new Roox are typically the same cars, your mystic other-worldly powers will help you decide.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation/Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Mitsubishi eK Space and Nissan Dayz Roox (2017 Minor Change)

2017 Mitsubishi eK Space

2017 Mitsubishi eK Space Custom

2017 Nissan Dayz Roox

Having been returned from the lineup numerous months after the fuel efficiency fiasco that forced Mitsubishi to temporarily suspend most of their kei car sales after Nissan discovered what's wrong with their fuel efficiency numbers and then sparked a takeover on Mitsubishi Motors following the wrongdoing, looks like the taller equivalents of the Mitsubishi eK and Nissan Dayz, the eK Space and Dayz Roox, has been given a facelift and let's hope that these latest versions are as honest as this morning's newspaper.

On the Mitsubishi side, the redesigned front face makes it well-civilized and cozy for the normal eK Space while the eK Space Custom gets it all futuristic and sharp. On the Nissan side, both the normal and the Highway Star variants received Nissan's corporate V-motion grille to make it more welcome to the family. Although the new look makes them more updated, they're still the same thing, although they are finally come clean with their fuel efficiency numbers.

For all models, it comes with the 660cc engine producing 49PS of power and 59Nm of torque. Turbocharged models get around 64PS of power, in case you missed it. Fuel efficiency? They're at a very honest 20.4 to 22.2km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards. This is as fuel efficient as these wagons go, otherwise, they would exaggerate it against its fuel efficient rivals from Daihatsu and Suzuki and then cause any trouble again. Not in this case, it ain't because customers who bought this car will have to keep an eye on its fuel efficiency in the hopes that they don't get deceived by its exaggeration.

Anyway, some safety tech is loaded in both models such as the autonomous braking system called FCM-City, Active Stability Control, Emergency Stop Signal System, ABS brakes, and much more, all in the name of being one of the safest kei minivans in the market, as if those cars like the Tanto and the Spacia can do the job better than those but that's not the case for those kei minivans trying to come clean and win back the motoring public after that fiasco that sent them homespun.

At a Mitsubishi dealership, the eK Space starts at 1,239,840 Yen while the eK Space Custom starts at 1,568,160 Yen. At a Nissan dealership, meanwhile, the Dayz Roox starts at 1,306,800 Yen and it comes with different variants ranging from the normal, Highway Star, Bolero, and Rider. Both the Bolero and the Rider are made courtesy of Autech Japan. So, with everything's come clean for these facelifted models, can the new eK Space and the new Dayz Roox win back the motoring public? Only time will tell.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors/Nissan

Mitsubishi eK Space and Nissan Dayz Roox

Last year, the NMKV joint venture between Nissan and Mitsubishi spawned off the first of their offerings as part of the partnership between these two Japanese carmakers. For Mitsubishi, they unveiled their 3rd-generation eK Wagon, along with its sporty eK Custom model, which has graduated from semi-tall kei wagon into a full-fledged tall wagon that competes against Suzuki's Wagon R and Daihatsu's Move. Coinciding with the Mitsubishi eK Wagon, Nissan unveiled its equivalent, the Dayz, which shares the same components as the new eK Wagon.

So, continuing on their NMKV progress, they've launched new models designed and engineered by Nissan and Mitsubishi, competing on the likes of Honda's N BOX, Daihatsu's Tanto (which the third-generation was recently launched last year), and Suzuki's Spacia.

2014 Mitsubishi eK Space Custom

2014 Mitsubishi eK Space

2014 Nissan Dayz Roox

They've launched two brand new kei minivans which again done under the NMKV joint venture. For Mitsubishi, it's the all new eK Space while for Nissan, it's the all new Dayz Roox. So, what is it?

Yeah, so what is it?

Both the eK Space from Mitsubishi and Dayz Roox from Nissan are super height wagon-type kei cars that provides spaciousness and conveniences that you expect from its rivals. They do come with numerous features such as the Around View Monitor operated on its rear-view mirror, super TV-cut heat-insulated glass that reflects against 99% of the sun's harmful UV rays, and the trademark touch-screen automatic air-conditioning. The same things you found from last year's eK Wagon and Roox can now be seen on these taller spin-offs. Quite a math they done here.

Like most kei-cars, they have two styles, right?

Yes, they do. Like most kei cars, the eK Space and the Dayz Roox come with two different styles that suits their individuality. There is a standard model which looks a bit as simple as shopping at the 100 Yen Store and then there's a sportier version (for Mitsubishi, the eK Space Custom while for Nissan, the Dayz Roox Highway Star) if you're feeling a bit of a high-roller without the high and the roller.

So, what's it like to be on the inside?

2014 Mitsubishi eK Space interior

2014 Mitsubishi eK Space Custom interior

2014 Nissan Dayz Roox interior

On the inside, both the Dayz Roox and the eK Space aren't really bad at all for a small height car in its size. Of course, you still see numerous stuff derived from the Dayz or the eK Wagon but what truly made these two set the benchmarks in its class was its sliding rear seats and its height. The rear seats can be slided horizontally by about 260mm, the longest in its class. Then, there's the room height that sets the benchmark of having the longest room in its class by about 1400mm. That's tall enough for Little John to stretch his arms as high as he like. It's still a spacious tall wagon and you can fit in as much as what remains from your office cubicle.

What about performance?

2014 Mitsubishi eK Space

2014 Mitsubishi eK Space Custom

2014 Nissan Dayz Roox

Even though, they're so small, they do come up being a nippy car to play with. For all models, it comes with the 660cc engine producing 49PS of power and 59Nm of torque. Because they weigh about 920kg for base models, the power-to-weight ratio would be about 18.78kg/PS. With the CVT gearbox mated along with the host of fuel-efficient features like the new battery-assist system, fuel economy is about 26kmpl, as calculated via JC08 Mode standards.

No wait...that's not right...

You sure is, with the fuel economy of 26kmpl, both the eK Space and the Dayz Roox can't match the likes of the Tanto and the Spacia but on the plus side, that's about .8kmpl more than the Honda N BOX. Pricing aside, the base eK Space costs about 1,224,300 Yen while the base Dayz Roox costs around 1,240,050 Yen so you maybe wandering why is there a 16,000 Yen price gap on these two, well at least for now because they've been launched two months before Japan implementing its 8% vehicle acquisition tax and that's going to be more costly for customers looking for kei cars.

You know what, after a whole day checking out these two new models, I couldn't work it out at all...

Available colors (eK Space): White Pearl, Cool Silver Metallic, Black, Mica, Sakura Pink Metallic, Antique Gold Metallic, Chocolat Brown Pearl, and Purplish Navy Pearl.

Available colors (Dayz Roox): White Pearl, Cool Silver Metallic, Black Pearl, Silky Rose Metallic, Azalea Pink Metallic, Pink Gold Metallic, Mocha Brown Pearl, and Premium Purple Pearl.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation/Nissan Motor Corporation

Mazda Flair Wagon

2013 Mazda Flair Wagon

2013 Mazda Flair Wagon interior

2013 Mazda Flair Wagon interior

Back in January 2008, Suzuki launched a tall kei minivan that is said to be a competitor to the Daihatsu Tanto, the Palette. Then in December 2009, Nissan wants its own version of the Suzuki Palette called the Nissan Roox. Now, in June 2012, Mazda joins the Palette bandwagon with their debutante, the 2013 Mazda Flair Wagon.

Unlike the Palette and the Roox which has their stylish versions such as the Palette SW and the Roox Highway Star, the new Mazda Flair Wagon doesn't have that one. Too bad, no such thing as Mazda Flair Wagon Custom Style until further notice.

Anyway, you still expect the same thing you have on the Palette. You still have...the K6A engine which, in natural aspiration state, gets you through 20.8km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 Mode test cycle while in turbo state, gets you through 18.8km/L of JC08-rated fuel economy. They are all mated with CVT and the available 4WD feature gets you through the roads during the rainy days.

There's even a limited edition "IS LIMITED" model which is similar to the Suzuki Palette's IS SELECTION limited edition model and comes with idling stop that shuts off the engine when stopped at the red light and then start again when your foot is in the pedal, getting you through 22.2km/L of JC08 fuel economy.

Available colors are; Silky Silver Metallic, Bloom Pink Metallic, Bluish Black Pearl 3, Aqua Bell Blue Pearl Metallic, and Pearl White.

My comment:
Sure it may be the same as the Palette and the Roox but sadly, unlike the Palette and the Roox, the Flair Wagon didn't have the "Custom Style" variant like the Palette SW and the Roox Highway Star. Too bad...

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

2013MY Suzuki Palette and Solio has improved fuel consumption

Suzuki Palette

Suzuki Solio

 

For the 2013 model year, the Suzuki Palette range and the Suzuki Solio got their fuel consumption data improved.

Variants of the Palette and the Palette SW that comes with FF layout and natural aspiration 660cc engine get an improved CVT, resulting a 20.8km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode scale. The Solio, on the other hand, also got an improved CVT, resulting a fuel economy of 20.6km/L on the JC08 Mode scale. Those CVT were upgraded to lower friction.

Prices for the 2013 Palette range starts at 1,207,500 Yen up to 1,499,400 Yen while the 2013 Solio costs about 1,382,850 up to 1,683,150 Yen.

Scoop: http://www.carview.co.jp/news/0/161671/

Nissan Roox

The cousin of the Suzuki Palette that was premiered at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is known as the Nissan Roox, a newest addition of the Nissan Kei Car line-up consisting of the Mitsubishi eK Wagon-based Otti, Suzuki MR Wagon-based Moco, Mitsubishi Pajero Mini-based Kix, and the Mitsubishi Town Box-based Clipper Rio.

There are two distinctive styles to choose from the Nissan Roox; the base variant (E & G) offers a simple taste for budget-conscious customers, while the flagship Highway Star variant offers an extreme taste of style just like the Suzuki Palette SW.

On the inside, the Roox has an interior tall enough to fit in four passengers, and it is arrangeable to suit your luggage needs.On the base variant, it offers both bright and dark colors, while the Highway Star variant offers the darkest interior color you will ever see.

Under the hood, the Roox comes with either a 660cc or a 660cc turbo engine (HIghway Star only) that comes with the Suzuki-sourced CVT for improved fuel efficiency. Most Roox variants may come with an optional 4WD for all-round fun on the go.

My thoughts about the Roox:

The Roox name combines the word "room" and "max", which means this kei car has a maximum interior room to fit in because of its tall shape. As an OEM of the Suzuki Palette/Palette SW, the Roox truly stands out the crowd of kei-car fanatics. Its turbo engine makes a cool addition for the Roox.

Suzuki Palette & Palette SW

With the caliber of the kei car and known as the rival of the Daihatsu Tanto, the Suzuki Palette is truly a small wonder, combining the degrees of the family van and the compact car to give this Japanese compact some amusement and excitement average Japanese families want to acclaim.



For the outer view of the Palette, it resembles the design quality that is somewhat similar to other Suzuki cars such as the Swift and the Cervo, but the body sizing is similar to its rival, the Daihatsu Tanto. With the cuteness of a small car and the family-oriented habit of a family van combined, the Palette stands out among the rest of people carriers sold in the market thanks to its pricing.



The spacing plays a big role for the Palette and it is great for accommodating owners everywhere. With this key role, the seating arrangement cannot be difficult and it’s perfect as a luggage carrier or something for a siesta among people.



The Palette's performance is handy capable for the driver who has a lot of options regarding this mini-kei-van; it was powered by the 660cc DOHC VVT engine capable of releasing 54PS at the fuel economy of 18.8-21.5km/L. Available transmissions are 4-speed automatic transmission and the world's first fully upgraded Continuously Variable Transmission. The Palette also comes with the optional four-wheel drive for all round amusement.

Palette SW



New to the Palette line-up is the exceptionally combative Palette SW variant. Like how it looks to be, the Palette SW is the main opponent of Daihatsu's Tanto Custom variant. Not only that, the new Palette SW is also used as Nissan's newest small van called the Roox. What to determine on the SW is the same Palette body size and this time, the front view for the SW is similar to the Stingray variant of the best-selling Wagon R. With the regular Palette having beige interior, the Palette SW is rigged with a dark interior to add coolness to this super-cool mini-kei-van. And available only for the SW variant is the turbo engine that delivers 64PS at the fuel economy of 19-20km/L. Best of all, both the Palette and the SW also comes with the optional CD Player with the back-view monitor for added parking safety and it comes with SRS air bags, ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution, and TECT (Total Effective Control Technology).

HOW WAS IT? IS IT GOOD?

The regular Palette variant is cute enough for families to take advantage of it, while the Palette SW is an extreme between young drivers and those who are looking for thrills on the road. No matter which Palette will you drive, this small van provides the respect made from Suzuki.