Mitsubishi Xpander 2020 Philippines Review: Xciting Adventure

When the Mitsubishi Xpander was revealed early last year, people were quite skeptical of how it will do in the market. The Xpander’s appearance in concept form and release pictures was polarizing, to say the least, but it offered a unique take and design on the conventional family car.

It is more compact than a standard MPV yet can still seat seven people in relative ease. Upon the Xpander's launch, Mitsubishi likely heaved a sigh of relief as the market readily embraced the Xpander, proof of which shows in its continued sales.

Will the 2020 Xpander manage to build on this early success? Read on the full-scale Mitsubishi Xpander 2020 Philippines Review from Philkotse.com to learn more about this Xciting family car and find the answer.

The Xpander turned a lot of heads when it was first released

>>> Latest update: 2021 Mitsubishi Xpander: Expectations and what we know so far

Showcasing Mitsubishi’s latest corporate design philosophy, the 2020 Mitsubishi Xpander exterior is unlike any other MPV that came before. The facia showcases the Dynamic Shield Design, implementing it quite differently from its stablemates.

For starters, the headlamps are located at the bottom half of the face, integrated into the front bumpers, while the lights right below the hood are daytime running lamps. The profile features squared-off fenders, while the monotony of the high roofline is broken by a prominent crease that runs from front to back. The Xpander rides on 16-inch alloys, providing a good amount of grip that keeps it planted to the ground.

Mitsubishi took its knowledge of designing striking SUVs and applied that philosophy to the Xpander

If the front won’t seem out of place in an episode of Battlestar Galactica, it is at the rear that Mitsubishi flexes its design muscle. The L-shaped taillights that tie the rear hatch to the roof spoiler work really well, and unlike the Montero Sport does not feature tail lights that look like someone crying blood.

All in all, there is nothing to find fault with the Mitsubishi Xpander exterior: it's fresh, oddly sporty-looking and helps it stand out in a sea of crossovers and MPVs.

Mitsubishi Plant: Xpander Factory Tour

In stark contrast to the exterior, the 2020 Mitsubishi Xpander interior is a textbook study in restraint and quality ergonomics. Dashboard controls are logically placed, housed in a beautiful center stack. I have my reservations about the piano-black inserts though, especially surrounding the steering wheel and the shifter, areas that my oily hands touch quite often; the sweeping dashboard and black gauges contrasting with the white, illuminated font mostly make up for it.

The door panels are also slightly padded to add a bit of flair, while the benefits of a chambered armrest can never be overstated. I wouldn’t bother raving about the 7-inch touchscreen; Mitsubishi boasts of its built-in navigation, but what would have been better is either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration, which the Mitsubishi Xpander sadly does not have.

The dashboard controls are logically placed, housed in a beautiful center stack

Space is also quite adequate for both front and rear occupants, with the seats properly sculpted to support my backside and offering ample knee room. Getting in and out of the car is easy with the tall doors opening wide, and the rear hatch reveals enough room for a week’s worth of groceries.

The third-row seats fold nearly flat, unleashing even more space for out of town road trips. Tumbling the second-row seats forward puts you into carrier mode, presenting the Xpander's full cargo-carrying capability. Mitsubishi has never been known for a flawless fit and finishes however; exposed screws, metal parts, brackets and loose panels still abound inside, but all in all, it's a good effort on their part.

You can achieve truck-like levels of space when you fold the rear seats down

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Under the hood is a 1.5-liter 4A91 4-cylinder with dual overhead cams and variable valve timing, capable of 105 hp and 141 Nm of torque. Power is transferred to the front wheels via a seemingly archaic 4-speed automatic transmission, launching the Xpander from 0 to 100 kph in 14 seconds.

It certainly won't kick up any asphalt bits but at least your wallet will be happy, with frugal economy figures of 9 km/l in moderately heavy city traffic. Power is sufficient for its intended purpose, which does not include an impromptu drag race at the stoplight.

You won't burn tracks with the 2020 Mitsubishi Xpander, but your wallet will be plenty happy

Pressing the engine start button greets you with the MIVEC's signature ignition sound, announcing to the world that you have a Mitsubishi on your hands. Again, the 4-speed automatic can never hold a candle against more advanced CVT models, but for some people, that may actually be a good thing; there's no droning sound typical of CVTs during highway cruises, and you can actually feel the mechanicals doing their job under your feet.

This bodes well for the Mitsubishi Xpander 2020, offering a more engaging drive in and around town.Thanks to the comfort-tuned MacPherson struts up front and torsion beam suspension at the rear, everyday Manila traffic and subpar road surfaces are easier to tolerate.

Safety features on the Xpander leave something to be desired, though. Sure, it offers a standard kit of cruise and traction control, antilock brakes (though you get drum brakes at the back instead of more efficient discs), electronic brakeforce distribution, back-up cameras, and ISOFIX anchor, but the dual front airbags can be quite a letdown. 

There's also a lack of driving aids such as lane-keep assist, parking assist or front collision warning. Considering that the 2020 Xpander is aimed at families, Mitsubishi could have gone all-out safety was concerned.

The Mitsubishi Xpander receives 4-star for the ASEAN crash test

>>> Refer to our Cars for sale section if you are looking for more affordable options.

There's no doubt that the Mitsubishi Xpander 2020 has been designed for the Filipino family. It seats seven occupants, has a frugal yet adequately powered engine, a versatile interior, all while being fairly affordable for the regular car buyer.

It may not be the class leader in terms of infotainment, safety and fit and finish, but it nevertheless offers a compelling value proposition, and could very well be following in the footsteps of the venerable Adventure AUV that came before it.

The 2020 Mitsubishi Xpander offers quite a compelling value proposition

>>> Keep posted on Philkotse.com for the more full-scale car review by our experts.