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MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON (2003)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 68 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£2,397

£200/month

MOT Pass Rate

66%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£315

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 18-32

1997cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

66% pass rate, £2397/year to run. 16 points below average.

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Petrol1997cc23 years old68 tests109k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1997cc)

~36 mpg

£1,327
Road Tax

Based on 1997cc

£315
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700
Total per year£2,397
Per month£200/mo
Per week£46/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

66% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 16 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the MITSUBISHI brand average of 80%.

At 23 years old, 66% of MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGONs from 2003 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 68 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 109,430 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2003 cars390th of 445(top 88%)
Rank among MITSUBISHI models371th of 408(top 91%)
vs national average-16%(82% avg)
vs 2003 cars average-6%(72% avg)
vs MITSUBISHI average-14%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

109,430

Average miles

vs

170,200

Expected for age

The average 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON has 109,430 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 170,200 miles for a 23-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 1995 model with a 96% MOT pass rate, while the 2002 model has the lowest at 61%. The 2003 sits between the two at 66%.

MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
200366%68109,430 mi
200261%83111,466 mi
199775%40134,374 mi
199596%10097,751 mi

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About the 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON

The 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON is a family car with a 1997cc petrol engine. 68 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 88% of 2003 cars for MOT pass rates.

With an average of 109,430 miles at 23 years old, MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON Fuel Costs

The 1997cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,327 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,397 200/month), broken down as £1327 fuel, £315 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 66% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON Reliability Trend

Older MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGONs tend to have better MOT pass rates than newer ones, with an average decline of 33 percentage points across model years.

Buying a Used 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON

At 23 years old, the MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 1995 model has the highest pass rate at 96%. Note: with only 68 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Timing Chain / Belt

Watch out

At 23 years old, check whether the timing belt has been replaced (typically due every 5-7 years or 60,000-100,000 miles). A snapped belt can destroy the engine.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Clutch Wear

Watch out

With an average of 109k miles, clutch replacement may be due (typical lifespan 60,000-100,000 miles). Budget £400-£800 for a new clutch kit.

Brake Discs and Pads

Medium risk

High-mileage cars often need brake disc replacement, not just pads. A full set of discs and pads costs £200-£500 per axle.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 66% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2003 MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
MITSUBISHI SPACE WAGON(2003)66%£1327£315Grp 18-32£2397
MINI MINI(2005)71%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£570
FORD FOCUS(2005)71%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£570
TOYOTA COROLLA(2005)76%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£570
RENAULT CLIO(2005)67%£1327£135Grp 18-32£2217-£180

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Mitsubishi Models

Explore other Mitsubishi cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

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