Review - LDV MIFA

Joining the likes of its six-figure battery-electric Mifa 9, the more affordable members of the LDV Mifa family provide a great on-paper value proposition for large families with its seating for up to seven.

Just how good is the latest LDV Mifa, then, and how does it stack up against its fierce rivals in the world of large and practical people-movers? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Check out our list of the best people-movers on sale in Australia here

Pros

• Sleek styling inside & out
• Spacious and practical interior
• Long warranty coverage
• Large boot figures, even with three rows standing

Cons

• Thirsty fuel economy figures
• Unknown long-term reliability and resale data
• No Front parking sensors & surround-view monitor on base model

OnlineAuto Rating 7/10

LDV Mifa Competition

Starting Price: $53,990

OnlineAuto Savings: Enquire now

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the LDV Mifa range start from $53,990 for the entry-level Mifa Mode, and rise to $63,990 for the Mifa Executive and up to $72,990 for the range-topping Mifa Luxe.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by using one of OnlineAuto’s car agents to assist you in finding the best car for you. As one of the leading car buying services in Australia, our team have access to a range of dealerships across the country to help find you the best deal.

LDV Mifa (MODE) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check LDV Mifa car page.

What Features Does the LDV Mifa Have?

The entry-level LDV Mifa Mode comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys, and receives LED head & tail lights, keyless entry & start, leatherette upholstery, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, a 7.0-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay.

Stepping up to the LDV Mifa Executive adds a set of 19-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, two panoramic sunroofs, a powered tailgate with powered sliding doors, wireless smartphone charging, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats and an upgraded eight-speaker sound system.

Finally, the range-topping LDV Mifa Luxe receives leather upholstery with massaging, heated and ventilated front seats, a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row with the same luxuries, ambient lighting package, foot rests in the rear and an upgraded 12-speaker sound system.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

• LED head & tail lights

• Adaptive cruise control

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors

• 7.0-inch instrument cluster

• 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay

• 19-inch alloys (Executive)

• Adaptive cruise control (Executive)

• Powered sliding doors (Executive)

• Powered tailgate (Executive)

• Surround-view monitor (Executive)

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel (Executive)

• Leather upholstery (Luxe)

• Massaging, heated & ventilated front and rear seats (Luxe)

• 12-speaker sound system (Luxe)

Is the LDV Mifa Comfortable to Drive?

The LDV Mifa is perhaps the definition of a user-friendly car to drive, which is a great thing for a family-oriented people mover.

Power comes supplied by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 160kW of power and 360Nm of torque, which powers the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The package is bulky, though, so while the torque figures might look good on paper, the engine has to work pretty hard to get the Mifa off the line and up to speed.

“There’s nothing to get excited about, nor disappointed by - it’s a very vanilla driving experience.”

All up, though, the driving experience on offer in the Mifa ticks all the important boxes that families are looking for. It’s easy to maneuver at low speeds and while parking and the soft suspension hardware keeps things smooth around town.

While the package is undeniably large, it’s no bulkier or more difficult to navigate around town than a large SUV platform.

Having said that, the LDV Mifa makes for a very vanilla yet approachable people-mover experience behind the wheel, and while there’s not too much to get excited by, there’s no major disappointments on offer, either.

While it lacks the refinement of its rivals like the Hyundai Staria and the Kia Carnival, the LDV Mifa is undoubtedly a marked improvement over its predecessor.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The LDV Mifa is not particularly fuel efficient on a mix of town and highway driving, returning combined cycle fuel economy figures of 9.3L per 100km.

This puts it on par with V6 rivals from Hyundai and Kia, though they also offer a far more fuel-efficient turbo-diesel powertrain.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Designed from the ground up as a people-mover, the LDV Mifa has a heap to offer growing families.

The design has taken a very next-gen approach over the previous G10 people mover, with a sleek and modern design up front that offers a heap of practical touches.

The large centre console offers an array of storage areas and looks very premium, even in entry-level form, while the doors either side of the cabin feature a massive storage area for loose items.

Up front, there’s absolutely no issues with headroom, with the cockpit offering a great deal of visibility that makes the package more user-friendly around town.

“Buyers wanting a set of electric sliding doors and boot will have to opt for at least the mid-spec Executive variant.”

For now, LDV offers buyers the choice of a 2-2-3 layout - with two captain’s chairs in the second row - though the company says an eight-seat layout will be offered here in Australia in the very near future.

You’ll also have to lash out extra for the mid-spec Executive variant if you’re looking for a set of electric sliding doors and a powered tailgate.

In its current form, the seven-seat layout offers a massive amount of space in the second row, while space and comfort leave a lot to be desired in the third row, but it’s great for short hops around town.

With the help of another massive panoramic sunroof in the rear, the Mifa’s cabin feels airy and spacious, with a pair of ISOFIX anchors in the second row, and another in the third row of the cabin bringing its total to three.

To finish off strong, the LDV Mifa has a boot capable of swallowing up 466L of cargo with all three rows of seats standing, which expands to 1702L and 2017L with the third and second rows folded, respectively.

Is it Safe?

The LDV Mifa has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 93% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child protection, 73% for pedestrian protection and 90% for its safety assist tech.

As standard, the LDV Mifa comes packaged with front and rear autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, safe exit warnings, lane-keep assistance, lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control and curtain airbags throughout the cabin.

The only downside in terms of safety is the fact you’ll have to opt for the Executive or above to get your hands on a set of front parking sensors or the surround-view camera.

Our Verdict: is the LDV Mifa Worth it?

The latest-gen LDV Mifa is a massive step in the right direction over its predecessor, and provides a heap of value for money in the people-mover segment.

While it’s not the most refined to drive, nor the most fuel-efficient, the sheer amount of equipment included as standard make it very deserving of a spot on your people-mover shortlist, though it falls short of its major rivals like the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria.

If you’re tossing up your best people-mover options, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help get you the best possible price on your next car.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/200,000km warranty

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

3. 9.3L/100km combined cycle fuel economy

4. 466L boot space; 2017L with all seats folded

5. Seven-seat layout; eight-seat variant set to arrive soon