Mitsubishi Express slammed in crash test

Japanese make’s version of French model first to earn a ‘zero’ score from NZ-accredited ANCAP procedure.

HAVING a swag of safety ingredients has not kept a Mitsubishi van selling here from achieving the poorest outcome ever from a crash test funded by New Zealand agencies.

The damning ‘zero star’ assessment of the Express has come from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme.

The announcement from Melbourne-based ANCAP, whose funders on this side of the Tasman include Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and New Zealand Automobile Association, has caused controversy in Australia.

Critics there have pointed out that the Renault Trafic that is identical to the Mitsubishi save for minor details that have no bearing on crash testing has a three star rating, issued by ANCAP’s European equivalent, NCAP, in 2015. 

ANCAP, in turn, has said the Express, a popular choice for commercial fleets and private tradespeople, was unable to qualify for a rating higher than zero due to the absence of active safety systems.  

“The Express also delivered marginal performance in physical crash tests and lacks basic safety features that consumers have come to expect in a newly released model.” 

Mitsubishi Motors NZ has offered no comment about the ANCAP rating and neither has the Motor Industry Association, which acts for new vehicle distributors.

When Express was announced last year there was clear confidence from within Porirua-based MMNZ that it would prove to be far more robust than the its forebear, the L300 discontinued in 2015.

The Mitsubishi-designed and built L300 had only basic safety features and that showed in its rating. 

The Express matches its Renault counterpart in having six airbags, roll over mitigation, stability and traction control, anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).

Both versions fall behind some category players in lacking automated emergency braking. Blind spot detection and driver fatigue monitoring are also absent.

The Express would have only been eligible to share the Trafic’s NCAP rating had it introduced within two years of the original model.

Though the agencies are linked and work to common protocols, the testing process has toughened. Express was tested to 2020 ANCAP protocols, involving a series of crash tests against moving and fixed barriers – conducted in Australia from October 2020 to January 2021.

These showed the adult occupant protection offered by the Express had  ‘marginal’ protection for the driver’s chest and upper legs and ‘adequate’ protection for the lower legs. Protection was rated as ‘good’ for other critical body regions.

ANCAP noted ‘a high risk of neck injury was recorded for the driver in the whiplash test.’

 In a side impact pole test, chest protection for the driver was rated as ‘marginal’ and a penalty was applied because the latch on the cargo sliding door disengaged on impact. In another side impact test, the cargo sliding door deformed and created a large opening.

Express RRPs fuel price intrigue

 Might the recommended retail prices for Mitsubishi’s returnee to the commercial van sector simply be conversation-starters?

 INTENT to uphold status as a value brand has influenced Mitsubishi here to mull a pricing strategy for the Express van that is potentially more aggressive than the stated stickers suggest.

This allowance comes from the brand in signalling the prospect of recommended retails announced for this version of the Renault Trafic will likely allow enough flexibility to present potential for a significant price advantage over the donor that doesn’t show in the cited RRP.

As reported last week, conjecture of Mitsubishi’s first offer in van-dom since it lost the ancient L300 in 2015 being a Trafic clone in all but name and badging doesn’t quite bear out.

The models head in different directions in terms of variant count and Renault also offers a lengthened wheelbase alternate to the standard 3098mm wheelbase format it and Mitsubishi offer.

Yet when wheelbase commonality is considered, the models are close enough in core attribute, have identical drivetrains - with identical outputs, economies and performances - and payloads, are sister ships in styling and sourcing, to the point of being built on a common line in France.

The two versions of Express coming on sale in September are a manual 103kW/340Nm 1.6-litre and a 125kW/380Nm 2.0-litre dual clutch automatic, both on a standard (so, 3098mm) wheelbase.

The respective recommended retail pricing for these, announced today by Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand, is $47,990 and $52,990.

However, in discussing those, the distributor has offered concession that the models seem set to be subject to ‘transaction pricing’ – a practice that allows for more favourable stickers when deemed appropriate. Thought that, it might, in this instance, allow for a reduction of up to $7000 has not been denied. 

MMNZ has historically had enthusiasm for special pricing programmes to invigorate consumer interest. The ‘transaction pricing’ model is an alternate to the more open practice of advertising special limited-time prices that attach to specific models. Most recently, for instance, the Pajero Sport sports utility has been selling for $10,000 less than the RRP in its highest specification.

When asked about reports that his brand has just advised dealers that the vans could be sold for as little as $40,000 in 1.6 form and $45,000 in the 2.0-litre guised, MMNZ marketing and communications manager, Reece Congdon, said he could not “comment on that at this point.”

When asked to give insight into what factors weigh into his brand’s pricing strategies, he said the Mitsubishi brand was known for having a focus “on delivering the best value possible for our customers.”

As to any disparity that might arise in respect to Trafic and Express stickers. 

He offered this: “We have no knowledge of how an independent importer (presumably, that’s Renault NZ) chooses to price their product in New Zealand.”

MMNZ makes no bones that it wants to act swiftly and decisively to imprint itself as a serious volume player in the commercial van sector, where it was previously a kingpin during the L300 period.

Says Congdon: “We are thrilled to be adding the Express to our line up and be able to provide a compelling new option for light commercial operators.

““This highly specced van is a different proposition and a worthy successor to our popular L300 model, which sold 38,806 units from 1980 to 2015. We strongly believe that operators looking for function and flexibility, at exceptional value, will welcome the opportunity to get the Express van working for their bottom line.”

“Backed by our 50-strong dealer network and factory-trained technicians, we expect interest to be high.”

If the full transaction opportunities do exist – and there’s no absolute deniability on that from MMNZ - then the entry Express would potentially achieve a $1990 positioning below its only direct equivalent in the Trafic lineup, a version on the 3098mm wheelbase and with the 1.6 turbodiesel and six-speed manual.

The brands’ 2.0-litre models cannot fairly be considered equals. Renault doesn’t provision that drivetrain in the standard wheelbase, whereas Mitsubishi does. Trafic 2.0-litres are a LWB (3498mm) wheelbase that Mitsubishi could yet offer, but presently chooses not to.

The cheapest LWB Trafic is the Trader, which has the manual and 1.6-litre powertrain. That costs $43,990.

Otherwise Renault foots a more fulsomely furnished 1.6 LWB for $50,990 and a pair of 2.0-litre ‘Auto’ variants, in the same specification level, at $53,990 and $55,990.

Other factors? The Trafic and Express don’t wholly replicate for features, and it appears MMNZ’s warranty equals Renault’s in being for a three-year term, the mileage allowance for Express is less fulsome.

Express has halogen headlights rather than the Renault’s LED units and its digital radio, Bluetooth phone (and the same fancy dash-mounted cell phone holder as Trafic) and audio streaming is through a less upmarket display than the Renault gets. Absent in Express is the Renault 7.0-inch touchscreen that allows Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operability and delivers sat nav functionality. 

The automatics in either guise add a rear-view camera with in-mirror display, rain sensing wipers, front fog lights, self-dimming interior mirror and auto headlights, but the Renault steering wheel is a bit fancier, being leather-wrapped.

With six airbags, roll over mitigation, stability and traction control, anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) Express and Trafic are ticking boxes positively, but they fall behind some category players in lacking automated emergency braking. Blind spot detection and driver fatigue monitoring are also absent.