Mitsubishi SPACE WAGON
Mitsubishis Space Wagon Straddles Both The Medium and Large-Sized MPV Sectors. So Does It Fall Between Two Stools? Vanessa Hinkley Checks It Out
Thinking of buying a spacious, people-carrying MPV for the family? Then youre probably not thinking about buying a
Mitsubishi Space Wagon. Its not the first car you think of when shopping around the Galaxys and Sharans that most people seem to go for in this sector. True, the Space Wagon isnt quite as large as, say, a
Renault Espace or the ubiquitous
Ford Galaxy. But that also means it wont feel quite so much like a van when youre trying to get around those ridiculously narrow multi-storey car parks.
Yet nor is it as compact as, say, a Renault Scenic or a
Citroen Xsara Picasso, which means that theres still space for six or seven people. This, you would have thought, has to be the perfect size for most families. In latest third generation form, the Space Wagon trumps even this rival, with a more versatile interior and an advanced 2.4-litre GDi petrol engine thats powerful yet so economical that it does away with the need for a diesel option.
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This should make up for slightly higher prices that range from £15,999 to £17,999.
The prices being asked are figures that take Mitsubishis contender into the lower half of the full-sized MPV sector. Which means that for families like mine, the interior had better be practical: it is. All mainstream models offer a seven-seater passenger configuration with three rows of seats, the second row a bench for three people. The seats offer 180mm of slide adjustment to suit the needs of the long-legged wherever you happen to put them. Though you cant remove the middle row completely, you can fold it flat (to create a table for passengers in the third row) or right forward (to maximise cargo space if you decide to use your Space Wagon like a van).
If this is the case, then youll be pleased to find that the two third-row seats can be totally removed, creating up to 1,930 litres of luggage space. Alternatively, they too can be folded forward: useful if youre way from home, travelling four or five-up and the rearmost space is suddenly needed for luggage. Even with all the seats in place, however, theres still 240 litres of space. I was pleased to find that the designers have also given plenty of thought to oddment storage. All around the cabin, youll find door pockets and cup holders, even for those at the very back.
There are also trays under the front passenger
seat and under the floor in the luggage area.
At the wheel,
Mitsubishi have worked hard to create the air of a luxury estate and partly succeeded. Certainly, all the accoutrements are there, including a central black and white LCD screen showing the time, the exterior temperature and the instantaneous fuel consumption, plus all the audio system information. Opt for optional satellite navigation and it displays route direction too. Twin front airbags are standard.
Under the bonnet, theres the choice of conventional 2.0-litre petrol power or the more advanced 2.4-litre 147bhp version of Mitsubishis revolutionary Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) petrol engine which claims to set new standards in economy and performance and satisfy both diesel and petrol buyers. The reality is that both will have to compromise a little but not much (combined consumption 31mpg and maximum speed 115mph).
You wont expect sports car responses out on the road (and you wont get them) but having said that, I found the Space Wagon to be a confident handler certainly far more accomplished than its uninspiring predecessor. The gear lever is mounted at the bottom of the centre console and claims to have a sports shift feel: I wouldnt get your hopes up.
As weve said, prices in the £16,000-£18,000 bracket are reasonable enough for this class of car, a little below what youd pay for a large Galaxy-sized MPV but several thousand more than the cost of a fully-fledged
mini-MPV. Its also worth remembering that Mitsubishis tend to realise slightly higher resale values than the established norm.
Having started off with some doubts as to whether the Space Wagon would be large enough for my family needs, I ended the test convinced. Check this out before buying something more conventional.
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