Can the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross handle floods and rough roads?

One of the highly touted selling points of the Mitsubishi Xpander multi-purpose (MPV) and its tougher Xpander Cross sibling is its ride height. 

With 225 mm of ground clearance, the Xpander duo rivals many sport-utility vehicles (SUV). For comparison, the Toyota Avanza only has up to 190 mm.

Given the abovementioned stats, it is obvious that the Xpander and Xpander Cross top the entry-level MPV (or even SUV) segment when it comes to ground clearance.

This means that the Mitsubishi utility runner can be driven through certain areas that will definitely scrape the undercarriages of regular passenger cars.

Here are some rough places that Mitsubishi’s entry-level MPV can go through

During the rainy season in Metro Manila

Certain parts of Metro Manila tend to get flooded during sudden monsoon downpours and typhoons.

These include:

• The EDSA-Quezon Avenue area, near Centris and the Metro Rail Transit northbound station
• Taft Avenue, from the UN Avenue junction to Vito Cruz Street
• The respective bases of the EDSA Santolan, EDSA Ortigas and Katipunan Avenue-Aurora Boulevard flyovers
• Banawe Street, from the E. Rodriguez Avenue intersection up to Kabignayan Street

Fortunately, those places’ floodwaters tend to cover only up to one-eighth of the Xpander Cross’ rims, which makes the engine and exhaust system steer clear of H₂O entering those parts.

Most of the Candaba area of Pampanga

Known for its swamps and flood-prone areas, Candaba town in Pampanga is a virtual catch basin of the water coming from nearby Mount Arayat and the water coming from the Guagua river.

This water also flows through the Candaba Viaduct that separates Bulacan and Pampanga on the Northern Luzon Expressway.

As such, swaths of the town are flooded for the majority of the year. However, the floods in most of that part of Pampanga cover up to one-eighth of the Xpander Cross’ rims.

Hence, navigating through Candaba should be possible, but obviously with care. 

Iba, Zambales

Arguably the fastest way to go to the capital of Zambales is through the Tapulau mountain, before landing in the area where the Liwliwa sand dunes are located.

The mountain roads, some 5.6 kilometers after the Subic Bay exit going to Olongapo City and around 10-to-12 kilometers in length, have some unpaved paths with quite steep angles of approach and departure.

In addition, some of the bridges past the Mount Tapulau roads – specifically along the RH5 National Highway – also have steep approach and departure angles.

These Zambales infrastructure points also have sharp edges that can wreck tires, rims and front bumpers if one approaches those bridges at speed.

However, none of these will likely be a problem for either the Xpander or the Xpander Cross.

Any roll-on, roll-off (RORO) boat 

RORO boats have ramps with steep angles of approach, crest transition and departure, which can make suspensions bottom out and ding a car's underbelly.

Using a vehicle with more than 200 mm ground clearance, such as the Xpander/Xpander Cross, can make ingress and egress from a RORO boat a routine movement instead of a teeth-gritting adventure. 

All told, the high vantage point of the Mitsubishi Xpander and the Xpander Cross make these useful tools for carrying up to seven people and some cargo in and out of the metro, through rural areas, and even onto some large-scale marine transport.

If the same ground clearance is retained for the upcoming 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, which is launching on Jan. 26, 2023, it can be a strong selling point for potential customers.

Where else would you go with an MPV like a Mitsubishi Xpander/Xpander Cross?