The Mitsubishi L300 is practically ingrained into Philippine automotive culture. Its Versa Van body style saw widespread use from household transport to emergency vehicle, even becoming famous (or infamous) as a regular getaway van for villains in countless Pinoy action movies.
The Mitsubishi L300 has become a staple workhorse for small and medium businesses
Both the van and the Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) variant have been in the Philippine market since the 1980s. The latter was more flexible in nature, and has been assembled in a variety of configurations from family business (FB), watertight aluminum van (WT), drop side (DS), and minibus variants. When the Versa Van was discontinued in 2012, the AUV trim soldiered on until 2017. Thankfully, Mitsubishi PH refused to let a legend fade away, resurrecting the L300 AUV two years later with an updated engine for the local market.
Small and medium entrepreneurs have found a dependable workhorse in the L300, and its ubiquity on the roads has benefitted owners of the Mitsubishi Adventure AUV as well, with the two vehicles sharing a considerable number of components. The robust nature of the L300 series has made it a dependable partner for generations of businesses, and it comes as no surprise that owners have come to regard them as family.
Ernest Yu
For Ernest Yu, president of the Mitsubishi L300 Enthusiast Club, the L300 is more than just a tool for making a living. Back in the 90s when his family owned a hardware store, they bought an L300 for deliveries. The vehicle assumed other roles as well, serving as a school shuttle and family van. Throughout the years that it endured countless arduous tasks, not once did their L300 experience a breakdown.
Ernest Yu bought back the family's L300 that had been sold during rough times
Soon the family fell on hard times and had to sell their trusty steed to a relative. The family’s youngest son, Ernest was the most affected since his engineering course led him to appreciate the L300’s attributes. After the family managed to recover financially, he bought back the L300 and used his technical knowledge to revive the van, naming it “Legend”. Ernest worked as a volunteer during the enhanced community quarantine, engaging in street disinfection activities as well as shuttling frontliners.
“Iba ang connection ang na-feel ko with our L300. Ilang beses na siya nasubukan pero never bumigay,” he explains. (I felt a unique connection with our L300. It’s been tested many times and it still keeps on running.)
“Kaya when I saw the opportunity to buy it back, I didn’t think twice. It is not just a family van for me but a van that is part of our family.”
>>> Related: Mitsubishi L300 Versa Van: The family chariot of the 1990s
Jessie Cabral
Another L300 owner, Jessie Cabral, wasn’t initially sold on the L300 right away. He acquired the vehicle six years ago, which he used both for his delivery business and outreach activities, traveling to as far as Dingalan in Aurora province delivering supplies for an Aeta tribe. Not even winding roads and river crossings caused problems for his L300. When quarantine restrictions affected his business, he switched to providing a shuttle service for companies.
Like the flexible L300, Jessie Cabral rolled with the punches that life threw at him
At present, Jessie is vice-president of the L300 Club of the Philippines, and advises others to emulate the flexible nature of the L300. “Sa buhay, kailangan maging madiskarte at mabilis mag-adjust. Hindi ka pwedeng basta na lang magpapatalo. Sa bawat pagsubok, dapat bukas ang mga mata para sa opportunity na maaari nating ma-maximize.” (In life, one has to be adaptable and quickly adjust. Moping around in defeat won’t do you any good. With every challenge, you need to keep an eye out for opportunities that you can maximize.)
Since its introduction to the Philippine market three decades ago, the L300 has sold more than 190,000 units, recently celebrating its 200,000th production milestone. The legendary 2.5L 4D56 engine played a big part in its reputation for reliability, and now its new Euro 4-compliant 2.2L turbo CRDi mill is poised to enhance the L300’s inherent qualities of strength, durability, and ease of maintenance. Ernest and Jessie’s stories are only part of the L300’s enduring history that’s still being written with every kilometer traveled on the road.
Read about the stories behind the most iconic rides at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Mitsubishi L300 2024
The current Mitsubishi L300 2024 by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi is based on the L300 Versa Van. While the latter was more of a family carrier, Mitsubishi has since marketed the L300 FB mainly as a commercial vehicle (CV). In the Philippines market, the L300 FB uses a Euro 4 compliant 2.2-liter 4N14 diesel power plant. At most, this mill can make up to 98 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear via a five-speed manual transmission.
When it comes to dimensions, the L300 spans 4,440 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width, and 1,915 mm. Also, it gets a wheelbase and ground clearance rated at 2,350 mm and 195 mm, respectively. This Mitsubishi CV is competing in the local market against the likes of Kia K2500, Isuzu Traviz, and Hyundai H-100.
>>> New and used Mitsubishi L300 2024 for sale in the Philippines
Mitsubishi L300 Launch
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) officially launched the refreshed L300 model in 2019. It now has better visibility, and more ground clearance, as well as a new bumper and grille.
Primarily, the Mitsubishi-made L300 is used as a commercial vehicle. Its leaf springs enable it to carry up to a ton of cargo, and it can also be configured as a refrigerated delivery truck, and a flat-bed truck, among others.
Mitsubishi L300 Exterior
On the outside, the refreshed Mitsubishi L300 for the Philippines market largely retains its boxy shape. Up front, it is equipped with box-shaped multi-reflector halogen headlamps, and halogen fog lamps. The FB body features a black-colored step for ease of entry, rectangular rear taillights, and dual rear doors. Lastly, the L300 rides on a set of 14-inch steel wheels.
Mitsubishi L300 Interior
Most of the interior pieces of the Philippines-spec L300 2024 are made out of plastic. It also has fabric seats, a steering wheel made out of polypropylene, and a manual air-conditioning system. For the driver, the said model provides a turn-key ignition system, a manual adjustable driver's seat with height adjustment, and an analog gauge cluster.
For the FB type L300, up to seven occupants can fit inside. The rear passenger section also comes with rear AC vents.
Technology & Safety Features
As a commercial vehicle, the Mitsubishi L300 for the Philippines market is spartan. It does get a radio tuner, that's linked to two speakers, and sufficient storage room in its front cabin.
For safety, the Mitsubishi-made commercial vehicle gets front-impact beams, side-impact beams, and seatbelts.
Platform & Chassis
The Mitsubishi L300 Philippines can either come as a four-door van or as a three-door van. For the three-seater variant, it has a length of 4,260mm, a width of 1,695mm, a height of 1,895mm, and a ground clearance of 195mm. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,350mm and a curb weight of 1,260mm.
In terms of layout, the L300 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle. It uses an independent wishbone-type front suspension, and leaf springs for the rear. Braking is handled by a front disc brake and a rear drum brake. For its handbrakes, it uses a manual, hand-operated type.
Mitsubishi L300 Engine & Drivetrain
The Philippine-spec Mitsubishi L300 2024 uses a Euro 4 compliant 2.2-liter inline-4 DOHC diesel engine with a turbocharged intercooler system. This engine can produce up to 98 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque. The said engine is then paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, which sends power to the rear wheels.
Mitsubishi L300 2024 Price List
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi L300 Cab & Chassis | ₱825,000 |
| Mitsubishi L300 Aluminum No AC | ₱899,000 |
| Mitsubishi L300 with FB Body No AC | ₱936,000 |
| Mitsubishi L300 Aluminum Single AC | ₱944,000 |
| Mitsubishi L300 with FB Body Single AC | ₱981,000 |
| Mitsubishi L300 with FB Body Dual AC | ₱998,000 |
Mitsubishi L300 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Spacious interior
- Cost-effective maintenance
- Good fuel economy
Cons
- Not a lot of options offered
- No significant features
- Basic interior layout
Mitsubishi L300 FAQs
1. Is the Mitsubishi L300 reliable?
Absolutely yes. The Mitsubishi L300 may not have a standing-out appearance but it has good performance, long durability, and fuel economy. It’s an ideal choice both for business and family use.
2. What is the engine of the L300?
The Mitsubishi L300 owns a Euro 4 compliant 2.2-liter 4N14 diesel power plant which can generate up to 98 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque.
3. How much is the Mitsubishi L300?
The Mitsubishi L300 price ranges from ₱825,000 to ₱998,000 in the Philipine market.
4. Is the L300 good for business?
Yes, it is the top choice for small businesses since the Mitsubishi L300 has seat capacity of up to 14 passengers but its price is cheap. Its fuel economy is also very impressive. In terms of economy, the L300 is really ideal.
5. Does the L300 have automatic transmission?
No, the Mitsubishi L30 is not equipped with automatic transmission. Instead, it has a five-speed manual transmission.
₱ 813,000
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