Major update or minor facelift? We dig deeper into the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross

When the Mitsubishi Xpander multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) launched in the Philippines in 2018, it was arguably one of the very few cars in the segment that could topple the stranglehold of the Toyota Avanza. 

Fitted with a 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine and mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission, it was as conventional as it gets with these compact MPVs, straying just enough from the norm to get people interested.

Now, though, the market has shifted towards sport-utility vehicles (SUV), to the point that people want the look of an SUV without the actual bulk.

So what was Mitsubishi to do to reach a much wider market? Why, turn the Xpander into an SUV, of course! And so the Xpander Cross was born.

Launched in 2020, the Xpander Cross enjoyed slightly lackluster success, with the cheaper Xpander attracting more customers to its faux-SUV twin.

This coming Jan. 26, 2023, though, the updated Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is coming back with a bang that’s sure to entice a few extra prospects.

Proven mechanicals

Engine-wise, the 2023 Xpander Cross is still powered by the same 1.5-liter engine from before, along with the same 4-speed automatic.

There’s no increase in power and torque either, with the Xpander Cross making the same 105 PS and 141 Newton-meters of torque. Where the new one will differ is inside as well as outside the car.

Sharper exterior

The Xpander Cross gets an updated exterior look, with LED headlights and tail lights as standard.

The overall silhouette of the Xpander Cross, while similar to the outgoing model, will have a more muscular look to it, with squared-off arches and larger wheels and tires.

On top of this, the new Xpander Cross has more brushed-aluminum-style trim, though these will definitely be made of plastic for durability.

Two-tone cabin

On the inside, the Xpander Cross gets some new accent pieces in the form of blue interior panels, as well as a digital gauge cluster and a redeveloped infotainment screen.

The SUV also has Android Auto and Apple Carplay, 360-degree cameras and cruise control, though whether or not it will be adaptive cruise control remains to be seen.

The only downside is that, due to rising excise taxes and inflation, the 2023 Xpander Cross will be priced higher than even the outgoing model.

While no exact price has been revealed, we can expect it to breach ₱1,300,000, since the current Xpander Cross already sits at ₱1,280,000.

Do you think the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross can make a name as an SUV?