- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Mitsubishi Xpander. Child of Asia
The Mitsubishi Xpander is a 7-seater compact minivan manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (Japan). It is distinguished by the higher ground clearance, which is especially good for those countries that don’t have a developed traffic system. The vehicle was introduced in July 2017 in Indonesia, where the vehicle is manufactured. In 2018, the Xpander started conquering new markets, with the production facilities being established in two more countries (Vietnam and Malaysia). Despite the fact that the Xpander is not available in Israel (as in many other regions), it is successfully sold - because it was originally created as a high-volume model.
Mitsubishi knows very well that a minivan with a high ground clearance is a great thing. There were times when the Delica/Space Gear, a unique minivan based on a Pajero SUV chassis, was extremely popular in its Japan, and was also in good demand in Europe and Russia. Since 2018, the Xpander has been sold mainly in Southeast Asia, as well as several countries in Latin America and Africa. Reasonable price and high consumer qualities made the Xpander a best-seller on the Southeast Asian market: 104,000 of vehicles were sold in Indonesia in 2018 alone.
In order to consolidate success, in late 2019, Mitsubishi released the Xpander Cross crossover version with an increased ground clearance of 225 mm instead of 205 mm for the usual one (which, by the way, is also a lot). The crossover minivan can be distinguished by a protective body kit made of unpainted plastic, original front and rear bumpers, an enlarged radiator grille, R17 wheels (instead of R15) and LED headlights (the regular minivan has halogen headlights), as well as by luggage rails on the silver roof.
The first generation
What is the Mitsubishi Xpander? The exterior is reminiscent of the brand’s crossovers and SUVs and follows the Dynamic Shield design philosophy. The ground clearance is 205 mm, but the vehicle is only front-wheel drive. It is 4,475 mm long, 1,750 mm wide and 1,700 mm high. The wheelbase is 2,775 mm, which allows placing three rows of seats. The Xpander can be equipped with a 1.5-liter MIVEC engine that produces 105 hp at 6,000 rpm and a torque of 141 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Initially, the vehicle could be equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission, but later a CVT became available.
The 2018/2019/2020 Mitsubishi Xpander was equipped with a multimedia system with a 7-inch screen. The entry-level version came with cruise control, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution, and a steering wheel with audio control buttons and tilt adjustment. The list of options included keyless entry and button start, power mirrors and a six-speaker sound system. The top GLS Sport version received a stability control system, traction control and start-off assistance. In some countries, the vehicle was updated in different years (2020 or 2021).
2021 restyling
On November 8, 2021, the restyled Mitsubishi Xpander was presented, which will become available in December 2021. The suspension has been retuned for better comfort, while the ground clearance has grown to 220-225 mm, which makes the vehicle similar to an SUV. The new Xpander has acquired more expressive bumpers, which make the front and rear overhangs 75 mm and 45 mm longer, respectively. The minivan is 4,595 mm long. You can easily notice both the new optics and the larger wheels, which are 17-inch instead of 16-inch.
More expensive versions feature a new, better quality front panel with a new multimedia system. The second row now has USB connectors, and the air conditioning system has become better. The main innovation of the 2021/2022 Mitsubishi Xpander: the old 4-speed automatic transmission has been replaced with a modern CVT, and the engine has become more efficient due to the use of the Start-Stop system. The top-end versions offer an electronic parking brake.
