Model guide

Mitsubishi Minicab Kei Truck

Years, specs, prices and problems

The Minicab is Mitsubishi's mini truck, first sold in 1966. It's less common in the US than a Carry or Hijet, so owners say it often costs less.

Engine657cc

Hauls772 lb

4WD modelU42T

You can importUp to 2001

A white 1994 Mitsubishi Minicab TD 4WD kei truck with a dropside bed — A 1994 Minicab TD 4WD with a dropside bed.

Is it for you?

Is a Mitsubishi Minicab kei truck right for you?

Great for

Farm and ranch work, with 4WD on most trucks
Mud: an owner's 4x4 Minicab pulled big pickups out of a muddy lot
Drivers about 6 feet tall, one owner says
Buyers who want a less common kei truck

Not great for

Highway commutes: it is happiest at 45–55 mph
A quiet cab: one owner calls it loud
Lots of owner tips and listings: fewer are for sale in the US
A state that won't plate kei trucks

From what owners say (more below).

**Minicab** (1991–1999): 10.8 ft long, 5 ft 10 in to 6 ft tallFord F-150 SuperCrew: 19.3 ft long, 6 ft 5 in tallTwo Minicabs end to end (21.6 ft) are only 2.3 ft longer than one F-150.

Which Minicab is it? Tap the year.

See the version, the engine, and if you can bring it into the US.

Import now
Only if built by Nov. 2001
Not yet

All 16 Mitsubishi Minicab kei truck years at a glance

1988 Minicab: U14T (2WD) or U15T (4WD), 548cc 3-cylinder (3G81). You can import it now.
1989 Minicab: U14T (2WD) or U15T (4WD), 548cc 3-cylinder (3G81). You can import it now.
1990 Minicab: U18T (2WD) or U19T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1991 Minicab: U18T/U19T (early 1991) or U41T/U42T (from Feb. 1991), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1992 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1993 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1994 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1995 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1996 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
1997 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now. Fuel injection arrived in late 1997 on some trucks.
1998 Minicab: U41T (2WD) or U42T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now. Some trucks have fuel injection (from late 1997).
1999 Minicab: U41T/U42T (Jan. 1999) or U61T/U62T (from Feb. 1999), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
2000 Minicab: U61T (2WD) or U62T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). You can import it now.
2001 Minicab: U61T (2WD) or U62T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). Only if built by Nov. 2001.
2002 Minicab: U61T (2WD) or U62T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). Not yet: month by month in 2027.
2003 Minicab: U61T (2WD) or U62T (4WD), 657cc 3-cylinder (3G83). Not yet: month by month in 2028.

Years and generations

Mitsubishi Minicab kei truck years: the 3 you can find

Most Minicabs you'll find are 1991–1999 trucks (U41T and U42T). The wider 1999 trucks are old enough to import too, and more turn 25 every month.

Mitsubishi Minicab U11T kei truck with a 3-way bed

1984–1991 Minicab

U11T–U19T

Spot it in a photo: round headlights on a flat front and a black bumper.

550cc engine until 1989
657cc 3G83 engine from Jan. 1990
4WD available
Rare in the US now

You can import it

Photo: Kuha455405, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons ↗

1998 Mitsubishi Minicab U41T kei truck in white

1991–1999 Minicab

U41T (2WD), U42T (4WD)

Spot it in a photo: rectangular headlights in a black lower panel, with the three-diamond Mitsubishi badge between them.

657cc 3G83 3-cylinder
Fuel injection from late 1997
Top truck grade: TL
Dump trucks kept the older body at first

You can import it

Photo: TTTNIS, CC0, Wikimedia Commons ↗

Mitsubishi Minicab truck from the 1999–2014 generation with a covered bed

1999–2014 Minicab

U61T (2WD), U62T (4WD)

Spot it in a photo: a short nose with swept-back headlights and a gray bumper with a mesh grille.

Wider body (4.8 ft)
Long 7.2 ft wheelbase
5-speed stick or 3-speed automatic
Last Mitsubishi-built Minicab (2014)

Built by Nov. 2001: yes

Photo: TTTNIS, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons ↗

Mitsubishi stopped building its own Minicab truck in Feb. 2014. Since then it's a rebadged Suzuki Carry (DS16T), which can't be imported until 2039.

Specs

Mitsubishi Minicab kei truck specs: size, weight, hauling

Gas mileage, top speed and hauling first: the numbers buyers ask about most.

Spec	1991–1999 (U41T, U42T)	1999–2001 (U61T, U62T)
Gas mileage	Mitsubishi never published a US figure, and we have not found a reliable Japanese one yet.
Top speed	Mitsubishi doesn't publish one. Dealers and owners report about 50–65 mph for stock 660cc trucks.Most owners cruise at 45–55 mph.
Hauls	772 lb (350 kg) in the bed: the legal limit for kei trucks
Bed size	A little narrower (the whole truck is 4.6 ft wide)	Not confirmed for these yearsToday's Minicab (2014 on): about 6 ft 4 in × 4 ft 7 in
Length × width	10.8 ft × 4.6 ft	11.1 ft × 4.8 ft
Engine	657cc 3-cylinder (3G83), about 37–41 hp. Fuel injection (about 47 hp) from late 1997.	657cc 3-cylinder (3G83), 12-valve
Wheelbase	6.0 ft	7.2 ft: longer than most kei trucks
Weight	About 1,430–1,740 lb	About 1,540–1,900 lb
2WD / 4WD	U41T = 2WD, U42T = 4WD	U61T = 2WD, U62T = 4WD
Gearbox	4- or 5-speed stick; 3-speed automatic on some	4- or 5-speed stick, or 3-speed automatic

Sources: Mitsubishi Minicab data from Wikipedia; bed size from Japanese dealer data. Mitsubishi never rated the Minicab in mpg for the US. Weight and size converted from metric.

How fast is it, really?

Easy cruisingMost owners cruise at 45–55 mph.Good fit
Top of the rangeDoable, but it is the top of most owners' cruising speed and the little engine works hard. Owners and dealers report a top speed of about 50–65 mph.Pushing it
Too fastFaster than a stock Minicab can go. Fast highways are not for it.Not for a Minicab

Kei truck top speed, and where you can drive one →

Price

How much does a Mitsubishi Minicab kei truck cost?

US sellers asked $4,280 to $11,900 for the 10 Minicab trucks we found in November 2026. Half asked under about $7,800.

We found only 10 Minicabs for sale, so treat this as a rough guide. If you import one yourself, add shipping, a 25% import tax and fees.

What sellers are asking (10 Minicab trucks)

$4,000 to $4,9993 trucks
$5,000 to $5,9991 truck
$6,000 to $6,999none
$7,000 to $7,9992 trucks
$8,000 to $8,9992 trucks
$9,000 to $9,999none
$10,000 to $10,9991 truck
$11,000 to $11,9991 truck

Half asked less than $7,800. Each truck’s exact price is in the list below.

Mitsubishi kei truck for sale: where we found Minicabs

Kei Truck DirectNew York
- 1999 4WD · 59,400 miles$4,280
- 1999 4WD · 71,000 miles$4,350
- 2000 4WD · 36,600 miles$4,480
Boeki USANew Jersey
- 1993 4WD · 54,594 miles$5,500
- 1999 · 88,961 miles$8,900
Mud Hog Mini TrucksArkansas
- 1999$10,900
- 1998$11,900
Sellers with one truck each
- 1994Minitruck Imports, Louisiana$7,600
- 1994Granite State Imports, New Hampshire$7,999
- 2001Wisconsin dealer$8,995

Kei truck prices for all five models, by dealer →

Asking prices for this Mitsubishi kei truck seen Nov. 7–10, 2026 in 6 states. Not offers or guarantees. Tap a place for that state's dealers and road rules.

Before you buy

Mitsubishi Minicab kei truck problems: what to check before you buy

Every Minicab you can import is over 25 years old. We have fewer reports on Minicabs than other trucks, so these come mostly from owners.

Your Mitsubishi Minicab inspection checklistTick each check at the seller.

1Model codeAsk the seller to show you the model code on the truck and on the export certificate. They should match. U42T or U62T = 4WD. U41T or U61T = 2WD. Don't pay 4WD money for a 2WD truck.
2Low miles can still mean troubleOne owner's 22,000-mile truck had stuck piston rings from sitting. Check the oil and coolant, and ask how long it sat.
3Rust underneathLook at the frame near the rear axle, the cab corners, the floor under the mats and the bed corners.
4Cooling fanOwners swap the engine-driven clutch fan for an electric fan.
5Spark plugsOwners call them the hardest job on the truck. Ask when they were last changed.
6Rubber partsHoses, belts and rubber mounts (bushings) are 25+ years old. Owners replace them right after buying.

Your ticks are saved on this phone only. Take it, or a printout, to the seller.

Papers the seller must give you

Customs entry form CBP 7501
DOT form HS-7
EPA form 3520-1
Japanese export certificate, with an English translation
A bill of sale

Your DMV asks for these to title an imported kei truck. See what your state asks for ↓

Questions to ask the seller

When were the spark plugs last changed? (Owners call it the hardest job.)
Has it sat unused for long? (Low-mile trucks can have stuck piston rings.)
What month was it built? (It matters for 1999 and 2001 trucks.)
When was it imported, and who imported it?
Does it have a US title yet, or only the import papers?

Reported by owners on YouTube and by importers. Not Mitsubishi data.

Owners

What Mitsubishi Minicab owners say

Pros

Often cheaper than a Carry or Hijet
Fits a 6-foot driver well, one owner says
Owners pick it over side-by-sides
1999+ trucks have a longer wheelbase

Cons

Fewer for sale, and less owner info
A loud cab, one owner says
Spark plugs are hard to reach
Slow on highways: best at 45–55 mph

4 owner reviews from YouTube comments, told in our words.

Worker at a Texas beer gardenYouTube comment · see the original ↗

Pulling out stuck trucks

The boss had a 4x4 Mitsubishi kei truck from Japan. On rainy days it pulled big pickups out of the muddy parking lot.

Minicab fan, 6 feet tallYouTube comment · see the original ↗

Fit and price

Calls late-model Minicabs a favorite: they drive nicely, fit a 6-foot driver well, and often cost less than the popular trucks.

Owner of a 1992 U42T dump truckYouTube comment · see the original ↗

Swapped a side-by-side

Sold a Honda Pioneer side-by-side for the Minicab and calls it the better choice. Warns that the 22,000-mile truck had stuck piston rings.

Minicab ownerYouTube comment · see the original ↗

Repairs

Says spark plugs are the hardest job, and recommends an electric fan in place of the clutch fan and LED bulbs in place of halogens.

Watch a review: 1997 Mitsubishi MiniCab Review - An Automatic Kei Truck! ↗ (Shooting Cars, YouTube, 10 min)

Compare

Minicab or another kei truck?

Truck	Engine sits	Good to know
Honda Acty	In the middle, under the bed	Easy engine access, smooth ride
Suzuki Carry	Under the seats	Simple and tough; easy to find
Daihatsu Hijet	Under the seats	Jumbo cab version has the most room
Subaru Sambar	At the back	4-cylinder; more knee room than the Acty
Mitsubishi Minicab	Under the seats	Often costs less; fits a 6-ft driver, owners say

Help me choose →

Can you drive a Mitsubishi Minicab in your state?

TapClick the blue button. Your answer shows up right here.

Questions

Mitsubishi Minicab questions

Is the Mitsubishi Minicab 4x4?

Many are. The 4WD codes are U42T (1991–1999) and U62T (1999 on). U41T and U61T are 2WD.

Does Mitsubishi still make the Minicab?

Not its own. Mitsubishi stopped building the Minicab truck in February 2014. Since then, the Minicab truck is a rebadged Suzuki Carry.

Is a Minicab cheaper than other kei trucks?

Sometimes. Owners say fewer people look for them. In our November 2026 survey, 10 Minicabs asked $4,280 to $11,900, about the same spread as other kei trucks.

Is the Minicab good for tall drivers?

One 6-foot owner says it fits well. Taller drivers should sit in one before buying, as with any kei truck.

How fast can a Mitsubishi Minicab go?

Mitsubishi doesn't publish a top speed. Dealers and owners report about 50–65 mph for stock kei trucks, and most cruise at 45–55 mph.

Can I import a 2002 Minicab?

Not yet. A kei truck must be 25 years old, counted from the month it was built. A 2002 Minicab becomes eligible in 2027, on its 25th birthday.

How much does a Mitsubishi Minicab truck cost?

Used US Minicabs asked $4,280 to $11,900 in our November 2026 survey (10 trucks).

Is the Mitsubishi Minicab good?

Owners like it for farm work and mud, and one 6-foot owner says it fits well. The downsides they mention: a loud cab, hard-to-reach spark plugs, and fewer trucks and less owner know-how in the US than for a Carry or Hijet.

Are Japanese mini trucks legal in the USA?

Once they are 25 years old they can be imported, but each state decides whether they get road plates: some plate them like any car, some allow them only on slower roads, and some don't plate them at all. Pick your state above to see the rule where you live.

Can I buy a new Mitsubishi Minicab?

Not for US roads. Since February 2014 the Minicab truck has been a Suzuki Carry with a Mitsubishi badge, and a new kei truck can't be plated in most states until it turns 25.

Next step

Found the Minicab you like? Two checks before you pay.

Make sure you can plate it where you live, then take the inspection checklist to the seller.

Check my state ↑Use the checklist ↑