Things you need to know before buying the Mitsubishi Xpander

The Mitsubishi Xpander is the latest offering from the Japanese giant. Based on the XM concept which was showcased back in 2016 at the Philippines International Motor Show, the Xpander has already grabbed a lot of attention after being launched in Indonesia. Considering the overwhelming response that the Xpander received, Mitsubishi decided to not wait any longer and finally launched it in the Philippines. Since the Xpander is now available in our local market, here are a few things you need to know before buying it.

1- Innovative front design

 

You must have already noticed that the front of the Mitsubishi Xpander showcases an innovative design. It is nothing like any conventional vehicle. There’s the high-mounted sleek DRLs, that merge with the huge chrome-laden front grille which Mitsubishi likes to call as 'Dynamic Shield'. So, the DRLs are located in the place of the headlights. And the headlights have been situated lower down, below the DRLs and just above the narrow front bumper. From a distance, it looks like the headlights are an integral part of the bumper, but they’re not.

The overall front appearance of the Xpander is very attractive and modern. And, perhaps, this could be a problem for some because it feels a bit too much. The front feels very busy and might not be liked and appreciated by everyone.

2- Spacious interior and large boot

The new Mitsubishi Xpander is a large vehicle. It is 4,475 mm long, 1,750 mm wide and, 1,700 mm tall. This resulted in a ton of interior space, which is very important for a 7-seater. Moreover, Mitsubishi has cleverly utilized the space to make the cabin feel much roomier by following its ‘Omotenashi Principle’. This principle gives importance to hospitality. That’s why the second-row seats of the Xpander can slide to create more leg room. There’s also a large armrest which can be folded into the backrest when not used. The second-row seats can be tumbled forward to provide easy access to the third row. The Xpander provides comfort and space for all seven passengers.

The Xpander has got a good amount of boot space. It’s the first vehicle in the segment to have a flat luggage floor. This allows for easy luggage storage. Both the second and third-row seats can be folded down to increase the storage capacity to a massive 1,630 litres.

3- Interior features and quality

Apart from giving a ton of cabin space, Mitsubishi has kept the interior of the Xpander very basic and simple. There’s nothing exciting here. The cabin features a lot of use of plastic. However, it’s of good quality. So, neither does it feel cheap or luxurious. It’s a compromise and falls somewhere in the middle. The steering wheel gets mounted controls for audio and cruise control. Talking about audio, there’s a 2 DIN 6 speaker system.

All-new Xpander also gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system placed at the centre of the dashboard. It offers Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, and Easy Link smartphone connectivity. Other features include 12V power outlets for both the second and third row, roof-mounted air-con vents for the rear passengers.

4- Single engine option

For some unknown reason, Mitsubishi decided to limit the engine options for the Xpander to only one. This massive 7-seater SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder MIVEC petrol engine. It has been tuned in a state to give a max power output of 105 hp at 6,000 revs and generate 141 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 revs. Although it does its job, we'd liked to see more powerful engine options.

As far as the transmission is concerned, the Mitsubishi Xpander is available in both manual and automatic transmission. You can either pick the 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

5- Only front-wheel-drive

Unlike in its competitors, all the power from the engine in the Xpander is sent to the front wheels. There’s no option to go for an RWD, or even an AWD. With a ground clearance of 200 mm, the Xpander sits at a good height and can handle uneven surfaces and get over large obstacles without a fuss. But with only FWD it might just not be that capable when it comes to going off the road. Perhaps, an AWD option would have been upped the game here. Let’s see whether Mitsubishi would bring it in the future or not.

6- Safety features

The Xpander has got Mitsubishi’s proprietary RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) unibody construction. This along with its other safety features like ABS with EBD, Hill Start Assist, Traction control, Vehicle Stability Assist, and two airbags, helped the Xpander to get a 4-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating. That’s pretty commendable, but its rivals - the Toyota Rush and Honda BR-V - have received a 5-star rating.

7- Price and color

The new Mitsubishi Xpander comes with only two color options - red and white. The price of this 7-seater starts from Php 885,000 for the base model and goes all up to Php 1.06 million for the top-end automatic model.

That's all you need to know about the 2018 Xpander. Compare it with its competitors like BR-V and Rush, and then make a wise buying decision.