Mitsubishi’s Xpander compact MPV that’s being sold
in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries, has received a new variant
packing added versatility.
It’s called the Xpander Cross and it’s a jacked-up
version of the existing model, spiced up with SUV-inspired design elements.
Mitsubishi says this is an all-new crossover MPV, but the truth is the Xpander
Cross is far from that, as it features the same bodywork as the regular
Xpander.
Novelties include the 20-mm higher ground
clearance (225 mm), the plastic body cladding, the modified
bumpers with skid plates, the standard roof bars in silver, and the piano black
tailgate garnish underneath the rear window.
Debuting as the range-topping model of the
Mitsubishi Xpander lineup and a rival for the Toyota Rush, the Xpander Cross is
also 50 mm wider than the standard vehicle due to the broader wheel
arches, housing larger profile tires on 17-inch alloys. The jacked-up minivan
also debuts two new colors: Graphite Gray metallic and Sunrise Orange metallic
– the latter exclusive for Xpander Cross. Both can be combined with a black/brown
interior trim with a silver mesh decoration panel.
Speaking of the interior, it remains as spacious and
versatile as the regular Xpander’s, offering a total of seven seats on three
rows and best-in-class interior space, according to the automaker. The seat
backs in the second row (60:40 split) and third row (50:50 split) can be folded
down for a variety of combinations.
Power comes from a 105 PS 1.5-liter
naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine, mated to
either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic driving the
front wheels.
As with the regular Xpander, the Cross version will
be built at Mitsubishi’s facility in Cikarang, Indonesia. It will go on sale in
Indonesia on November 13, 2019, with exports to other ASEAN markets following
later on. Although its availability is limited to select southeast Asian
countries, the Xpander has become Mitsubishi Motors’ fourth-largest sales model
in the 2018 fiscal year, with around 104,000 units reaching new customers.
