Suzuki Ertiga vs Mitsubishi Xpander: A comparison between the rookie and the veteran

The MPV craze as you already know has been in full swing for a couple of years now and recently, it looks like the competition has indeed ramped up with the addition of the Mitsubishi Xpander to the fray. On the other hand, there’s also the veteran Ertiga which had a recent facelift and has been going really strong in recent months as evident from Suzuki Philippines' latest performance reports.

So how do these two excellent MPVs fair against each other? Let us find out in our in-depth Ertiga vs Xpander comparo articles!

Mitsubishi Xpander 2018/2019 Philippines Review & Road Test || Price, Specs, Buying advice & More

Inside the Mitsubishi Xpander, the way Mitsubishi designed the dashboard will always catch your eye. It is elegant and it has everything a driver needs within easy reach. The centerpiece on the Xpander is a 7-inch LCD screen that comes with AM/FM radio, MP3, AUX, USB, iPod, Bluetooth connectivity, and navigation.

With regards to seats, the Xpander has fabric all around and they are pretty comfortable. Generous too with legroom and headroom.

Here's the really neat and well designed front cabin of the Xpander

Here's the 2019 Ertiga's front cabin. Check out the fancy faux wood on that dash

As for the Suzuki Ertiga, the regular variants have a beige looking interior which is known to catch stains easily. Regardless of that, the seating is pretty comfortable but the driving position is rather on the high side. Knee room and headroom for the third and second row are pretty good though.

If we have to make a statement about the Ertiga’s interior styling, the Black Edition interior provides the vehicle tons and tons of personality. It’s sleek, much more stain-resistant and looks premium. That comes with additional costs but for us, the Black Edition Ertiga is worth it alone for the added stain resistance.

With the Ertiga’s on-board tech, the large 10-inch touchscreen provides better visibility plus it can do what the one on the Xpander can except for the iPod compatibility part. It also has navigation and Bluetooth or USB connectivity. Some people who have owned the Ertiga for quite a while now say that the touchscreen unit can be a bit laggy at times.

A cutout view of the 2019 Suzuki Ertiga highlighting the 2nd and 3rd row seats

Here are the 2nd row and third-row seats on the 2019 Mitsubishi Xpander

>>> Related: 

• Which Suzuki Ertiga should you buy? [Philkotse Guide]
• Which Mitsubishi Xpander should you buy? [Philkotse Guide]

Just at a glance at the table above, we can plainly see that the Mitsubishi Xpander 2019 is a bit wider and higher. Much more significant though is the obvious length advantage of the Mitsubishi made MPV. This in turn provides it with a larger maximum cargo volume at 1,632 liters which you can get if you fold down the rearmost row of seats.

As for the Ertiga, it does get a decent 803 liters when folding down the third row. So if you want an MPV that can haul more, go for the Xpander.

2019 Suzuki Ertiga is a subtle and elegant looking MPV that won't break your bank account

When it comes to looks, the Xpander is the salt to the Ertiga’s pepper. Polar opposites if you will.

The Xpander when viewed from the front, looks very much like its larger Strada and Montero Sports brothers. It sports a very futuristic, edgy, macho look whereas the Ertiga is more sedate, refined, and some even say…elegant.

Mitsubishi Xpander really looks like a mini Montero Sport

As we always say with regards to styling though, that’s all up to the buyer. But if we have to choose, it would be the Xpander because of its larger 16-inch wheels. And of course, there’s the huge maximum cargo space.

>>> More car comparisons for your reference: 

• Mitsubishi Xpander vs Toyota Rush
• Mitsubishi Xpander MPV vs Mazda CX-5 crossover

Both the Xpander and the Ertiga as of their latest versions each has only one engine option. For the Xpander, there’s the 1.5 L 4A91 Mivec Inline-4 gasoline engine which makes a respectable 103 horsepower and 141 nm of torque. You can either have a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual.

1.5 L 4A91 Mivec Inline-4 gasoline is equipped under the hood of the Xpander 2019

As for the Suzuki Ertiga 2019, it gets the 1.5-liter K15B Inline-4 engine. It also has the same transmission choices, a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The similarities between the two don’t stop there.

2019 Ertiga is armed with the 1.5-liter K15B Inline-4 engine

Both vehicles send power to their front wheels, and have similar sets of suspensions; MacPherson Struts for the front and Torsion Beams for the rear. As for other parts that will affect driving performance, the only thing that differs between the two top of the line variants is the Xpander GLS Sport’s set of larger 16-inch wheels.

The Ertiga GLX, on the other hand, has 15-inch wheels. This gives the Xpander a slight advantage when it comes to appearance, cornering, grip, and traction but also larger tires do have a negative effect on fuel consumption and road noise.

>>> Expert review for each SUV can be found at:

• Mitsubishi Xpander Philippines Review
• Suzuki Ertiga Philippines reviews

Based on their respective spec sheets, the Ertiga GLX and the Xpander GLS Sport has around the same amount of safety equipment. Both vehicles have ISOFIX tethers for child seating, rear parking sensors, dual front airbags, anti-lock braking systems, and electronic brake distribution.

The pricier Xpander has a little bit more in terms of driver-assist technologies like stability control, cruise control, and hill start assist.

The reverse parking sensor of 2019 Ertiga

In the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program, it appears that the Mitsubishi MPV has actually done quite well. The Xpander was awarded 14.22 out of 16 in the front impact adult protection category, 13.92 out of 16 for side-impact adult protection, and a perfect 8 for side-impact child protection. Overall, the Xpander scored 4 out of five stars.

Mitsubishi Xpander gets 4-star by the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program

On the other hand, the Ertiga’s 2019 facelifted variant is yet to be rated by the ASEAN NCAP so that’s one thing about the Suzuki made MPV to watch out for.

>>> Catch up with the updated Mitsubishi Xpander price list with monthly payment

>>> Check our Suzuki Ertiga price list with price installment details

When it comes to pricing, these two very similar vehicles aren’t similar at all. The Ertiga has more variants and these are also markedly much more affordable than the variants of the Xpander. More variants will definitely mean much more flexibility in the part of a buyer.

But as with any other vehicle we have compared before, you tend to get what you pay for and this time, it’s undoubtedly the Xpander’s cargo capacity, driver-assist technologies, and the very modern exterior styling.

So which compact MPV do you prefer?

So, the conservatively styled Ertiga or the loud, macho and modern Xpander?

Keep posted at Philkotse.com for more automotive news, expert car reviews and comparison articles.