2023 LDV Mifa people mover review

It’s as though LDV doesn’t want people to know about the Mifa people mover. That's a seriously confounding notion because this is arguably the Chinese brand’s best model yet.

The large, family-friendly people-mover is aimed squarely at customers looking at the Kia Carnival and, to a lesser degree, the Hyundai Staria and VW Multivan. It’s a three-row van, with sliding doors and – currently – seven seats. An eight-seater may come soon.

LDV also offers an exorbitantly expensive electric model, but the turbo-petrol one tested here is a far more financially wise option.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing and features
• Safety
• On the road
• Key rivals
• Should I put it on my shortlist?
• Specifications

Pricing and features

LDV has pitched the Mifa in the sweet spot for people movers, with plenty of crossover against a Kia Carnival.

For private buyers, the range kicks off at $53,990 drive-away for the entry-level Mode tested here, before stepping up to Executive ($63,990 drive-away) and Luxe ($72,990 drive-away).

The entry grade comes with strong standard equipment levels: LED lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, and imitation leather seat trim. A plastic steering wheel dims the vibe, but the cabin otherwise has a reasonably nice feel.

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Executive models seem the smartest buy, with dual electric sliding side doors, electric tailgate, surround-view cameras, parking sensors at both ends, 19-inch wheels and adaptive headlights.

The Luxe adds leather seat trim, driver’s seat memory settings, colour-adjustable ambient lighting and a 12-speaker sound system. Nice, but maybe not worth nine grand more.

All grades have a seven-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs. In the base model these are manually adjusted, but choose the Executive or Luxe and they have electric sliding adjustment, plus heating and cooling functions, a recliner, and a massage function (that has eight modes on the Luxe).

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Compared with rivals, the Mifa’s seating arrangement is a bit fiddly in terms of third-row access, but at least there’s a gangway between the captain’s chairs.

The seating arrangement also incorporates ISOFIX points with top tether attachments both second row seats and one in the third row. There are at least two USB ports per row, too, and all grades have rear-seat ventilation plus full LED interior lighting too.

Compared with rivals, the Mifa’s seating arrangement is a bit fiddly in terms of third-row access, but at least there’s a gangway between the captain’s chairs.

And while the claimed boot capacity of 466L with all seats up seems big, that’s not the case when the third row is slid all the way back.

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If you lower that rear bench, you have a claimed 1702L to play with, but it’s not as tidy a solution as in the Kia, which has a huge well for the seats to fold into the floor.

Just keep in mind that the payload for all grades is 550kg – far less than rivals. It could severely limit the usability of this as a family car.

Towing is rated at 750kg unbraked, 2000kg braked.

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Safety

The Mifa was awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2022, so it ticks that box for family buyers or fleet customers.

Standard-fit gear includes forward autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, plus rear AEB along with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, safe exit warning, and adaptive cruise control.

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The base model has a reversing camera with rear parking sensors, but the Executive and Luxe also receive front parking sensors and a surround-view camera system, which ought to be standard for a family-focused vehicle like this.

A total of seven airbags comprise dual front, front-centre, front side and full-length curtain airbags.

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On the road

First off, you don’t need to press a button to start it. Like an EV, it simply kicks into life when you sit and put your foot on the brake pedal. Turning it off? You need to hit a button on the infotainment screen.

My short drive loop in Orange in NSW’s central west highlighted some impressive traits.

Firstly, the ride comfort, which is very well suited to a big people mover like this. It dealt with potholes and pockmarks respectably, with a soft edge to the suspension giving it a ‘comfort-focused cruiser’ feel.

The steering is also good; it’s light and easy to judge, making for simpler parking manoeuvres than you might expect for such a big bus.

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It also has reassuring weight at higher speeds.

With one adult on board, the turbo-petrol engine is up for the task but whether it’s ready for a full load might be up for debate. It’s perky and gets away from a standstill well, and it’s pretty quiet under load too. This engine also feels more energetic than the Carnival’s big V6, which really likes a rev.

The eight-speed Aisin auto transmission also seemed to be on its game, though once more, a loaded van may test its smarts more than I could on this drive.

Be aware, though, that it has a ‘Mercedes-like’ steering column-mounted gear stalk selector. The other (left) stalk is for wipers and indicators, and headlights are operated via the touchscreen.

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Key rivals

The biggest-selling, best alternative is the eight-seat Kia Carnival, which is more practical, and has (for now) a cheaper petrol V6, or turbo-diesel power for more effortless performance.

A Hyundai Staria offers big value and also comes with a V6 petrol but can also be had with a turbo-diesel and all-wheel drive, which is unique in the segment. So is its appearance, which isn’t for everyone.

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

If you want a people mover that prioritises passenger space over boot usability, the LDV Mifa stands out as a strong option versus the segment leader.

There’s a lot to like, and the mid-spec Executive stacks up particularly well from a value perspective.

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