What to expect from the refreshed 2026 Mitsubishi Xpander
On the heels of debuting the refreshed Mirage this year, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) will unveil a revamped version of its popular multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) this week.
The 2026 Mitsubishi Xpander and Xpander Cross will be launched on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The seven-seat duo, which has been a consistent best-seller in its category, will also be on display there until Sunday.
Based on the poster on the official MMPC Facebook page, the Xpander gets styling tweaks, particularly the more aggressive front bumper and blacked-out grill with Mitsubishi’s signature “Dynamic Shield” design. There are also new two-tone alloy wheels and body-colored door handles.
Although official Philippine specifications are not yet available, the Xpander and Xpander Cross sold in other markets come with an 8-inch digital gauge cluster from the Xforce crossover, along with a larger 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 360-degree camera.
Proven mechanicals
The 2026 Xpander and Xpander Cross will likely retain their well-proven powerplant – a 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 104 horsepower and 141 Newton-meters of torque.
What remains unclear is whether or not MMPC will carry over the MPV’s antiquated 4-speed automatic transmission, which greatly blunted performance and fuel economy during our tests of the 2025 models. In other markets, the pair share the excellent continuously variable transmission (CVT) with the Xforce.
In addition, the Xpander and Xpander Cross are available abroad with a 1.6-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor.
Combined output is 114 horsepower and a monumental 255 Newton-meters of torque, which are coursed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
If launched, the Xpander HEV and Xpander Cross HEV would not only be the first-ever hybrid-electric vehicles in their segment locally, but also the most powerful ones in town. Features available in other markets include seven driving modes, namely Normal, Wet, Gravel, Tarmac, Mud, EV Priority and Charge, as well as Mitsubishi’s renowned Active Yaw Control for more secure handling.
Will the upcoming revamp be enough to keep the Xpander and Xpander Cross as the MPVs to beat in the Philippines?
