2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Review | Philkotse Philippines

As we enter 2023, one of the segments that should be interesting to look forward to is the seven-seater MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) market. This year, Nissan introduced the Livina, while Hyundai unveiled the Stargazer. Toyota also has updated the Avanza, coming with a more modern appeal.

2023 Mitsubishi Xpander

Considered the benchmark of the MPV market by many, the Mitsubishi Xpander has a lot of work to do to keep its prestigious status. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) is competing in the segment with the facelifted version of the Xpander, which was launched earlier this year to keep it afloat in the competition.

Read on to find out whether we think that the seven-seater Xpander still has what it takes to be at the top of the food chain.
 

The Japanese MPV wowed us with its new front fascia when the facelifted Mitsubishi Xpander made its Philippine debut. Although it retains the brand's Dynamic Shield, the fascia has been revised to look modern and more stylish.

New T-shaped headlights

The piano black grille combined with the chrome pieces that make up the Dynamic Shield design highlights the front end. It also replaced the bulky headlights design of the non-facelift version with a T-shaped finish, with the GLX using halogens while top-spec GLS benefits from LEDs.

To the sides, the MPV is fitted with standard 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels. I'm not usually a fan of ambitious-looking wheel designs, especially for mass-market car models. But for this one, I find that the Mitsubishi design team did a good job making the shuriken-like design work.

17-inch two-tone alloys

Perhaps the reason why it works is that the Xpander is predominantly shaped with a lot of sharp exterior design cues. From the side profile alone, you will see that it has sharp character lines, one between the wheel wells and the other running from the door handles to the new taillights. I say new as the facelift package also brought reworked taillights now that feature a T-shape finish. It is a good design continuity from the T-shaped headlights at the front. 

Overall, Mitsubishi managed to future-proof the Xpander's exterior without making a significant amount of changes. The Hyundai Stargazer is one competition that appears to be attracting car buyers by design so I find that the arrival of the facelifted Xpander timely.

Once again, I commend the design team for the reworked cabin layout. If the non-facelift version gave me a traditional MPV interior feel, this new one offers a more upscale ambiance, which is perfect for a car that is fighting to keep its top gun status.

New dashboard layout

The interior now has more soft cushioning on the door panels and dashboard, offsetting the use of hard plastics. Speaking of the dashboard, it has been revised to sport what Mitsubishi calls the 'Horizontal Axis' design. Also, the new fabric seats come with diamond patterns for a more appealing look. 

In terms of space, the room remains the same as the one in the previous model. So if you sat in the old one, that is what you can expect with this one as well. The cabin space shouldn't be much of a problem for first and second-row passengers. However, passengers standing at 5'7 should start to feel restricted when sitting on the third row.

It now has a center armrest

Comfort-wise, the cushioning on all three rows is commendable. Even on long road trips, I don't mind sitting inside the Xpander for hours. I hardly felt any noticeable body rolls during my time with the car, which I believe is brought about by the improved suspension tuned for comfort.

Mitsubishi also thought of improving the practicality of the Xpander. The MPV is now equipped with a center armrest on the second row, capable of storing up to two bottles. Meanwhile, the new front armrest gets two charging outlets comprised of Type A and Type C ports.

The seven-inch infotainment touchscreen is carried over to this current version. But it has been updated to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which should help expand the reach of the MPV in the market. If you ask me, the head unit is responsive and easy to use. It also has physical buttons for easier navigation.

7-inch touchscreen

With this top-of-the-line Xpander GLS variant, you will get six speakers with two tweeters. It is also available with variant-exclusive features such as a white-lit high-contrast instrument meter display and an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold. For the GLX variants, a 4-speaker sound system is installed.

In terms of safety, the Xpander GLS is equipped with driver and front passenger SRS airbags, active stability control, traction control, and a hill start assist (HSA). As standard, the vehicle also comes with a reverse camera for easier parking maneuvers.

All seats come with a 3 pt. ELR with pre-tensioner

With the Hyundai Stargazer hosting Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features such as Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), among others, the Xpander does have a strong competitor around the corner. An ADAS is still considered a unique equipment in the segment so it will be interesting to see how it fares next year.

Regardless, the Xpander felt sure-footed enough to make me feel safe even when tackling wet roads. It is paired with Brake Assist (BA), making sure I had enough stopping power on the road. The HSA safety feature was also a joy to use, especially in situations when the MPV was at full capacity.

Unlike the exterior and interior, the engine department didn't come with huge updates. The Mitsubishi MPV is still powered by the same 1.5-liter inline-4 MIVEC gasoline engine capable of generating 103 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque.

1.5-liter MIVEC engine

The PH-spec Xpander didn't receive a continuously variable transmission (CVT) similar to the one in Indonesia where MMPC sources the vehicle. Instead, we get a four-speed automatic transmission, with the base GLX variant using a 5-speed manual transmission.

My first thought driving the updated Xpander is it felt very straightforward. The steering wasn't too heavy or light, and the power delivery wasn't too potent or lacking. If I have to interpret the experience differently, the MPV offers a not-so-dramatic drive that will just take you from point A to point B.

The Xpander is now available with an electronic parking brake

And what I've come to realize is that these driving characteristics are ideal for a vehicle made to haul seven people safely and comfortably. I'm not saying that the Xpander didn't give me the confidence to drive spiritedly. But it felt like the car was discouraging me to do so – for all the right reasons I reckon.

Complementing those characteristics are the minimal body rolls, as mentioned earlier, and good NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). Although, I think that the suspension can be further improved when handling rough roads as bumps can be slightly felt inside. After all, MPVs are designed to be the go-to people haulers.

In city driving, the Mitsubishi Xpander managed to return 8.3 km/l. During my tests, I was the only one in the vehicle, with the aircon settings set to low. So in full passenger capacity with loads of cargo, one can expect even lower fuel efficiency numbers.

The GLS has an exclusive instrument cluster

Meanwhile, the MPV posted 17.3 km/l on the highway while driving at an average speed of 80 km/h. This fuel eco run included traversing along the SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) and Skyway. It could've been improved if I was driving on more open expressways as I was slightly experiencing the Christmas rush along the expressways in the Metro.

From the exterior to the interior changes, I believe that we can all agree that the Mitsubishi did a good job making the Xpander more modern. In turn, the Mitsubishi MPV gains the confidence to go at its rivals a full head of steam.

Topping the segment since 2018

In the safety department, the Xpander might lose some potential buyers against the Stargazer due to some favoring the latter's unique ADAS. But overall, I still think that the Xpander has what it takes to top the local MPV market. It has the design, functionality, practicality, and drive for achieving that benchmark status.

This Mitsubishi Xpander GLS AT is priced at Php 1,180,000, which is Php 38,000 less than the top-spec Stargazer GLS Premium. It is also Php 29,000 less than the flagship model of its twin, the Nissan Livina.