This vehicle segment has been shrinking in Malaysia for the past decade. With the arrival of sport utility vehicles with three rows of seats, Malaysians have turned away from traditional family MPVs that were once the must-have for many Malaysians.
The last time Mitsubishi entered this segment, it was with the Mitsubishi Delica and it was a direct rival to the first-generation Nissan Serena, Ford Econovan, Mazda Bongo and Toyota MasterAce.
As the years progressed, Malaysian buyers moved to high-riding seven-seaters like the Toyota Innova.
In recent years, we have seen the sales boom of the Perodua Aruz and Honda BR-V. The current Nissan Serena S-Hybrid was the lone wolf in the family MPV segment, that is, until the arrival of this Mitsubishi Xpander in 2017.
Xpander history
The Mitsubishi Xpander debuted in Indonesia back in 2017, where seven-seaters tend to sell really well.
Indonesia’s growing middle class of over 260 million people want vehicles like the Xpander which has created a long waiting list in terms of vehicle delivery to customers.
By early 2020, the Xpander’s launch in Thailand and Vietnam caused a bigger boom for the factory in Indonesia.
In November 2020, Malaysians finally saw Xpanders in local Mitsubishi showrooms and the first batch of vehicles from Indonesia’s factory, sold-out impressively in just a few days with more than 2,000 bookings received.
The Mitsubishi Xpander is now locally-assembled via Hicom Automotive Manufacturers in Pekan, Pahang.
By April 2021, the Xpaner bookings hit a whooping 9,300-plus units in spite of a frail economy still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Xpander explained
This family-orientated vehicle sports a striking futuristic design. The Xpander follows the iteration of Mitsubishi’s ‘Dynamic Shield’ front design concept, which expresses high performance and safety.
Aesthetically, the Xpander comes with a few impressive kit lists including LED headlamps, crystal blocks LED position lamp and L-illumination LED tail lights.
The new Xpander also comes with 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. Customers may also explore more adventurous places with the Xpander’s high ground clearance of 205mm.
Xpander interior
The Xpander gets a best-in-class spacious cabin with an overall height of 1,730mm and overall length of 4,475mm. The Xpander is with a 2,775mm wheelbase and 1,750mm width offering more legroom for all its passengers.
The Xpander, with keyless ignition, is the only vehicle in its class with foldable seats in the second and third rows, providing full luggage space and a car-like boot that makes it easier to load larger or longer items.
The Xpander is also fitted with under-seat multi-purpose storage, cargo floor box, third-row side pocket and cup holder. The centre console is equipped with a storage box, multiple storage compartments and glove box with double compartments to store all the items needed for a perfect weekend getaway.
The MPV also comes with four roof-mounted air vents for better air distribution for the back of the cabin. For entertainment, the Xpander comes with a nine-inch infotainment system complete with Apple Carplay and Android Auto ready.
Features & safety
Safety features are up to par with Asean standards, thanks to its proprietary RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) monocoque body structure. These include dual SRS airbags, 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) among others.
To further enhance the value of the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) authorized dealer package has been introduced. The MMM authorized dealer package features All Round Monitor (ARM), Driving Video Recorder (DVR) and leather seats.
Xpander drive Impression
Family vehicles for the middle class should remain simple and super reliable, which is why the Xpander is a MPV that Malaysians will appreciate in the long run. No fancy gimmicks and high tech business, just straight-to-the-point reliability.
With a slightly raised ride-height, entering and exiting is easy, something that will suit elderly passengers and the vertically challenged. The driver gets a great all-around view and it is an easy vehicle to live in with heavy traffic and also on the open highway.
Under the hood is a simple and effective 1.5L, 105PS petrol engine that delivers good fuel consumption and sensible power for a family-friendly vehicle. It’s not a car for speed demons or corner carvers. Even so, with all rear seats folded, you can fit a pair of bicycles inside.
The second row of the cabin features ample legroom that makes being a passenger a true joy. Take note that this Xpander is wider than all its rivals right now at 1,750mm wide.
Access to the third row is via the second row seats flipping over but it’s quite a squeeze. Still, at 4,475mm long, the Xpander provides generous overall cabin space compared to its rivals. There is also a dedicated air-conditioning system for rear passengers which offers a constantly cool cabin experience.
At full capacity (four adults and two teenagers) the Xpander easily managed the hills of Bangsar and Pantai Hills in Kuala Lumpur, with the 1.5L engine showing no lethargy at all.
Final word
With a host of safety features, cabin comfort and a reliable engine at the ready, the Xpander is just about worth the asking price of RM91,369.
Yes, it’s slightly higher than its immediate rival, the Honda BR-V, which is priced from RM86,726.00 to RM93,693.00, but the Mitsubishi Xpander is definitely worth the look.
Mitsubishi XPANDER Specifications
Engine: 4-Cylinder, 16-valve DOHC Mivec
Capacity: 1499cc
Gearbox: 4-Speed Auto
Power: 103PS @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 1,41Nm @ 4,000rpm
Price: RM91,369.00