Mitsubishi has done the same, but in a break from the norm, has opted not to introduce a separate nameplate, but rather, simply added an SUV-styled variant to its Xpander MPV family—the Xpander Cross. If that’s not enough, their forward-thinking marketers have given the line-up some breathing room, opting to withdraw the low-riding top-trim GLS Sport in favor of this body-cladded, raised version. This keeps their total number of variants to four (in comparison, Toyota has 9 dizzying variants of its Rush and Avanza combined).

All in all, Mitsubishi’s move makes a whole lot of FGD sense, but the question now is: does it make sense in the real world?

The answer to that question depends entirely on the buyer’s perspective. On one hand, having to pay a P 127,000 premium over the Xpander GLS seems like a lot of money. However, amortized over a 60-month loan term, the difference almost becomes negligible—P 2,116.67 per month). Whether opting for the SUV derivative will help with the resale value is anyone’s guess at this point, but one thing’s for sure: the Xpander Cross does appeal to those who’d prefer a bit of SUV style to their daily driver.

The Xpander Cross resembles the Montero Sport at more than just a passing glance. The sawtooth-like pattern on the grille, the added body cladding, and roof rails all seem to suit the futuristic Dynamic Shield design very well; as do the larger two-tone 17-inch wheels complete with a faux bead lock design. Subjectively, it’s the nicest looking among 7-seater sub-compact SUVs, though admittedly, more work could have been done to hide the bits of body work that stick out beneath the cladding. Once you see them, particularly on the doors, it’s hard to unsee them.

With such a strong, rugged pretense shown by the exterior, it’s disappointing to see Mitsubishi exercise restraint with the Xpander Cross’s interior. Instead of embracing its SUV-fication fully, it gets the very same interior albeit dressed in a classier black-and-brown color scheme. At this price point, you’d start to expect a soft dash topper, at the very least; instead, what you get a hard, but sturdy dashboard. Regardless, at least all the switchgear feels sturdy, and the leather seats is a welcome addition.

Moving on to the second row, the accommodations here are just as good as those at the front. Not only does it offer various recline and sliding adjustments, but the center armrest doubles as a cargo pass through for long objects. Understandably, the third-row seats aren’t as generous, but it’s still easily the best packaged in its class. In addition, families would welcome the nifty underfloor organizer for loose knick-knacks with all rows of seats up (thankfully, the jack and tools can be stored separately in a space on the rear wheel well). Oh, and while the cargo hold isn’t completely flat with the third row folded down, the loading space is way more usable than of its class competitors. Take note though that the second-row seat rails go up when tumbled increasing the possibility of snagging or hitting them during entry or exit.

The added strain on the powertrain aside, the Xpander Cross’s on-road behavior doesn’t differ much from its MPV sibling. Tuned with the regular car owner in mind, the suspension’s softly sprung. Overall, it exhibits a well-mannered ride, absorbing even larger potholes with composure. Couple that with a surprisingly quiet cabin, and you’ve got one great road-trip car right here. It does tend to understeer and exhibit lots of body roll at the limit, but nothing that’ll alarm even the most enthusiastic set. Oh, and the brakes actually bite very well and don’t exhibit any perceptible level of dive.

Without a doubt, Mitsubishi has certainly come up with a great SUV derivative of the Xpander. It blends timeless Filipino sensibilities—comfort, space, refinement, with modern tastes—design, features, safety. However, at P 1.255 million, the Xpander Cross is now most expensive 7-seater sub-compact SUV in the market, and assuming they’re going for volume, could spell trouble for them. With that, the Xpander GLS has become the best balanced for price-sensitive, value-conscious buyers. On the other hand, with Mitsubishi limiting the Xpander Cross to just one variant and two colors—Sunrise Orange and Quartz White Pearl—they themselves seem to realize its niche appeal. If the price premium is no worry—whether cash or financing, this is Mitsubishi’s MPV offering fully realized, especially in terms of design and features. For penny pinchers or value hunters though, this may come across as too much of a stretch.