The competition within the compact MPV segment in the Philippines is getting more competitive with new model launches as well as upcoming players. The introduction of new MPVs in the market is good for consumers as car buyers have more vehicles to choose from.
Nissan is among the car brands in the country that sees the potential of the MPV market. Afterall, most Filipinos love to travel in groups, which means that having a value-for-money seven-seater vehicle within its local lineup makes sense. This is why it has brought in the Nissan Livina, a seven-seater MPV based on the pre-facelift or pre-refreshed Mitsubishi Xpander.
Nissan and Mitsubishi are part of a French-Japanese conglomerate that aims to reduce costs in vehicle development. The said union is formally known as the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
The Alliance is the reason why the Livina looks almost the same as the Xpander. While it is based on Mitsubishi’s MPV, Nissan still did its best to make the Livina its very own by integrating subtle yet distinctive design tweaks.
The Livina’s front comes with a different look as compared to the Xpander due to Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille. The Nissan Livina is fitted with halogen headlights as standard, and it also comes with daytime running lights except for the entry-level E variant. All Nissan Livina in the Philippines also has fog lights with the exemption for the base trim.
Turning to the side, the Livina looks a lot like the Xpander. It has the same silhouette that can instantly remind you of Mitsubishi’s MPV. But, the Livina has a different wheel design as well as a revised set of character lines.
The rear gives more design reminiscent of the 2018 Mitsubishi Xpander. In fact, you can even mistakenly identify the Livina as the Xpander if the brand’s badge is covered. It has the same taillight housing design but Nissan revised the LED graphic, which doesn’t extend upwards. Instead, it forms a V-shaped graphic that somehow matches the one you see in the Nissan Almera.
2023 Nissan Livina Philkotse Quick Look
If the exterior reminds you of the Xpander, wait until you get inside the Nissan Livina. At first glance, individuals familiar with the Mitsubishi’s MPV wouldn’t miss spotting that the Livina comes with the same interior layout as the pre-refreshed Xpander.
The dashboard comes with the same design layout as the one you can see on the 2018 Mitsubishi Xpander. Everything is taken from the Mitsubishi MPV aside from the dark wood accents, and the touchscreen interface that looks dated compared to the Livina’s current rivals.
The Nissan Livina’s touchscreen doesn’t come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In comparison, the current Mitsubishi Xpander does come with the said smartphone connectivity feature as standard.
The 2023 Nissan Livina is equipped with the same 1.5-liter gasoline engine fitted on the Mitsubishi Xpander that puts out 104 hp and 141 Nm of torque. Transmission options also do come with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.
In terms of pricing, the Nissan Livina is priced closely to the current Mitsubishi Xpander offered in the Philippines. However, the top-spec Livina VL AT retails at a higher price tag compared to the top-of-the-line Xpander GLS AT.
On the other hand, the Livina comes with a lower starting price of Php 1,029,000 compared to the Mitsubishi MPV that’s priced at Php 1,050,000.
Nissan Livina Variants & Prices:
Livina E MT - Php 1,029,000
Livina EL AT - Php 1,109,000
Livina VE AT - Php 1,149,000
Livina VL AT - Php 1,209,000
Mitsubishi Xpander Variants & Prices:
Xpander GLX MT - Php 1,050,000
Xpander GLX AT - Php 1,110,000
Xpander GLS AT - Php 1,180,000
That said, which MPV do you prefer? Will you choose the Nissan Livina or the Mitsubishi Xpander? Or are you leaning more towards other MPVs offered in the Philippines? Or, on the other hand, are you waiting for another MPV that’s about to arrive in the local market that goes by the name of Stargazer? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.