Mitsubishi’s 2020 Xpander Cross
Mitsubishi is expanding its South African range by adding the new Xpander Cross. The launch date is yet to be confirmed, but it sounds soon.
The Xpander Cross is based on the very popular 7-seater MPV Xpander, the fourth-best-selling Mitsubishi in the world. (The standard Xpander is not sold in SA). It was made more ‘off-roady’ by adding sturdy bumpers and increasing the ground clearance by 20mm to an impressive 225mm. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels with large profile tyres add to the SUV feel. It also features black cladding around the wheel arches, the base of the doors and on the bumpers, roof rails and front and rear skid plates.
Like the regular Xpander, the Cross is powered by a 1.5L naturally aspirated motor giving 77kW and 141Nm. It comes with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic giving power to the front wheels.
The cabin retains the MPV traits which made the Xpander so popular. It is spacious and gives a 60:40 split-folding in the middle row and 50:50 split-folding in the third row. This allows you to mix and match your seats as you need, or fold them all flat when you need a lot of space. So the Cross is a best of both worlds: the ability to go rough if you want, but with oodles of space.
The second-row seats have clever folding armrests and there are many small storage spaces dotted around the cabin. Even when all seven seats are used, there is still enough boot space for groceries or a folded pram.
We don’t know which trim level Xpander Cross we will get, but internationally it seems to have a comprehensive range of features, including leather seats, a seven-inch infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, parking sensors with a rearview camera and a keyless operation system. ABS, EBD, electronic stability control, traction control and hill-start assist are all in the mix.
The Xpander was launched in 2017 and the Xpander Cross in November 2019.
You can view the full range of Mitsubishi vehicles currently on sale.
