WHY THE XPANDER CROSS KEEPS DELIVERING THE BIG NUMBERS FOR MITSUBISHI PH

Mitsubishi Motors is on a roll lately, but nobody seems to be taking notice. The brand has solely cemented itself as the number two best-selling manufacturer in the country and the latest report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines (CAMPI) shows Mitsubishi posting a hugely impressive sales run of 5,097 units in January, 5,706 units in February, a hugely impressive 7,194 units in March and 5,675 units in April. And it’s best-selling model? Surprisingly, it wasn’t the Mirage B-segment compact vehicle, but the Xpander and Xpander Cross compact MPVs. Now THAT is a real revelation, an affirmative sign that the compact MPV is slowly becoming the most hotly-contested and thus most important segment in the local private passenger automotive market.
And with fresh blood entering the compact MPV market, Mitsubishi has upgraded the Xpander Cross with a 2023 model that features many seemingly minor improvements that deliver far greater results than the sum of its parts combined.

First are the looks. The previous Xpander Cross looked like a ‘butched’ up version of the clean-looking original Xpander with its tacky add-ons that were meant to mimic a SUV’s boldness and rough terrain conquering ability. It looked very aftermarket and amateurish. The latest 2023 model looks a tad more cohesive and far less tacky.
Next up is the interior. The interior takes cues from more upscale models: that steering wheel form the Montero Sport, a new eight-inch digital instrument cluster, an infotainment system with a seven-inch screen that is less finicky and works better, more seamlessly than its predecessor with its standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a stylish and sophisticated digital climate control system. There’s a hidden rear storage shelf on the floor of the trunk behind the third row seats, and also a slide-out tray underneath the front seats for more storage. Leather interior is fitted, as well. And there are both Type A and Type C USB outlets, as well as standard 12v accessory outlets to go with the modern, high-tech theme of the keyless entry, push-button START / STOP and electronic parking brake.

As advanced safety features are becoming the norm even for mass-market vehicles, the Xpander Cross comes packed with ABS-EBD brakes, traction / stability control, Hill-Start Assist, dual front airbags and Active Yaw Control, which independently brakes the inner front drive wheel under hard cornering to help maintain control and stability especially on slippery surfaces, which I experienced during my drive down south as it was raining hard. Lastly, the drive. Despite the minor changes, the drive is elevated to a much more pleasant, refined and confidence-inspiring experience. Added sound and vibration dampening materials help eliminate road, wind engine and tire noise. And despite boasting of the best ground clearance in its class with 225mm, it feels planted, stable and composed at speed on the highway. It feels relaxed cruising at 100km/h, thanks to the four-speed automatic’s gearing perfectly matched to the 1.5l 4A91 MIVEC-equipped engine. You’d think there’s much more ponies under the hood than the advertised 104hp and 141 Newton-Meters of torque. The sweet spot seems to be from 2800rpm to 4000rpm where the engine feels most alive and the ECO meter stays on, keeping throttle input light and easy. The brakes, discs up front and drums in the back are also surprisingly very good, easy to modulate and brimming with feel and accuracy.
On my drive down southwest via CALAX, the heavens suddenly opened up and caused a heavy downpour. The car ahead of me suddenly slowed to an almost complete stop, probably taken by surprise and I had to either brake hard or swerve to avoid impact. Of course even with ABS-EBD, I could slide because of the very wet surface, or tip-over if I suddenly swerved. So with great trepidation, I braked as hard as I possibly could without triggering the ABS then gradually started changing lanes (the other lane was open) and surprisingly, the Xpander Cross maneuvered drama-free, full of confidence and stability. We were right up on the speed limit so this confidence and stability for an MPV is truly impressive. Just to demonstrate how bad the weather was, I passed a truck that had flipped over, presumably because it either aqua-planed and lost control, or avoided another vehicle like me but tipped over.

After exiting Silang, the rough roads leading to the town proper were winding, narrow and heavily broken-up but the suspension displayed excellent comfort, control and refinement despite the surface which resembled an off-road trail more than a paved barangay road. Mitsubishi claims much of the improvement in comfort and control particularly in the rear is the adoption of the same rear shock absorbers as the Montero Sport, which is interesting to say the least, with its larger capacity giving it better rebound control. You feel confident threading through traffic on the highway, or obstructions on narrow roads, and the seating position is comfortable with excellent visibility into and out of the Xpander Cross.
Truly, long stint behind the wheel, with your family is something you won’t feel daunted by, begging to be driven to destinations far and away.
The Xpander Cross is another challenger ready to take on its competitors in the compact MPV segment to be the best in class.