I was thinking today about cars that I liked during my childhood, and like now, it was always something quirky, offbeat, and practical. The first 1992-1995 Expo LRV (also known as RVR, Plymouth Colt Vista or Eagle Summit Wagon) was one my favorites back then. A neighbor had a white one back then and it always caught my eye; looking somewhat disproportional and even futuristic. What's not to love; small size, good fuel economy, loads of room, and very practical with the side sliding door. It doesn't seem like they were good sellers, probably due to a high price and the minivan image, and the introduction of similar sized crossover SUV's like the RAV4 and CR-V didn't do it any favors.
These mini-minivans were always intriguing. I've kept an eye out for any for sale in good shape, but they're rare. Back in 2002, I managed to convince my equally eccentric ex-boyfriend to buy a 1990 Nissan Axxess with the very limited budget he had. We loved that van, and were asked a lot by random folks wanted to know where to get one. That one had dual sliding doors and even AWD.
There's nothing quite similar on the market; the Mazda5 is much bigger, and the Kia Rondo looks like a spiritual successor to the Expo, but it's only sold in Canada
Reflecting back on Mitsubishi's history, it was a fun and unique addition to their lineup back then