Mitsubishi hopes to maintain leadership in the mini-MPV market with its 2023 Xpander Cross which comes with a facelift as well as a number of interesting upgrades.
While the Indonesian-made Xpander made its Thai debut back in 2018, Mitsubishi Motors followed up with a "rugged" version in 2020 called the Xpander Cross. The vehicle turned out to be highly popular thanks to its cross-country styling well-suited to Thai customer tastes.
More than 55,000 units of the Xpander and Xpander Cross have been sold in the Kingdom, making it one of Mitsubishi's major models alongside the Triton pickup truck and Pajero Sport PPV.
With the Xpander and its minor changes launched in March last year, many were eagerly awaiting the Xpander Cross, which has taken quite a while to be introduced in the market. But it seems it was quite worth the wait -- changes for the 2023 model comprise not only design modifications but also several new performance-enhancing features.
Unfortunately, one weakness of the Xpander is pricing, which has been raised by 7,000 baht and now starts at 946,000 baht. Considering that the Honda BR-V (915,000-977,000 baht) and the Toyota Veloz (795,000-875,000 baht) come with intelligent safety packages, the Xpander Cross suddenly feels expensive.
Nevertheless, there are several interesting upgrades in the 2023 Xpander Cross, including a new CVT transmission replacing the old four-speed automatic, as well as Active Yaw Control (AYC) that works with a traction control system to improve cornering stability, among other benefits.
Design
Mitsubishi designers have updated the "Advanced Dynamic Shield" front-end design in a way similar to what they did with the Xpander, mating it with a cross-country bumper to give the Cross a comic-book spacecraft look.
Mitsubishi has upgraded all lighting to LEDs throughout, while the side profile continues the cross-country theme with black wheel arch moulding, silver door garnish and 17-inch wheels with beefy 205/55 tyres. Black roof and roof rails help accentuate the floating roof design and there are also chrome beltline moulding and door handles. The redesigned tailgate and rear bumper looks pretty exciting as well.
Meanwhile, the interior gets black/navy-blue synthetic seat upholstery with heat guard function that comes in handy when the Xpander is parked under direct sunlight. The seats are pretty comfortable and there is plenty of headroom, although none of the front seats are powered and the second- and third-row passengers have little legroom. A foldable armrest is offered for second-row passengers though, which is a bonus for a vehicle in this class.
There's a new 8-inch LCD instrument cluster with three different modes that's quite fancy while the three-spoke multifunction steering wheel has been replaced by four-spoke, leather-wrapped multifunction steering borrowed from the Pajero Sport that's adjustable for both reach and rake.
There's also a 9-inch centre touchscreen with Apple Carplay/Android Auto, two USB-A ports and a 12-volt outlet at the front, plus USB-A and USB-C outlets for second-row passengers (as well as overhead air vents with fan speed control). Cruise control aids long-distance trips, and a rear-view camera helps guide reverse parking although without 360-degree graphics.
Headlights and front windshield wipers are automatic, although the PM 2.5-filtered air-conditioning system doesn't feature auto function (despite having digital readouts).
The cabin provides ample storage space including a cargo floor box with lid that helps make the luggage area flat when the third-row seats are folded.
Performance
The 1.5-litre MIVEC four-cylinder engine is capable of producing 105 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 141Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, being mated to a new CVT transmission that offers improved response while maintaining an average fuel economy of 16.4kpl (according to the Eco Sticker).
While engine power isn't usually a major concern for buyers of mini MPVs, the Xpander Cross does offer decent performance on the road, along with some light off-roading capabilities thanks to a ground clearance of 220mm and beefed-up suspension.
There is decent ride comfort in the Xpander Cross, with the dampers doing a good job of absorbing cracks and bumps on the road.
While wide 205/55 Bridgestone Ecopia tyres offer lots of road grip, the Xpander Cross further benefits from electronic assistance systems when tackling slippery conditions. Apart from Active Stability Control, Mitsubishi has added an AYC system (made famous by the Lancer Evo world rally cars) that adjusts the driving forces between front wheels to improve cornering performance and stability.
There's also traction control and Hill Start Assist that gives you the confidence to drive the Xpander Cross over the kind of hilly terrain often found at upcountry camping sites.
In fact, Mitsubishi Motors invited Thai media to test drive the Xpander Cross in Chiang Rai where it was put through its paces on winding mountain roads as well as on dirt tracks inside Singha Park.
At Singha Park, reviewers were able to check out how AYC helps to tidy things up when cornering fast as well as utilising the traction control when ascending steep mounds.
Verdict
The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross features strong styling and a fair amount of equipment upgrades, although it still lacks some intelligent safety features offered by the competition.
Pros: Attractive design, comfortable interior, easy to drive
Cons: Pricey, no intelligent safety, limited rear legroom
