Given that this week will be dedicated to Japanese long-roofs, the thorny issue of definitions might have to be broached at some point. So, what are Japanese? Ok, that’s pretty straightforward. But when these good people design wagons, the results can cause the rest of us to wonder whether something was lost in translation. Let us ponder on this with one of the weirdest “wagons” ever, the Mitsubishi Toppo.
Wagons come in all sizes, but I assume we can all sort of agree they follow one basic shape, right? The Toppo does have a wagonesque appearance at first glance, though the proportions are on the odd side. But then, it is based on the Minica, a teeny-tiny 660cc kei car, so it was never going to look like a Volvo 240 or a Country Squire.
But still, that hypertrophied greenhouse is rather striking. And they added quite a bit of extra roof space on top of it all, for good (or bad) measure. That’s just the start of the weirdness, though. But let’s provide a little context first.
The Toppo was launched in 1990, based on the 6th generation Minica. Like all keis from this era, it featured a completely new 660cc engine – in this case, a DOHC 3-cyl. with five valves per cylinder, i.e. the sportier triple (lower grades of Minica got a SOHC with two or four valves per cylinder). AWD and a 3-speed automatic transmission were available as an option. The first Toppo already had the big greenhouse and tall roof, but only had two doors.
In 1993, the Minica became the 7th gen, though in effect it was little more than a thorough facelift of the sixth. The Toppo was carried over, but became a three-door: the driver’s side kept the single entry, but the passenger side got two. Not the most common of setups, to be sure. Mitsubishi had pioneered the idea on the 1989-93 Minica Lettuce, but those were three-door saloons, not wagons.
Although calling this a three-door might be a bit of a misnomer. Technically, the rear end is a door also, with hinges on the right and a hatch window. So far, so very odd. From this angle, the term that readily comes to mind is “van.” And that’s precisely what the Japanese call this type of car: a light tall van. Or light tall wagon. Depends on the trim, really: if a car is destined for private / family haulage, it’s a wagon. If it’s for work, with really basic trim, it’s a van.
The tricky issue is that Japanese carmakers managed to slice up the categories even finer than anyone else, so we don’t really have an equivalent term. The English-language Wikipedia page calls the Toppo an MPV, but I would question that. It’s just too small to be that, even though it’s deceptively spacious inside.
Mind you, it’s only spacious because of the acres of headroom, which is nice and all but has limited real-life practical use. But then, the kei car rules are notoriously restrictive in how long and how wide these cars can be, so the only room for improvement was to make the Toppo really tall. Mitsubishi also used the Minica for their Walkthrough vans, which have a similarly high roof, but are designed for cargo or microbus usage.
The Toppo’s main target clientele was suburbanite women, especially those with younger kids, so it was trimmed fancier than the workmanlike Walkthrough. The budding tall light wagon segment became hot in the wake of the Toppo, even though subsequent designs have tended to look less gawky than this early pioneer. Nowadays, the Honda N-Van, the Daihatsu Tanto or the Suzuki Wagon R occupy this segment, with continuing success.
Of course, the line between a light tall wagon and a kei minivan is rather arbitrary, but the minivan is more of a one-box shape (in theory, anyway), whereas the bonnet van / wagon has a distinctly car-like front end. This is becoming a bit blurred in the present day, due to kei car front ends becoming ever taller and shorter though. The light tall wagon might not be with us forever.
And the three-door light tall wagon is definitely not with us any longer: Mitsubishi only made these from 1993 to 1998. After that, the Toppo was just a regular five-door kei tall wagon for a couple more generations, before the nameplate was retired in 2013. Is it a van? Is it a wagon? Is it an MPV? All of the above. And kind of cute, on Toppof it all.
Initially, it reminded me of the AMC Pacer.
Then it morphed into the Nissan Cube.
However, took me several views to realize two doors on one side and one on the opposite.
My head is still spinning.
Thanks for reminding me of the Minica Lettuce – I love these quixotic Japanese names.
As if the Bongo Friendee and Life Dunk! weren’t daft enough…
Fascinating the Japanese should continue such an old tradition.
Such style was once a popular horse-drawn option in France – as I’m sure our French correspondent in Japan knows – which mainly catered to women of Hair.
Indeed, Marie Antoinette herself was a short-term owner of an early example – accounting also for the system by which one entered by one’s own door but had none on the other side for leaving in a hurry – which only much later became disrespectfully known as the Toppo Choppo model.
Does this one have a cake holder?
Looks a bit like it was designed to take a wheelchair in the back, like the Metro ‘Chairman’.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38389354@N07/7613665808/in/photostream/
THANK YOU for the link, I went down that rabbit hole and enjoyed it .
-Nate
It’s obviously a bus. While there are 4 “seats”, if everybody stands up instead, you can fit about 52 people inside, arranged face to armpit. And there’s still enough space for everyone to wear a toppohat.
I was going to note that it simply resurrected that thing that I think died in the early 1960s about being able to get into a car without removing ones hat. Yes Justy, it would have been perfect for Marie Antoinette. Hair, hat, head, whatever.
Thank you Tatra. I often have no words for the various vehicles you showcase, but as always it seems that Japan is virtually a different planet than we here on the other side of the world inhabit.
Should the People of Earth ever discover another world that has automotive technology, I hope that you’re around and can be dispatched to report back to us about it. You’ve got the skills!
It’s all very logical, given the restrictions on kei car width: height adds interior volume and greatly adds to the feeling of interior space and allows a much more efficient and comfortable seating arrangement.
This is the polar opposite of a Mark IV. Guess which I’d prefer.
Looks like you could stand up inside this thing.
Not something I’d buy, but people do even here, Japanese car manufacturers have a fantastic range of wagons that are incredibly popular over here a mate of mine fits a herd of grandkids and a large supply of tools into a Toyota wish,want sliding doors with that instead, Toyota Isis is where you need to look,
Our man Tatra is only scratching the surface so far should be an interesting week
It reminds me of a shrunken and reshaped Mitsubishi Expo, same 3 door layout and even more extreme tall wagon proportions. I could see my short wife driving this tall wagon, if Oregon wasn’t so difficult about registering Kei class stuff, guess I’ll have to talk her into a Mitsuoka Viewt instead.