Espace, Voyager, Prairie but further?
Practical cars rarely become iconic classics. An early Renault Espace perhaps, or the first Nissan Prairie? About forty years ago we were introduced to the phenomenon of multi-purpose vehicles, but we had actually almost forgotten many models.
Mitsubishi Space Wagon (1983)
The Mitsubishi Space Wagon is sold in the US as Dodge and Plymouth Colt Vista. Remarkable, because Chrysler has also had its own MPV since 1983: the Voyager. With us, however, it is simply the Mitsubishi Space Wagon, both with 2WD and 4WD.
Honda Civic Shuttle (1984)
After the station wagon based on the second generation Civic, Honda went a step further with the third generation: the smallest model was the basis for a bold step towards MPV in 1984, with four-wheel drive if desired. Also a bit of a crossover, a term that was not yet known at the time.
Ford Windstar (1995)
Riding the MPV trend, Hessing is bringing the American Ford Windstar to the Netherlands. They are lined up in rows in De Bilt between the Tauruses and Explorers in the mid-1990s, waiting for a European buyer. It does the parallel importer no harm.
Toyota Tercel 4WD Wagon (1982)
This crossover avant la letter is a doubtful case at the crossroads between an off-road vehicle, a middle class car and a van. With its versatile usability, the Tercel 4WD Wagon is certainly a real one multi-purpose vehicle.
Kia Carnival (1998)
Leaking gaskets, water in the oil, seizures. The V6 in the Carnival is causing Kia quite a few headaches, literally. Although the six-cylinder is assembled by Kia itself, it was developed by Rover (in too short a time) after the takeover by BMW to replace the oh-so-reliable Honda V6 in the Rover 827.
Mazda MPV (1988)
We know few cars with a clearer name than Mazda’s MPV. The MPV does not share its basis with the longitudinally mounted V6 that drives the rear wheels with a light truck, but with the Mazda 929, a large luxury sedan.
The first Mazda MPV…
…but you probably remember this Mazda MPV more.
Lancia Zeta (1994)
The Zeta is the posh brother of the Fiat Ulysse, Peugeot 806 and Citroën Evasion: more luxuriously decorated, more robustly priced (which makes it even more exclusive) and, unlike its more ordinary brothers, even equipped with a curved hood that matches the characteristic Lancia – grille.
Lancia Zeta
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl