Mitsubishi revives the Grandis in SUV format

Between 2003 and 2011, Mitsubishi produced a compact minivan called the Grandis, which went virtually unnoticed in the European market, achieving significant sales only in Japan and some emerging Asian markets such as Thailand and the Philippines. The brand with the three diamonds has decided to revive the Grandis name for its new compact SUV, a product aimed at a young, dynamic, and family-oriented audience.

The new Mitsubishi Grandis will be manufactured at Renault's Valladolid plant, as it shares a platform and some mechanical and structural components with the Renault Symbioz, also produced in the Castilian capital. In fact, it's one of the many models that leverages the synergy of the alliance between Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, now more than ever.

The result is an SUV measuring 4.1 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 1.58 meters high, with 18- or 19-inch wheels and a 492-liter trunk capacity, expandable to 1,455 liters by folding down the second row of seats. In terms of design, the new Grandis feels striking, robust, and modern, while maintaining the essence of the family design of Mitsubishi models. It will be available in three trim levels called Motion, Kaiteki, and Kaiteki+, which include, among other details, leather seats with integrated heating, an infotainment system that can be updated via server connection, a fully digital instrument cluster as standard, and a large central touchscreen.

An ecological mechanics

The new Grandis offers two engine options, both of which can qualify for the Eco label and its associated tax and road benefits. The base version uses a 12V mild hybrid or semi-hybrid (MHEV) propulsion system paired with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine to deliver 140 hp and which can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a dual-speed automatic transmission.

The second powertrain option uses a conventional hybrid (HEV) system that delivers 160 hp thanks to the 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and two small electric motors of 36 kW (50 hp) and one of 15 kW (20 hp), which can only be managed by an automatic transmission. This version also includes a 1.4 kWh lithium battery that allows driving in all-electric mode in certain circumstances, particularly in urban driving cycles.

Mitsubishi has announced that the first Grandis units will arrive on the market during the first quarter of 2026 at a price yet to be confirmed, which will be around €27,000 or €28,000 for the entry-level versions with manual transmission. The price will rise to over €36,000 for the conventional hybrid version with the Kaiteki+ trim level.