Approximately six months ago, Mitsubishi introduced the Xpander, a new-generation MPV that blends the best attributes of a traditional people carrier with that of an SUV. As the Philippines’s fastest growing segment volume-wise, it’s curious as to why it took a while for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines to come up with a proper shakedown for its new offering, round-the-block test drives notwithstanding.

Typically done a week after a product launch, Mitsubishi’s ride-and-drive program hit a snag when Filipinos simply snapped these babies up. Wait lists were long and supply was short; there, it seems, is hunger for a slick-styled and well-packaged MPV that carries the three-diamond badge. But now that we’ve extensively driven one on a road trip from Manila to Bataan via Subic, here’s word to those who bought an Xpander or are waiting to get theirs: you’ve made the right choice.



Contenders in the small MPV/SUV category are normally seen as design and/or engineering compromises (yes, we’re looking at you, Toyota Rush), but the Xpander bucks that trend.

Like the Montero Sport, the Xpander looks like a car from the future. The long roofline says it’s an MPV, but the angular styling works so well that it’ll pass for a sporty wagon. The greenhouse is quite generous in relation to the metal panels and yet, the strong creases does the job of leveling out the proportions. The front-end works the best here with its second-generation Dynamic Shield design and bumper-embedded headlights. The decision to outfit 16-inch alloy wheels on all but the base GLX is brilliant as does the high-set L-shaped LED taillights.



Looking for weaknesses to the Xpander’s exterior design is quite hard and in as so far as we’re concerned, they’re only limited to two things: the bee-sting antenna (a shark’s fin antenna would have been nicer) and the over-the-top body kit (thankfully, it’s only standard on the GLS Sport).

Moving inside, the Xpander shows tasteful restraint in its cockpit design. There are swatches of high-gloss piano black accents and silver carbon fiber-like trim, but the overall vibe remains quite somber. Still, kudos for providing a driver-focused, clean layout with well-marked controls. Given its price point, soft-touch materials are a rarity, but thanks to dipping into the Mitsubishi corporate parts bin, the gauges and switchgear all feel sturdy and operate with a nice, tactile feel. That said, this particular GLS unit we tested had a loose front passenger seat. After every adjustment, it required a rocking motion to lock it in place.



The minor annoyance with the fidgety seat aside, the Xpander scores well in both ergonomics and packaging. With a tilt/telescopic steering wheel and a driver’s seat that moves six ways, getting comfy behind the wheel is very easy. The seats themselves are also well-bolstered and suitable even for long driving stints. The second-row seats are just as good. Not only does it offer various recline adjustments, but it’s got a center armrest too that doubles as a cargo pass through for long objects. Understandably, the third-row seats aren’t as generous, but Mitsubishi did manage to bake in some ingenuity as well. Getting in or out is easy thanks to the extra-wide rear doors (540-mm opening) but add to that a 60/40 split-sliding second row and you’ve got the best packaged choice in its class.

On paper, nothing stands out with the Xpander’s specifications. Like any other small MPV/SUV in its class, it’s powered by a small displacement gasoline engine fitted onto a chassis with a MacPherson Strut at the front and Torsion Beam axle at the back. What the specs don’t tell you is how Mitsubishi has come up with an MPV that’s well-suited for the everyday driver.



Tuned with the regular car owner in mind, the Xpander rides on a softly sprung suspension. Because of this, it exhibits a ride like no other in its class. With three passengers to a car, it’s very supple, absorbing even larger ruts with composure. Couple that with a surprisingly quiet cabin and you’ve got one great road-trip car right here. Naturally, there’s a bit of a trade-off with this suspension setup and in this case, it may not please the enthusiastic set. It easily meanders whenever it’s hit with a gust of wind or the wake of an overtaking car. Body roll is also fairly abundant at the limit.

The accompanying 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine also does the job well of pulling around the Xpander’s 1,240-kilogram frame. Overall, there’s a strong sense of urgency together with a hushed, refined tone. However, overtaking maneuvers must be planned well as the powertrain is peaky and easily strained. Thankfully, the 4-speed automatic is always ready to boogie. Despite looking archaic on paper, it downshifts at a moment’s notice keeping the engine singing happily. Cruise control is standard too and using that extensively results in a 14.28 km/L figure (average speed of 60 km/h).



This November, Mitsubishi has announced a P 70,000 price hike for the Xpander. This means that the entry-level GLX M/T now starts at P 955,000 (from P 885,000), topping out at P 1,130,000 for the GLS Sport (from P 1,060,000). Despite the news though, it’s still mid-pack in terms of pricing while still keeping a solid list of standard features. The only gripe is that stability control only comes with the GLS Sport.

At a glance, Mitsubishi may have been caught in a quandary given its big-name competitors both have a small MPV and a small SUV offering in their line-up. In reality though, this has simply resulted in their rivals coming up with vehicles which are a compromise in design, in engineering, or in both in a bid to segment their buyers into one of two possible choices. By putting all their know-how into one vehicle that blends MPV sensibilities with SUV characteristics, the Xpander comes across as the segment’s most thought-of package. Here, the waiting lists are justified and the hype is most definitely real.