Mitsubishi has joined the budget-priced, seven-seat bandwagon with the new Xpander. Can it offer more than just function?
There’s a good reason for the existence of mini-MPVs in the Thai car market -- and why Mitsubishi has decided to join the race for the first time.
It’s not that Thais have shown big affection for such budget-priced seven-seaters.
But models like the Honda Mobilio (and the higher-riding BR-V), Suzuki Ertiga and Toyota Avanza have been designed primarily with Indonesia in mind where many buyers merely need the sheer functionality of transporting big families around with affordable prices to match.
Which is why Mitsubishi wasted no time in developing the all-new Xpander to rival those aforementioned models.
Nissan, a brand affiliated to Mitsubishi, is also set to gain a version of its own based on the Xpander in the future to eventually make the class a five-horse race among Japanese stablemen.
Due to be officially launched in Thailand next month, the Xpander will be shipped over from Mitsubishi’s new production facility in Indonesia using Afta trade perks.
Of all the players, only the two Honda seven-seaters are made in Thailand – for a reason, which we’ll touch into again shortly.
Because mini-MPV buyers in Indonesia usually need outright function, the Xpander generally matches its opposition on the catwalk with a tall body that appears clumsy rather than shapely.
The 16-inch wheels of this GT range-topper driven here already look puny; the lower GLS Limited variant gets 15-inchers.
At least, Mitsubishi’s current wedge-like design DNA helps offset some blandness. A playful design element is the head lights placed within the bumper rather than on top of it. Other elements giving the GT trim more class are the chrome exterior bits.
Because Indonesians want a little bit more of ground clearance to cope with their rural roads, the Xpander has a relatively high-riding body which is why its maker is calling it a crossover rather than MPV or SUV.
The 205mm record the Xpander boasts is the most in-class with only the Mobilio and Ertiga falling under 200mm. Should Thais bother about this? Maybe, if they need to battle the seasonal flooding every year, although it's the vehicle's wading depth that matters more, generally speaking.
And with longest body and wheelbase length around, the Xpander offers ample space for seven people. However, legroom in the third-row bench is only sufficient if the seats in front slide forward.
The seating matrix in the Xpander won’t do any magic in lifting the vehicle to the top of the class in terms of versatility. But, like in others, it does offer several possibilities in creating whatever balance between occupant and cargo space the user requires.
Speaking of the cabin, the Xpander feels reasonably tidy -- albeit uninspiring -- in appearance if you consider what its rivals have. And in the usual Mitsubishi fashion, ergonomics is generally neat with the main focus for the driver being on a clearly legible instrument panel and intuitive touchscreen. However, the seat position is set a tad high.
Again, it’s only the GT spec that receives a rear parking camera and leather trim. Mind, the stitching on the door panels and dashboard may want to relate soft-touch plastic when actually it isn’t. Honda and Toyota also use this tactic in some of their cost-effective cars.
As most countries in Asean are dubbed as emerging markets in industry speak, the technology the Xpander possesses is equally unremarkable as in practically the entire class: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with just over 100hp mated to an antiquated four-speed automatic.
The Xpander joins the Avanza and Ertiga in not being able to undercut the 150g/km level of CO2 emissions and to meet E85-compability. Hence, an excise tax of 30%.
Honda, meanwhile, has been attracted to the special 5% tax discount offered on E85-sipping cars in Thailand (those made in Indonesia aren’t tuned for E85). Plus, the availability of the CVT automatic seemingly helps the BR-V/Mobilio in achieving no more than 150g/km of CO2, thus the 10% overall tax advantage it enjoys over the rest.
Does that make the performance of both Hondas best in-class? Probably, because with some 117hp, they brag the highest output on paper. It proves so on the move, although not that outstanding.
In the Xpander, grunt is merely ample for those needing to drive rather than wanting to and eventually becomes lacking the moment you need overtaking power.
Although there’s not enough usable performance, the motor is more refined and less noisy when pushed than Honda’s version.
Due to its high-riding stance, front-wheel drive format and conventional suspension, the Xpander’s driving manners are on the uninspiring side of things.
Sure, it steers easily and rides quite comfortably in town and on the highway, but imprecision and body roll emergerespectively when roads start to meander.
At least, it isn’t as awful as in the Avanza, which is underpinned by an archaic body-on-frame chassis and the only one around to do so.
A good point in the Xpander is a reasonably quiet cabin when cruising on the highway, although you can feel tyre harshness penetrating beneath the cabin on not-so-smooth roads.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the Xpander. But given Mitsubishi’s track record of yielding competitive prices, expect the Xpander to be priced in the 700,000 and 800,000 baht range for the two grades with both featuring only two frontal airbags and some chassis and braking electronics. That’s the price range of the BR-V.
All of a sudden, the BR-V (a closer match to the Xpander than the aging Mobilio) looks overpriced: the seven-seat SV trim costs 820,000 baht despite that tax edge it has over the rest. It’s actually here that makes the Mobilio better value with prices around 100k lower than the BR-V.
Which is why Mitsubishi needs to make the Xpander an attractive financial proposition to offset the so-so road manners, just like in the Attrage saloon and Mirage hatchback.
But be in no doubt: the Xpander scores well amid an average competition with its class-leading seven-seat package. And with punters of this kind of vehicle in mind, that probably matters most.
