Mitsubishi PH reveals all-new Xpander: a quick look

Mitsubishi has finally unveiled the all-new Expander. We take a close look at it and see why you should be paying attention to it.

The all-new Expander is a 7-seat compact MPV, aimed squarely at a new generation of car buyers upgrading from a B-segment vehicle to a larger one, with a need for more than five seats. This trend isn’t confined to the Philippines, but to countries throughout ASEAN, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and of course the Philippines.

The Xpander is built atop an all-new platform, utilizing a transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive layout with MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle. Power comes from an all-new 1.5 liter MIVEC equipped 4-cylinder engine (codenamed 4A91) that meets the stringent Euro IV emissions standards throughout ASEAN. Output is a modest 105hp and 141 Newton-meters of torque and can be paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The Xpander is built at Mitsubishi Motors Corp’s facility in Bekasi, West Java.

The Xpander is also meant to succeed the Mitsubishi Adventure and Fuzion which have been retired, and replaced with a single, simple platform. The Xpander is not alone in this segment which is composed of the Honda BR-V / Mobilio, the Suzuki Ertiga, the Toyota Avanza and the upcoming Toyota Rush.

The Xpander prides itself by being the biggest in its class, providing unmatched interior space, which is perhaps the single most important factor in this segment. The overall length is at 4,475mm, with an overall width of 1,750mm and an overall height of 1,700mm. The top-spec models come with slightly larger 16-inch alloy wheels and tires. Ground clearance is class-leading at 205mm, again for the top-spec model with slightly larger wheels and tires. The ground clearance is enough for most provincial dirt roads and the odd flash flood, and matches that of the Ford Ecosport.

The wheelbase is a very generous 2,775mm giving it great interior space and roominess, plus ease of ingress and egress to the 3^rd row seats. The long wheelbase also gives it great high-speed stability on the highway. Inside, you get an impressive and again class-leading 2,840mm of interior space front to back, and again, class-leading interior width of 1,411mm. Turning radius is a very tight 5.2 meters, making the Xpander very easy to maneuver in tight parking spaces.

All-in-all, the Xpander weighs in at a surprtisingly light 1,220-1,240kg curb weight which Mitsubishi promises you to feel behind the driver’s seat with peppy performance and amazing fuel efficiency. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines recently concluded official Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Efficiency Testing and the Xpander delivered an impressive 22.9 kilometers per liter on the highway at a steady 80kph drive for the automatic transmission equipped variants, and 21 kilometers per liter for the manual transmission equipped variants. The automatic is surprisingly more fuel efficient than the manual transmission.

The Xpander is also packed with safety features: All variants receive dual front airbags and ABS-EBD brakes, while the top-model GLS Sport A/T also comes with Traction & Stability Controls as well as Hill-Start Assist.

The exterior, particularly the front is an aggressive evolution of Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield Concept design language. It is bold, confident, and different from the safe, generic and bland-looking front fascia of its competitors, making it stand out proudly in the market. Four variants are available: GLX M/T, GLX PLUS A/T, GLS A/T and GLS SPORT A/T, with prices ranging from Php885,000 to Php1,060,000. Deliveries will start in May, with order books now open through Mitsubishi dealerships nationwide.

Have more questions? Watch this space, and don’t forget to check out next week’s Motoring Edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer for a more in-depth look of the Mitsubishi Xpander.