2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross Review | Philkotse Philippines

2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross - Still Got That X Factor? | Philkotse Reviews

Fast forward to the present, and some would-be buyers might be wondering how this model fares as a daily driver. There’s also the point of whether it’s worth forking over Php 1,328,000 for the Xpander Cross, which is slightly more expensive compared to its more affordable Xpander sibling.

To find out the answer to those questions, Philkotse tested the Xpander Cross for an entire week. Here’s what we found out.

Style-wise, there’s no question that the Xpander Cross does stand out among the sea of other MPVs in the market right now. It even has a more rugged, confidence-inspiring presence than its Xpander sibling. This is thanks to a number of additions that give it an SUV-like vibe.

The Xpander Cross sports SUV-like styling cues

Its front end for starters, gets a more aggressive version of the dynamic shield front end which is enhanced by a blacked-out grille with hexagonal patterns. I likewise appreciate its angular-looking lower front bumper, and sharp-looking LED daytime running lamps.

The vehicle also sports a pair of T-shaped LED headlamps which are outlined by bits of chrome. Some folks might not like the chrome and would’ve preferred that these were black like the grille. However, I think it adds the right amount of contrast to the front fascia’s dark-colored centerpiece.

It has just the right amount of black plastic claddings

Over to its sides, the updated MPV gets a smattering of black plastic claddings which is the trend right now on MPVs that want to look like SUVs nowadays. This is then combined with 17-inch wheels, which are polished and come with a smooth clean look. These are two-toned wheels, but these are definitely better-looking compared to those ones with a rougher “hewn” or “machine-cut” look.

The rear of the Xpander Cross then gets a pair of T-shaped LED taillights which cleanly integrates with the vehicle’s upper black-colored portions. They provide plenty of visual pizzaz for the Xpander Cross, as does its eye-catching rear bumper.

Xpander Cross from the rear

On the more practical side of things, the model gets what you’d expect for what you’re paying for. Stowing it within tight parking spots is easy thanks to power-folding side mirrors, and if one wants to, more cargo space is available via roof racks.

Last but not least, the 225mm of ground clearance does a lot in providing confidence while driving over the gnarly, poorly maintained stretches of EDSA. It will likewise be useful for dealing with the occasional unpaved roads in the provinces.

Inside, the Xpander Cross gets a stylish dashboard coupled with a macho-looking steering wheel that looks the same as what you’ll see in the Montero Sport SUV. With these two elements combined, the cockpit is quite easy on the eyes.

The vehicle likewise covers all the driving amenities you’ll ever need. This includes cruise control, a push-to-start button, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, a digital gauge cluster, a center elbow rest, and manual air-conditioning with digital controls, among others.

Most of it's dash is made out of hard plastics

While it only has manually adjustable seats, I also found no issues in looking for my preferred driving position. This is mainly thanks to its tilt and telescopic steering column. For your reference, I am 5 feet and 11 inches tall, and quite large around the gut.

Those are all well and good, but a majority of the interior, including the dashboard and door panels are mostly made out of hard plastic. Mitsubishi could’ve at least added at least some soft-touch surfaces to make it feel as premium as it looks.

The Japanese car brand also opted to use piano black plastic materials to surround the shifter and the central touchscreen infotainment system. This sounds a bit cliche as far as car reviews go, but these will attract dirt, dust, and fingerprints in no time. Both of these parts, after all, are high touch points of the interior and will be touched on multiple occasions as you drive.

This MPV borrows the steering wheel of the Montero Sport

Over to the second row, I found that this provided plenty of space for my height and frame. It has an abundance of legroom, and headroom there is no issue. Plus, this part of the vehicle has plenty of amenities too. This includes its own dedicated air-conditioning controls, as well as Type C USB charging ports.

The second row even gets its own armrest which is usable when only two are occupying the said row. So without a doubt, those using this row will have few things to complain about.

As expected though, the third row is a bit tighter and is more suited to children or teens. I managed to fit inside that section of the car, but any adult taller than 5’11” will have their heads touching the headliner.

Two adults can fit in the third row but it won't be as comfortable as a second row

At maximum, this MPV can provide up to 1,630 liters of cargo space with all the seats folded down. With the third row upright, it has 495 liters of space. Those are quite abundant, and even its default cargo bin has enough room for a week of groceries. I also like the fact that it has hidden cubby holes beneath the trunk floor. The latter is useful for storing stinky stuff like one’s running shoes, or fresh fish.

The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross gets a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment as standard. This offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so folks who rely on navigation apps, or those who just want to stay connected while out on the road are fully catered to.

A closer look at the Xpander Cross' seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system

The catch is, the Xpander Cross’ infotainment touchscreen is a tad smaller compared to the ones found on other MPV models available in the market right now. For example, the Suzuki XL7 has a 10-inch screen, while the Hyundai Stargazer X uses an eight-inch screen. Sure, the one on the Xpander Cross does not lag and its interface is intuitive, but it can be argued that larger screens can be more legible for some people.

On the flipside, the Xpander Cross’ six-piece speaker system offers decent sound quality. The infotainment screen’s Bluetooth also works flawlessly, and the front cabin’s USB ports are easy to find even for a first-time user.

The refreshed model's digital gauge cluster is a welcome addition

Handling safety for the Xpander Cross are dual front airbags, anti-lock braking with electronic brake force distribution, a brake assist system, hill-start assist, active stability control, and Mitsubishi’s active yaw control system, among others. Parking the Xpander Cross is also made easy thanks to a rear-view camera.

Of note, the yaw control system provides the right amount of torque to any of the Xpander Cross’ wheels at any moment. This makes the vehicle better at maintaining stability when tackling sharp corners and during hard braking.

Overall, this Mitsubishi-made MPV gets a comprehensive standard safety kit. What it lacks though is an active safety suite, and that’s something that may reinforce its identity as a family-friendly ride.

Propelling the 2023 Xpander Cross is a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine that’s capable of putting out 103 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to its front wheels via a four-speed automatic torque converter transmission.

As far as driving goes, this Mitsubishi MPV is not a fast vehicle by any means. I also noticed that it will work quite a bit when dealing with particularly steep climbs (especially when fully loaded), but that is to be expected considering its engine output combined with its 1,275 kg curb weight.

It isn't fast, but you'll have no issues in dealing with speed bumps

Its four-speed automatic gearbox, however, is fairly responsive during acceleration and in tight maneuvers. Low-speed overtaking within city roads is also no problem for this MPV. Careful planning and alertness, though, must be practiced when overtaking at highway speeds.

I also found that the Xpander Cross handles well as far as seven-seaters go. It exhibits minimal body roll, and the steering is direct. It likewise showed minimal squatting during hard acceleration.

Noise does manage to get into the cabin whilst driving on a busy street. Wind noise and tire noise also became noticeable when I was driving on the highway. Vibrations and harshness levels can be felt at times, but it wasn’t too jarring.

It has decent handling as far as seven-seaters go

In terms of ride quality, its MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension were excellent in dampening the shock of road bumps, rocks, and potholes. Even the huge speed bumps are no match against the Xpander Cross’ suspension system.

In driving through heavy traffic in the city, I managed to get 8.5 km/l from the 2023 Xpander Cross. On highway driving meanwhile, the MPV returned 15.5 km/l at speeds of 80 km/h.

When comparing those fuel eco figures to other MPVs, the Honda BR-V V registered 11.1 km/l in the city and 20.4 km/l on the highway. The Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid meanwhile, posted a fuel eco of 9.5 km/l in the city, and 19.7 km/l on the highway.

When evaluated as a family-friendly daily driver, the Xpander Cross boils down to a competent MPV that will undoubtedly keep you and your six occupants comfortable. Its amount of creature comforts isn’t too overwhelming and there’s no doubt that all of them will be fully utilized. It likewise has plenty enough space which will be useful, especially for grocery-getting, and transporting school-age kids and their usually massive bags.

It's a macho-looking ride that's also family-friendly. That's a win in our books.

But is it worth its Php 1,328,000 price tag? Well, let’s put it this way: the top-spec Xpander GLX can do what was mentioned above for Php 130,000 cheaper. Then again, the standard Xpander definitely does not have the rugged style and capabilities of the Xpander Cross.

So if you really need a well-rounded MPV that can also deal with unpaved roads and the like, you would do well to get the Xpander Cross. The same goes for buyers who want something that will definitely look unique among the sea of other MPVs out in the wild right now.