Mitsubishi Minicab for Sale

Mitsubishi Minicab buyer's guide

Mitsubishi has sold the Minicab since 1966, when the first LT30 cab-over truck replaced the Mitsubishi 360. It built its own Minicab at the Mizushima plant in Kurashiki until February 2014; since then the Minicab truck has been a rebadged Suzuki Carry, so apart from the electric MiEV, a Mitsubishi-engineered Minicab is a 2014 or older truck, and the ones old enough to import are from 2001 or earlier. Like every kei truck, it's built to Japan's kei rules: a 660cc engine (since 1990), a body no wider than 1.48 m / 58 in (1.40 m before late 1998), and a maximum load rating of 350 kg, about 770 lb. The Minicab never sold in the numbers the Hijet and Carry did, which is why it's less common on U.S. lots, but it uses the same formula and the same kind of parts.

What makes the Minicab different

• Two very different trucks in the import window. The 1991–1999 Minicab is a classic cab-over: the seats sit over the front wheels, the wheelbase is 1,830 mm and it turns around in 3.7 m (12 ft). The 1999-on Minicab is a "semi-cab," with the front wheels moved ahead of the seats for crash space and legroom, a 2,200 mm wheelbase, a 50:50 weight split and a wider 1,475 mm body.
• Switch-operated 4x4. On both generations you select four-wheel drive with a switch rather than a second gear lever. 1999-on manual 4x4s have a separate high/low transfer lever as well.
• The 3G83 engine. Mitsubishi's 657cc three-cylinder, shared with the Minica and the Town Box wagon. It went from a carburetor to ECI-Multi fuel injection in late 1997 and gained a lean-burn (MVV) version for 1999. Japanese owners rate it as durable, with 200,000 km reachable on good maintenance.
• A class-first 4-speed automatic on the 1999–2004 TL grade, where most kei trucks offered a 3-speed.

Which Minicabs can be imported

U.S. rules let a vehicle that was never sold here be imported once it's at least 25 years old, counted from its month and year of manufacture. In 2026 that means Minicabs built in 2001 or earlier:

The 1999-on truck was facelifted in December 2000, when the headlights were squared off and the separate side turn signals disappeared, so a 2000 build can wear either face. Trucks from 2002 onward, and the Nissan Clipper twin sold from 2003, aren't eligible until 2027 or later.

2WD or 4x4?

Minicab 4x4s (U42T, U62T) use part-time four-wheel drive with no center differential: you drive in rear-wheel drive and switch in 4x4 on dirt, mud, grass or gravel, not on dry pavement. On the 1990s truck the switch works the transfer case through vacuum solenoids; on the 1999-on truck Mitsubishi's Easy Select system lets you switch into 4x4-high on the move at up to 80 km/h, and manual trucks add a separate low-range lever for crawling and heavy loads. A limited-slip differential was a factory option on 4x4 manuals, not standard, so don't assume a used truck has one unless the listing says so. For farm, ranch and hunting use, most buyers want a 4x4; a 2WD Minicab is lighter, simpler and fine for paved roads and flat yards.

Versions you'll see

• TU, TS and V type: the basic work-truck grades. The 1990s TU ran 10-inch wheels and drum brakes; the 1990s V type (from 1996) kept the 4-speed manual after the others moved to five speeds. Many came with no power steering or air conditioning, so check the listing.
• TD: the mid grade, with power steering on later trucks.
• TL: the top grade with power steering, air conditioning, fabric seats and, on 1999–2004 trucks, the 4-speed automatic.
• VX-SE: a well-equipped mid grade that appeared in 1997 and became the mainstay later: power steering, bed-rail and gate protectors, a lockable side toolbox and a work lamp.
• Mighty: the farm grade, with a reinforced rear suspension, lug tires and the optional limited-slip differential. Mitsubishi later revived it as the "Minori."
• Dump and panel van: a tipping bed (the "Raku-yuka" dump) and a factory box body used by movers and delivery firms. See our kei dump trucks when we have one.

What to check before you buy

• Thermostat. The 3G83's known weak point. When it sticks open the engine never warms up: the gauge stays low, the heater is lukewarm and fuel economy drops. It's a cheap part, but it tells you how the truck was looked after.
• 4x4 engagement. Test it. On 1990s trucks the transfer case shifts by vacuum through two solenoids, so a split or misrouted vacuum hose stops 4x4 from engaging; on 1999-on trucks check that the switch lights the indicator and that the low-range lever moves freely.
• Timing belt. The 3G83 uses a timing belt. Ask for records, and plan on a new belt if there are none.
• The 4-speed automatic. Japanese used-car guides flag the TL's 4-speed automatic as trouble-prone. The 5-speed manual with low range is the one to want.
• Front end. On 1999-on trucks the radiator and A/C condenser are packed into the short nose, so front-end damage is expensive to put right. Look for mismatched panels and a bent bumper beam.
• Rust. Look at the frame rails, cab corners, floor and bed. Surface rust is normal at this age. Holes are not.

Any Minicab that's in Houston can be inspected and test driven at our lot.

Questions buyers ask

Can I title and register a Minicab in Texas?
Since September 1, 2025, Texas law (SB 1816) lets kei trucks be titled and registered as "miniature vehicles." Our Texas title and registration guide walks through the paperwork. Other states have their own rules, so check with yours before you buy.

Is a Nissan Clipper the same truck?
Yes. From 2003 to 2013 Nissan sold the 1999-generation Minicab as the Clipper truck and van, so Clipper parts fit. Clippers themselves won't be old enough to import until 2028.

Will a Minicab keep up on the highway?
Not comfortably. A 5-speed truck turns about 5,300 rpm at 100 km/h (62 mph), and owners report roughly 12–15 km/L (28–35 mpg) in mixed use. Like every 660cc kei truck it's happiest on local roads.

Is the odometer in miles?
No. Japanese trucks read in kilometers, and our listings show the odometer in km. 1 km is about 0.62 miles.

Is it right-hand drive?
Yes, like every Japanese-market kei truck.

Can I buy one that's still on its way from Japan?
Yes. Reserve an In Transit Minicab with a $1,000 deposit. See how buying works.

Still choosing? Read Hijet vs. Carry vs. Acty vs. Sambar, our kei truck buyer's guide, or kei truck vs. UTV for Texas ranch work.

Written by Farhad Musazada, Skyline Kei Trucks. Published October 16, 2026.

Compare other kei trucks: Daihatsu Hijet · Suzuki Carry · Honda Acty · Subaru Sambar · Suzuki Jimny 4x4