Mitsubishi L400: which version to buy and why
If the choice is a Mitsubishi L400 minivan from the single generation sold from May 1994 to September 2006, pick on measured numbers, not on a second generation that does not exist. Four catalogue versions sit on the same RWD minivan: 2.4 MT (122 hp, Gasoline), 2.5 AT (87 hp, Diesel), 2.5 MT (87 hp, Diesel), and 2.5 MT (105 hp, Diesel).
If the choice is a Mitsubishi L400 minivan from the single generation sold from May 1994 to September 2006, pick on measured numbers, not on a second generation that does not exist. Four catalogue versions sit on the same RWD minivan: 2.4 MT (122 hp, Gasoline), 2.5 AT (87 hp, Diesel), 2.5 MT (87 hp, Diesel), and 2.5 MT (105 hp, Diesel). The two 2.5 MT lines share a name; they are not the same van — 87 hp versus 105 hp, 201 Nm versus 240 Nm, 1725 kg versus 1710 kg kerb. There is no restyle generation and no extra body type in the data. What changes between them is power per litre, kilograms per horsepower, payload, top speed where it was measured, and whether fuel use was measured at all.
Specs that actually separate the four versions
| Version | hp | Nm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 MT | 122 | 190 | 2351 | Gasoline | 4 / Inline | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 2.5 AT | 87 | 201 | 2477 | Diesel | 4 / Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 4 | RWD |
| 2.5 MT (87 hp) | 87 | 201 | 2477 | Diesel | 4 / Inline | Turbo | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 2.5 MT (105 hp) | 105 | 240 | 2477 | Diesel | 4 / Inline | Turbo | Manual, 5 | RWD |
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 2.4 MT 51.9 hp/L; 2.5 MT (105 hp) 42.4 hp/L; 2.5 AT and 2.5 MT (87 hp) 35.1 hp/L each. The Gasoline 2.4 is the densest engine on paper. The 105 hp Diesel sits in the middle. The 87 hp Turbo Diesel is the least dense — 16.8 hp/L behind the 2.4, and 7.3 hp/L behind the 105 hp 2.5 MT.
Kilograms of kerb weight per horsepower: 2.4 MT 1660 ÷ 122 = 13.6 kg/hp; 2.5 MT (105 hp) 1710 ÷ 105 = 16.3 kg/hp; 2.5 AT and 2.5 MT (87 hp) 1725 ÷ 87 = 19.8 kg/hp. The Gasoline manual carries the least mass per horsepower. The 87 hp Diesels carry 6.2 kg more per horsepower than the 2.4, and 3.5 kg more than the 105 hp 2.5 MT.
Torque per litre: 2.4 MT 80.8 Nm/L (190 ÷ 2.351); 2.5 AT / 2.5 MT (87 hp) 81.1 Nm/L (201 ÷ 2.477); 2.5 MT (105 hp) 96.9 Nm/L (240 ÷ 2.477). On torque density the 105 hp Diesel wins; the 87 hp Diesel and the Gasoline 2.4 are almost even (0.3 Nm/L apart).
Generations: what actually changed (one generation, four versions)
There is 1 generation. It ran from 1994-05-01 to 2006-09-30 as a Minivan with 4 versions. No later generation exists in the data to compare against, so “what the extra generation buys” is zero: every comparison is inside this span.
What does change inside that generation is not a restyle label but the hardware mix:
- Engine family: 2351 cc Gasoline (2.4 MT) versus 2477 cc Diesel Turbo (the three 2.5 versions). Displacement gap: 126 cc.
- Output: 87 hp, 105 hp, or 122 hp — a 35 hp spread from the weakest Diesel to the Gasoline, and an 18 hp spread between the two 2.5 MT versions (105 − 87).
- Torque: 190 Nm on 2.4 MT, 201 Nm on both 87 hp Diesels, 240 Nm on 2.5 MT (105 hp). The 105 hp Diesel has 50 Nm more than the Gasoline and 39 Nm more than the 87 hp Diesels.
- Gearbox: 5-speed Manual on three versions; 4-speed Automatic only on 2.5 AT.
- Rear suspension: Independent, spring on 2.4 MT; Dependent, spring on all three Diesels.
- Ground clearance: 190 mm measured only on 2.4 MT; not measured on 2.5 AT, 2.5 MT (87 hp), and 2.5 MT (105 hp).
- Gross weight: 2125 kg on 2.4 MT, 2700 kg on 2.5 AT and 2.5 MT (87 hp), not measured on 2.5 MT (105 hp).
Valves per cylinder: 4 on 2.4 MT, 2 on every Diesel. Compression: 9.5 on Gasoline, 21 on every Diesel. Peak power rpm: 5250 on 2.4 MT, 4200 on 2.5 MT (105 hp), 4000 on both 87 hp Diesels. Peak torque rpm: 2500 on 2.4 MT, 2000 on all Diesels.
Engine comparison: Gasoline 2.4 versus Diesel 2.5
2.4 MT is the only Gasoline, the only version with No boost, the only 2351 cc unit, and the only one with Distributed injection (multi-point). Fuel in the data is 92. It makes 122 hp (90 kW) at 5250 rpm and 190 Nm at 2500 rpm. Bore × stroke: 86.5 × 100. Engine position: Front, longitudinal — the same as every other version.
The three Diesels share 2477 cc, Inline 4, 2 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Front, longitudinal, compression 21, bore × stroke 91.1 × 95, fuel Diesel. They split into two outputs:
- 87 hp (64 kW) at 4000 rpm and 201 Nm at 2000 rpm on 2.5 AT and 2.5 MT (87 hp).
- 105 hp (77 kW) at 4200 rpm and 240 Nm at 2000 rpm on 2.5 MT (105 hp).
Relative to 2.4 MT, the 87 hp Diesel has 35 hp less (−28.7%) and 11 Nm more (+5.8%). Relative to 2.4 MT, the 105 hp Diesel has 17 hp less (−13.9%) and 50 Nm more (+26.3%). Relative to the 87 hp Diesel, the 105 hp 2.5 MT has 18 hp more (+20.7%) and 39 Nm more (+19.4%) on the same 2477 cc and the same Turbo label.
If the buying question is “most horsepower,” the answer is 2.4 MT at 122 hp. If it is “most torque,” the answer is 2.5 MT (105 hp) at 240 Nm. If it is “Automatic,” the only answer is 2.5 AT, and that Automatic is locked to the 87 hp Diesel, not to 105 hp or 122 hp.
Performance and mpg: what was measured, what was not
0–100 km/h is not measured on 2.4 MT, 2.5 AT, 2.5 MT (87 hp), and 2.5 MT (105 hp). Do not treat a missing figure as a fast or slow van; it was not measured.
Top speed: 2.4 MT 150 km/h; 2.5 MT (87 hp) 138 km/h; 2.5 MT (105 hp) 138 km/h; 2.5 AT not measured. The Gasoline manual is 12 km/h faster than both measured Diesel manuals. The two 2.5 MT versions share 138 km/h even though one has 18 hp and 39 Nm more — the catalogue does not give a higher top speed for the 105 hp line. 2.5 AT has no top-speed number, so it cannot be ranked on that axis.
Fuel consumption is measured on one version only: 2.5 MT (87 hp) — 12.6 L/100 km city, 8.6 L/100 km highway, 10.1 L/100 km mixed, CO2 268 g/km. 2.4 MT, 2.5 AT, and 2.5 MT (105 hp) have city, highway, mixed, and CO2 all not measured. Eco class is not measured on any version.
On the 66 L tank that all four share, the only version with a mixed figure implies 66 ÷ 10.1 × 100 ≈ 653 km mixed, 66 ÷ 12.6 × 100 ≈ 524 km city, 66 ÷ 8.6 × 100 ≈ 767 km highway. Those ranges apply only to 2.5 MT (87 hp). They are not transferable to 2.4 MT, 2.5 AT, or 2.5 MT (105 hp).
Dimensions, weight, payload: where the Diesels buy capacity
Tank: 66 L on every version. Wheel sizes: not measured on every version.
Kerb weight: 2.4 MT 1660 kg (lightest); 2.5 MT (105 hp) 1710 kg (+50 kg versus 2.4); 2.5 AT and 2.5 MT (87 hp) 1725 kg (+65 kg versus 2.4, +15 kg versus the 105 hp 2.5 MT).
Gross weight: 2.4 MT 2125 kg; 2.5 AT and 2.5 MT (87 hp) 2700 kg; 2.5 MT (105 hp) not measured. Payload where both kerb and gross exist: 2.4 MT 2125 − 1660 = 465 kg; 2.5 AT 2700 − 1725 = 975 kg; 2.5 MT (87 hp) 2700 − 1725 = 975 kg. The 87 hp Diesels carry 510 kg more rated payload than the Gasoline 2.4 MT (975 − 465). That is the largest arithmetic gap in the catalogue. 2.5 MT (105 hp) cannot be given a payload because gross weight is not measured.
Ground clearance: 190 mm on 2.4 MT; not measured on the three Diesels. Brakes are the same pattern on all four: Ventilated disc front, Drum rear. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all four. Rear suspension is Independent, spring only on 2.4 MT; Dependent, spring on 2.5 AT, 2.5 MT (87 hp), and 2.5 MT (105 hp).
Which version to choose
Choose 2.4 MT if the priority is power density and the measured top speed. It is the only Gasoline, the only 122 hp, the only 5-speed Manual on 2351 cc, the lightest kerb at 1660 kg, the lowest kg/hp at 13.6, the highest hp/L at 51.9, and the only 150 km/h figure. Trade-offs that are in the data: 190 Nm (lowest torque), 465 kg payload (lowest among versions with a gross weight), 4 valves per cylinder and No boost rather than Turbo, fuel 92 rather than Diesel, Independent rear rather than Dependent. Consumption, 0–100, CO2, eco class, and wheels: not measured.
Choose 2.5 MT (105 hp) if the priority is Diesel torque without an Automatic. It is the torque peak at 240 Nm, 96.9 Nm/L, 105 hp, 16.3 kg/hp, kerb 1710 kg. Versus 2.4 MT: −17 hp, +50 Nm, +50 kg kerb, same 5-speed Manual and RWD, Turbo instead of No, Diesel instead of Gasoline, Dependent rear instead of Independent. Versus 2.5 MT (87 hp): +18 hp, +39 Nm, −15 kg kerb, same 138 km/h top speed. Versus 2.5 AT: +18 hp, +39 Nm, Manual 5 instead of Automatic 4, −15 kg kerb. Gaps: gross weight, payload, clearance, consumption, 0–100, CO2, wheels — not measured. Do not pick this line if you need the Automatic; that gearbox is not on 105 hp.
Choose 2.5 MT (87 hp) if the priority is the only measured fuel use, plus the 975 kg payload. It matches 2.5 AT on 87 hp, 201 Nm, 2477 cc, Turbo, Diesel, 1725 kg kerb, 2700 kg gross, 975 kg payload, Dependent rear. It differs from 2.5 AT by Manual 5 versus Automatic 4, and by having the only consumption set (12.6 / 8.6 / 10.1 L/100 km) and the only CO2 (268 g/km). Top speed 138 km/h is 12 km/h below 2.4 MT. Versus 2.5 MT (105 hp): −18 hp, −39 Nm, +15 kg, but this 87 hp line is the one with mixed mpg and a published gross. Clearance, 0–100, eco class, wheels: not measured.
Choose 2.5 AT only if the Automatic is the requirement. It is the sole Automatic (4 speeds). Engine and chassis numbers match 2.5 MT (87 hp): 87 hp, 201 Nm, 2477 cc, Turbo, Diesel, RWD, 1725 kg / 2700 kg, 975 kg payload, Dependent rear, Ventilated disc / Drum. What you do not get: the 105 hp / 240 Nm Diesel, the 122 hp Gasoline, a 5-speed Manual, a measured top speed, or a measured consumption. Top speed, 0–100, city/highway/mixed, CO2, eco class, clearance, wheels: not measured. The Automatic does not buy more power; it is paired with the weakest output in the table.
Reliability and problems: what the numbers do and do not say
The data do not list failure rates, recalls, or common faults. Reliability cannot be ranked from these fields. What can be said without leaving the catalogue: every version is RWD with a Front, longitudinal engine; every Diesel is Turbo with compression 21 and 2 valves per cylinder; the Gasoline is No boost with compression 9.5 and 4 valves per cylinder; rear suspension is Independent only on 2.4 MT; brakes are Ventilated disc / Drum across the board; production for all four versions is the same window, May 1994 to September 2006. Missing measurements (0–100 on all four, mpg on three of four, clearance on three of four, gross on the 105 hp 2.5 MT) are gaps in the sheet, not proof that those parameters do not exist on the vehicle.
Short decision order
1. Need Automatic → 2.5 AT (87 hp Diesel only). 2. Need the only measured mpg and a 975 kg payload with a Manual → 2.5 MT (87 hp). 3. Need maximum Diesel torque (240 Nm) and will accept unmeasured mpg and unmeasured gross → 2.5 MT (105 hp). 4. Need maximum hp (122), highest hp/L (51.9), lowest kg/hp (13.6), 150 km/h, and Independent rear → 2.4 MT.
There is no second generation to “buy up into.” The extra money, if any, is not in the data; the extra hardware is: 35 hp from weakest Diesel to Gasoline, 50 Nm from Gasoline to strongest Diesel, 510 kg of payload from 2.4 MT to the 87 hp Diesels, and one Automatic that does not raise power.