The brand-new offering from the Japanese automaker combines the versatility of an MPV with the sportiness of an SUV. The multi-purpose Mitsubishi Xpander is making waves in a hotly contested market and could become a South African favourite. It’s no surprise, really, as the Mitsubishi Xpander is not only more affordable than similar 7-seaters from other brands but it comes with features you might not expect at this price point.
Mitsubishi Xpander: Rising Through The Ranks
Since the 2016 launch of the Mitsubishi Xpander in Asia, the car has been a resounding success. It’s no different in South Africa as July 2021 showed that the Xpander was Mitsubishi’s second best-selling car with 65 new units which is just two units shy of the much more established Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
While the figures may not seem mind-blowing, it’s almost on par with a Mitsubishi stalwart and that in itself is a worthy statement. Still relatively new compared to other 7-seaters, the Mitsubishi Xpander is already showing its worth and here is a closer look at the styling aspects, technology and performance.
Striking Looks At A Highly Competitive Price
The first thing you’ll notice on the Mitsubishi Xpander is the futuristic-looking front design, taking inspiration from the Mitsubishi Triton and Pajero Sport. Unlike many other 7-seaters that don’t cost a fortune, the Xpander has the interior of a multi-purpose vehicle but it’s all SUV action on the outside.
The daytime running lights, grille, fog and headlights appear as one complete piece which is certainly something different but it’s not out of place against a white body colour. With sporty 15-inch alloy wheels on the manual model and 16-inch on the automatic derivative, wide flared fenders, the Mitsubishi Xpander looks tougher than similar cars in the segment.
The headlights are crystal clear combined with daytime running lights and L-illuminated LED taillights flowing seamlessly onto the tailgate to add further impetus to the overall look. It has a higher ground clearance of 205 mm which is just another feature that not only adds flavour but it also emphasises its sporty but practical capabilities.
Incredible Attention To Detail
The basic interior is what you’d expect with parts like the dashboard and door panels made from hard plastic. However, the quality of workmanship is second to none following the principle of ‘Omotenashi’ for the driver and passengers. Loosely translated, it means “attention to detail and anticipating the guests’ needs.”
A closer look will reveal features with a stitching pattern to emulate a leather trim stitching. Standard features include the following:
- Multi-function steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column
- All-around electric windows
- Bluetooth with hands-free voice control
- USB port
- Three 12V sockets
- Full-automatic air conditioning
- Rear air circulator
The multi-information display is not overly massive but it has everything you need and, more importantly, it’s easy to use.
The Mitsubishi Xpander is certainly not short on space as there is ample room across the board thanks to the 60/40 split. It gets even bigger when you fold down the third row of seats and unlike some other brands, it goes completely flat.
Mitsubishi Xpander Performance and Fuel Economy
The new Mitsubishi Xpander seems to have it all figured out with good performance, fuel consumption and reduced noise. According to Mitsubishi, it’s made possible thanks to their durable 1.5-litre DOHC 16-valve aluminium block engine.
It features Mitsubishi’s Intelligent Innovative Valve Timing Lift Electronic Control (MIVEC) system and ECI multipoint fuel injection. This particular powertrain delivers 77kW at 6000rpm, with 141Nm of peak torque at 4000rpm.
With a fuel tank of 45 litres, the average claimed fuel consumption in a combined cycle is 6.9l/100km on the manual Xpander and 7l/100km for the automatic model. The Xpander is available with a four-speed automatic and five-speed manual gearbox.
The Mitsubishi Xpander Is Safe As Houses
Considering its classified as a people carrier, the new Mitsubishi Xpander features a wide range of innovative safety features as standard. The Xpander is designed to protect the driver, all of the passengers and other road users with these safety features:
- Airbags for the driver and front passenger
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Electronic brake force distribution (EBD)
- Side-impact protection bars
- Side-impact beam
- Pedestrian protection
- Child protection rear door locks
- Seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters
- ISOFIX child seat anchors
- RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body construction proving added safety for all-direction collisions
With a price of only R299 995* for the manual and R319 995* for the automatic, and all the standard features, the Mitsubishi Xpander is a solid contender among other formidable 7-seaters. It will go up against cheaper competition like the Toyota Avanza and Renault Triber but with so much more on offer.
If you want a proper family car without spending a fortune, look no further than the new Mitsubishi Xpander. With all the added extras, price tag, performance, safety features and oodles of space, you can’t go wrong. For more information, or to book a test drive, visit our Mitsubishi Xpander information page today!
*Pricing accurate as of September 2021.