WORTHY SUCCESSOR
Nothing lasts forever.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in politics – even Queen Elizabeth II, who served as the masthead of the United Kingdom for generations, had to cede her seven-decade-long reign to her son, Charles, following her untimely passing in September 2022.
And in the Philippines, political dynasties up and down the land are gearing up this year to ensure that their family name stays entrenched in the halls of power. A wife, husband, son, daughter, mother or father will partake in this seemingly ceaseless rigodon, where the winner can continue the predecessor’s policies and agenda (and “side hustles”).
On our streets, Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs) like the Toyota Revo, Isuzu Crosswind and Mitsubishi Adventure are no more. In their place are lighter, smoother and safer multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) like the Toyota Avanza, Hyundai Stargazer and Honda BR-V.
And the bestselling one of them all is the Mitsubishi Xpander and Xpander Cross. We tried out the latter to see if it is worthy of the crown of its venerable predecessor, the Adventure.
Tougher exterior
Spotting an Xpander Cross is relatively easy – just look for the matte-black plastic cladding that adorns the bottom part of this MPV.
Given that this top-of-the-line variant is expected to take on the rough roads that its AUV ancestor has long endured (strange given that political dynasties frequently pursue road projects), the added protection is very welcome. Other cues include the chrome accents on the Dynamic Shield front grille, side mirrors, door handles and window beltline.
Everything else remains typical Xpander, from the high-mounted LED daytime running lights to the upward kink in the rear-quarter window. The two-tone, 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails further distinguish this model from lower-grade Xpanders.
This test unit also features a new color called, “Green Bronze Metallic”, which I found more closely resembles a mix of green and gray. Some will like this hue, but I prefer the two-tone choices like Quartz White Pearl or Sunrise Orange Metallic.
Leather-lined space for 7
Step inside the Xpander Cross and you immediately realize that this is the variant for those whose office is near the top floor of city hall.
Dark-blue hide lines the supportive seats and dashboard, while delightful touches like the Montero Sport leather steering wheel and 8-inch digital gauge cluster add to the fully loaded vibe. However, the hard and scratchy plastics on the dash and door cards do not.
Meanwhile, the 9-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is delightfully easy to use, although the rear camera is a bit blurry. Also, the powerful air-conditioner has a joyful simplicity that Chinese automakers are seemingly repulsed by, perhaps because of their bizarre association between needless complexity and cutting-edge technology.
The latter is aided by a roof-mounted fan so that rear passengers don’t get cooked – it helps that the blower is strong because the spacious cabin easily seats seven. I just wish that the center passenger in the second row had a headrest for added safety.
Smooth driver
Where the Xpander Cross really sets itself apart from AUVs and even rivals like the excellent BR-V VX is behind the wheel.
The Xpander Cross uses the old motorsport trick of putting beefier shock absorbers from a heavier car – in this case, the Montero Sport. The result is a best-in-class ride over rough surfaces, something thoroughly enviable as ruts make the Honda’s occupants jiggle and send the Adventure’s passengers into orbit (ladder frame and rear leaf springs, remember).
It also helps that this Mitsubishi MPV has much better soundproofing than the equivalent BR-V, leading to truly serene journeys. The easy-going feel extends to the light but numb steering, which provides an impressive turning radius in exchange for a rather high steering ratio.
But where the Diamond Star brand needs to catch up is its powertrain – the 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine producing 104 horsepower and 141 Newton-meters of torque is average for the class, but the antiquated 4-speed automatic harks back to the heyday of the Adventure A/T.
The transmission is very smooth and responsive, but having three acceleration ratios and one overdrive ratio makes getting up to speed a test of patience (second gear redlines at around 110 km/h). Given that the Xpander uses a very clever continuously variable transmission (CVT) in other markets, the presence of the old slushbox is quite a mystery.
And even if you aren’t a speed freak, the lack of a CVT is apparent at the pumps with only 7 to 10 kilometers per liter in the city and 15 to 18 kilometers per liter on the expressway. For comparison, the BR-V VX that I tested got a sensational 10 to 13 kilometers per liter in urban driving and 21 to 24 kilometers per liter on open tarmac.
ADAS needed
And then there are the safety features.
The BR-V VX is unquestionably the safest in its class, as of press time, thanks to the brilliant Honda SENSING active-safety suite that includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist. The Stargazer X is a close second with its Hyundai SmartSense system that begrudgingly lacks adaptive cruise control.
While the Xpander Cross does get cruise control, front and side airbags, stability control, ISOFIX child-restraint anchors and Active Yaw Control for better maneuverability in the wet, Mitsubishi could do with updating its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Many of these are already available in the Xpander Cross’ cousin, the Xforce GT crossover.
A huge step forward
On the whole, the 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is a clear leap ahead from the days of the AUV.
No more do Filipinos need to transport their family, friends and cargo in a dressed-up pickup truck propelled by an underpowered and cacophonous diesel engine, while bouncing our way to some far-off place. The P1,346,000 Xpander Cross deserves its ‘bestseller’ status, largely because of its superb combination of space, comfort and refinement.
But with rivals like the P1,395,000 BR-V VX and P1,348,000 Stargazer X offering more performance, greater safety and substantially better fuel economy, the country’s second-largest automaker can perhaps invest more into this charming MPV.
A hybrid Xpander Cross with full ADAS might just do the trick.
