Hyundai Santamo: the Chariot built under licence

The Hyundai Santamo is the Korean maker’s version of the Mitsubishi Chariot, a small multi-purpose vehicle Mitsubishi built from 1983 to 2003. The Chariot was sold around the world under several names – Space Wagon, Nimbus, Expo and Colt Vista – and it was also built under licence in Asia as the Hyundai Santamo. The source used here describes the Mitsubishi original.

Hyundai Santamo at a glance

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Mitsubishi Chariot, which describes the Hyundai Santamo only as a licensed build. Free photographs of the Hyundai version were not found, so the page keeps the old cover.

History of the Hyundai Santamo

The Chariot was based on the SSW concept car shown at the 23rd Tokyo motor show in 1979, and its name comes from the chariots of the ancient Greek and Roman empires. The first generation ran from February 1983 to May 1991 with a choice of single-cam four-cylinder engines from the 1.6-litre 4G32 to the 2.0-litre 4G63, plus a 1.8-litre 4D65T turbo-diesel from October 1984, driving through a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic. It was based on the Tredia and partly replaced the Galant estate.

Inside, Japanese buyers could have six or seven seats with the rear two rows folding flat; in the six-seater the middle row could be turned around to make a sitting area at the back when the car was parked. The wheelbase was 2,625 mm and the length ranged from 4,295 to 4,485 mm depending on market and equipment, which kept it inside Japanese regulations for compact cars. A 1.8-litre MR Turbo version of 135 PS was sold in Japan from July 1983 until the 1987 model year, and from June 1984 a permanent four-wheel-drive version was offered with the two-litre engine and 110 PS.

In export markets the same car was usually sold as the Mitsubishi Space Wagon, and in Australia as the Nimbus, where it won the 1984 Wheels Car of the Year award in its first year. In North America it was the Dodge and Plymouth Colt Vista, and in Canada the Eagle Vista Wagon. A van version with an extended fibreglass roof was sold in Finland as the Space Van, because vans were exempt from tax there if they reached a minimum cargo height.

The second generation of 1991 grew in wheelbase, length, width and height while staying inside the Japanese compact class. The 4G63 engine replaced the G63B, the turbo-diesel gave way in Japan to a larger 1,997 cc 4D68T, and in 1993 a 2,350 cc 4G64 joined the range with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, including an INVECS four-speed automatic with fuzzy logic in high-end cars. A limited four-wheel-drive turbo model, the Resort Runner GT, produced 230 PS with a manual gearbox and was said to be the fastest three-row vehicle in the world when new.

Design and features

• Licensed build: the Santamo is Hyundai’s licensed version of the Mitsubishi Chariot.
• Flexible interior: six or seven seats with folding rear rows and a swivelling middle row.
• Four-wheel drive: available on the Chariot from June 1984.
• Many names: Space Wagon, Nimbus, Expo, Colt Vista and Santamo.

Hyundai Santamo versions

• Chariot (1983–1991): the first generation with 1.6 to 2.0-litre engines.
• Chariot 4WD (1984): permanent four-wheel drive with the two-litre engine.
• Chariot (1991–2003): the larger second generation with the 2.3-litre option.
• Resort Runner GT: the Japanese four-wheel-drive turbo model of 230 PS.
• Hyundai Santamo: the Korean licensed version.

The Santamo was Hyundai’s small MPV before the Lavita and Matrix. More Hyundai models are in the Hyundai collection.

Video: Hyundai Santamo 2.0 DOHC 16v

Video by Mateusz Halasz on YouTube.

Sources

• Mitsubishi Chariot, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, seating, export names, licensed Santamo