Stylish, sensible and spacious, the new Mitsubishi Xpander has swiftly stolen hearts all over Southeast Asia. As Mitsubishi Motors gears up to launch its latest star in Malaysia, let’s take a look at what makes this seven-seater such a sought-after ride.
When it was first launched in August 2017 in Indonesia, where the multi-seat vehicle market is vibrant, the Xpander quickly went on to beat other rivals and snagged important awards such as ‘Cars of 2018’, ‘Best MPV’, ‘Best small-size MPV’ and ‘FORWOT Car of the year’.
Awards aside, the Xpander was also leading the Indonesian market with a cumulative turnover of 74,000 units in the months of 2018, before hitting an impressive 100,000 units six months later.
The second country to receive this multi-award-winning vehicle was The Philippines in 2018, during which the demand was almost immediate and overwhelming post-launch.
A few months later, the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) conducted a fuel economy test where six Xpanders ran an average distance of 236.58 km. The results showed Xpander’s superiority in both fuel efficiency and performance when compared to other competitors, recording an amazing 22.94 km/li after the run.
The Xpander then won ‘Model of the year’ and ‘Best Design’ in the Philippines’ MPV segment a year after.
By July 2019, the successful sales of the Xpander in Indonesia made Indonesia Mitsubishi Motors the largest market with a total sales of 140,191 units of various Mitsubishi models, a 35% increase since 2017.
The Xpander also recorded an impressive amount of sales in Vietnam, with 25,000 units delivered by May 2020.
All in all, the Xpander’s total regional sales had reached 251,064 units in just three years after being launched and introduced.
Now that this seven-seater crossover is set to make its Malaysian debut in November 2020, those who have been waiting with bated breaths are now able to make their bookings at any authorised Mitsubishi Motors showroom.
Tomoyuki Shinnishi, chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia said, “The Xpander is a significant model for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, and we are optimistic that it will be a favourite among many Malaysians for its design is more than just aesthetics.
“We understand that Malaysians now want a car that matches their aspiration for a more active lifestyle and practicality and as such, the Xpander is customised to meet those preferences.”
He also added that the Xpander is a price-competitive model with better specifications, hence the decision to have it locally-assembled.
Mitsubishi Xpander specifications:
Engine
The Xpander is powered by a 1.5-litre MIVEC petrol engine using an aluminium block that produces 105 PS at 6,000 rpm and 141 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It also comes with a four-speed automatic transmission optimised for power and fuel economy.
Exterior
With its striking and futuristic design, the Xpander follows Mitsubishi’s signature ‘Dynamic Shield’ front design concept, which provides both high performance and a sense of protection for the driver and passengers.
The car also uses Mitsubishi’s proprietary RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) monocoque body structure and combines efficient energy absorption with high cabin integrity.
Appearance-wise, the Xpander incorporates LED headlamps, crystal block LED position lamps and L-illuminated LED tail lights. It also comes with 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels with a high ground clearance of 205 mm, so drivers need not worry about flash floods.
Interior
The Japanese Omotenashi philosophy for extraordinary comfort is evident on the inside. The Xpander houses an impressive cabin space with an overall headroom of 1,730 mm, a 2,775 mm wheelbase and an overall length of 4,475 mm. Plus, its 1,750 mm width means that passengers get a lot more legroom.
The Xpander is also the only car in its class to have fold-flat second- and third-row seats, which provide full luggage space and a boot that is similar to that of a car’s. This way, loading larger and longer items are made easier.
Other fittings include under-seat multi-purpose storage, a cargo floor box with a lid, third-row side pockets and cup holders, a center console box with a sliding lid, multiple storage compartments and a glove box with double compartments to store many items.
For better air distribution, the Xpander is equipped with four roof-mounted air vents, promising a faster-cooling effect during hot days.
Entertainment wise, the Xpander comes with a 228.6 mm audio system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto Ready.
Safety
Some of the safety features include dual SRS airbags, three-point seat belts on all seats, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distributor (EBD), Active Stability Control (ASC), Brake Assist System (BA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Rest Reminder and Brake Override System (BOS).
Last but not least, the Xpander also comes with a 106.68 mm high-contrast metre cluster that displays important information such as engine coolant temperature gauge, a warning display for cruise control and low car key battery.
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